You can be forgiven for actually wondering what on earth Christmas is all about today?
One minute it is portrayed as the ultimate shopping time of the year, another minute it is all about Santa, elves and mystical flying reindeer, and finally others see it as some sort of a special religious season.
I actually think Christmas is the ultimate Birthday Party!
At its heart and based on an amazing enduring tradition, this is a Birthday Party for a baby they simply called Jesus.
The historical account of this happened around 2000 years ago while his parents Mary & Joseph were visiting Josephs families ancestral home due to a census.
Mary had travelled to Bethlehem heavily pregnant and probably wasn’t expecting this to be the way she was to meet her little one, but in a panic had to find a place to rest and partake in the miracle that is giving birth.
As her contractions began another challenge presented itself to this young family.
Due to this census and lots of visitors to Bethlehem, they discovered there was no room at the normal places you would possibly stay back in those days. This was way before book-a-batch and googling available motels!
All they could find was a stable. A place where farm animals sheltered, slept and feed.
And there in that most inauspicious of locales, Mary gave birth to Jesus.
Western cultures have excitedly for many generations built a celebration around this Birthday and we continue that tradition again today very proudly.
Just as we try to make a child’s Birthday something special and memorable, so to the first Christmas was something special and memorable.
Back then it was recorded that people celebrated with special songs, amazing things happened in the sky, and gifts were given and received. We mirror that sentiment today in our own way, culture and context.
May this Christmas be for you a Birthday Party for Jesus.
May you find joy, rest, hope and peace.
Something to think about...
One minute it is portrayed as the ultimate shopping time of the year, another minute it is all about Santa, elves and mystical flying reindeer, and finally others see it as some sort of a special religious season.
I actually think Christmas is the ultimate Birthday Party!
At its heart and based on an amazing enduring tradition, this is a Birthday Party for a baby they simply called Jesus.
The historical account of this happened around 2000 years ago while his parents Mary & Joseph were visiting Josephs families ancestral home due to a census.
Mary had travelled to Bethlehem heavily pregnant and probably wasn’t expecting this to be the way she was to meet her little one, but in a panic had to find a place to rest and partake in the miracle that is giving birth.
As her contractions began another challenge presented itself to this young family.
Due to this census and lots of visitors to Bethlehem, they discovered there was no room at the normal places you would possibly stay back in those days. This was way before book-a-batch and googling available motels!
All they could find was a stable. A place where farm animals sheltered, slept and feed.
And there in that most inauspicious of locales, Mary gave birth to Jesus.
Western cultures have excitedly for many generations built a celebration around this Birthday and we continue that tradition again today very proudly.
Just as we try to make a child’s Birthday something special and memorable, so to the first Christmas was something special and memorable.
Back then it was recorded that people celebrated with special songs, amazing things happened in the sky, and gifts were given and received. We mirror that sentiment today in our own way, culture and context.
May this Christmas be for you a Birthday Party for Jesus.
May you find joy, rest, hope and peace.
Something to think about...
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