Celebrity Birthday

 

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).   Matthew 1:23

 

Observing Birthdays

Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Jesus Christ.  We “observe” all of their birthdays.  (Whether or not we should will not be the emphasis of this article!).  Unfortunately, I wonder how many Americans put them all in the same category.  They were men who left a lasting impression on the world.  They were examples.  Is any one of them unique – or should we consider any one greater than the others?

Recently, my granddaughter, Stella (age 4), with Christmas decorations all around her offered me a piece of “Birthday” cake as I was reading the morning paper.  The “cake” was a little orange block but she was in full pretend mode.  Never wanting to miss a teaching moment I said, “Do you know we’ll be celebrating a real birthday later this week?”  She responded, “Yes, the baby Jesus.”

I wondered if she really puts it all together.  We do celebrate the birthday of a baby but He is no longer a baby.  Historical figures come and go, our “celebrations” are usually no more serious than our gratitude for a day off because they were born and served the country.

Is that all it is with Jesus?  I think that for the majority of those “celebrating” the answer is “yes.”  Sometimes because they don’t have any other real information about Him.  They know: 1. He was born in a manger and 2. they get the day off.

Celebrating More than a Day

But, we don’t just celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born into the world to do His work and then leave – as Lincoln and Washington did.  I want Stella to understand that the reason we celebrate the birth of Christ is because He lives.  Oh, His physical body died a terrible death on a cross.  The “Good News” is that He is more than a man.  He is God.  The second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, lives, interceding for His people to God the Father.

I love celebrating the birth of Christ.  However, it is His resurrection that makes Him unique.  He is alive, He continues to serve this country, and the world,  in and through people He is calling to Himself.  No one can come along and improve His programs.  There is not a person who will “finish” what He started.  He told us on the cross, “It is finished.” He is truly the ultimate hero who will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

When Jesus grew up, living as a man, people rejected Him because they were looking for a political king. .  That was not His mission.  He would be a spiritual King.   In many ways, the same mistake is being made by Americans today.  We want someone who will make our lives more comfortable and easy, to take the burdens of this life and make them go away.  We treat Him as if He were another political figure.

He is God.

I pray my grandchildren grow up knowing that Jesus  is God. He is worthy of glory, and honor, and praise. In fact He is worthy of celebration –  not just a day off.

I pray that your Christmas will be a personal celebration of the One who has saved you from sin and given you eternal life with God the Father.

 

(This is a repeat from some time ago. Merry Christmas!)