Walking in the Light, December 21,2008

Walking in the Light

     Our culture places great emphasis on this time of year.  Everywhere you turn you see the glow of lights and hear the tune of holiday music. It’s the time of year when reindeer and Santa Claus make regular appearances. It’s the season where people flock to the malls to buy up everything on the shelves to give to those they love. And it’s the time of year when front yards are decorated with angels and scenes of the nativity. This is the time of year that our culture has chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ.

     Is December the 25th the actual date of Jesus’ birth? Not likely. In fact, most theologians and scholars will tell you that He was more likely born sometime in the early autumn, more specifically September. The Bible doesn’t give us a specific date but it does, however, give us some clues as to the time of year that He was born. For instance, Palestine is a very cold place in December; much too cold to ask everyone to travel to the city of their fathers to register for taxes. Also, the shepherds were in the fields, as it tells us in Luke 2:8-12; shepherds are not in the fields during the winter time. They are in the fields in early March until early October. This would place Jesus’ birth in the spring or early fall. And there are other time frame considerations and calendar issues we could point to showing that December 25th is not likely the date that our Lord was born.

     However, we do believe Jesus was born. If we’re not careful we can go so far out of our way to avoid Christmas as the literal birthday of Christ that we almost deny His birth altogether. Our world has chosen to commemorate Jesus’ birth on the 25th of December each year. Unfortunately, though, each year Christ takes more and more of a backseat to trees, ornaments, lights, shopping, parades and presents. The one day out of the year that many stop to acknowledge Christ has become the victim of commercialization. Giving gifts is nice; receiving them is great. But there should never be a time of the year when we fail to realize and emphasize the greatest gift that any of us could ever receive—the gift of God’s Son; a Savior; a Redeemer; a Sacrifice.

     It is a shame that this glorious occasion only garners real attention one time a year. God taking on the form of man came to dwell among us. He came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10). He came to teach and rescue sinful man. He came to die. He came! And such a monumental event should be celebrated every day, not just once a year. We should personally thank God every day for sending His Son because without the birth there is no cross and there is no resurrection.

Chris McCurley