A Christmas message

[Gabu]

I was originally going to post this closer to Christmas, but due to the reasons given in Keystone Phil's thread, I'll post it now.

Christmastime is upon us again, and as we slip into another festive holiday season, we should keep in mind the real reason this season is here.  Whether we like it or not, whether we believe in Christianity or not, Jesus is the reason for Christmas.

That's not to say that Christianity is the main topic of this message.  If you're not a Christian, don't stop reading.

Yes, Jesus is the reason for this holiday season.  As the story goes, today was Jesus' birthday, and that's why we're celebrating it.  It may or may not have been, of course.  That part is in debate.  Fortunately, that part is not the point.

Christmas is much more than simply Jesus' birthday.  If it is as it should be, Christmas is be something that not only Christians could celebrate.  The reason for this is simple: one does not have to be Christian to appreciate Jesus.

Regardless of whether or you believe Jesus was the Son of God, it is, to my knowledge, a fact that someone named Jesus around the time span given in the Bible did, in fact, exist.  Regardless of whether or not you believe that he did the miracles that he did, there are certain parts to his life that we should all look at during this time period.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5:3

During his life, Jesus was said to perform many miracles.  He may have or he may have not.  We can't perform these miracles nor can we disprove that he did, however, so it's useless to argue over whether or not he did.

However, Jesus' life was not only miracles.  The miracles are not what we should look at when thinking of Jesus' life.  What we should look at is the parts that we can perform.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4

The Jesus who I examine is not Jesus, the Son of God.  That part is debatable and it is too easy to get wrapped up in petty details when examining that Jesus.  The Jesus who I examine is Jesus, the human, whom I hope we can examine together.

Jesus said many things in his life, as recorded in the Bible.  Whether or not he did say them is a pointless subject to examine.  What he did say is what we should examine.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

Jesus never hated.  This, in essence, is the remarkableness of his life.  Through all of his pain and suffering, he never once hated.  Instead, he offered such advice as, "Offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well" (Matthew 5:38-39).  Even in the face of crucifixion, he asked God to forgive those committing the deed.

He had many opportunities and reasons to hate.

He took none of them.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6

But it wasn't just his lack of hatred.  It was what he replaced it with.  Perhaps one of the most important sentences he said was only three sentences long:

"Love one another."
- John 15:12

This bears repeating.

Love one another.

Love one another.

This was the essense of Jesus: the core of his being.  This is what too few pay attention to, yet this is the cornerstone of what Christmas should be.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7

Beyond the presents, the gifts, the commercialism, yes, Christmas is about Jesus.  But it should not be about the Jesus that breeds contentiousness.  It should be about the Jesus that we all can look at in the hopes that we can strive to model ourselves after.

Jesus was never a rich man.  Jesus never had a lot.

Jesus didn't care.

In fact, Jesus honored the poor.

When a rich man gave two large notes as a donation and a poor widow gave only two small coins, Jesus didn't care about the rich man.  He still had millions left over, as Jesus noted, but the poor widow had given all that she had - much more than anyone else had given.

While others admired the rich, Jesus admired the poor.

While others admired the strong, Jesus admired the weak.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

During the Christmas season, I consider it not enough to simply praise Jesus.  Jesus wouldn't have wanted praise; rather, he tried to be an example for others to follow.

If at no other time, Christmastime is when we should recognize this.

Christmas as its current form still gets one thing right: Christmas should be a time for giving.  In generosity, Jesus was unsurpassed.

"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."
- Matthew 5:40

"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
- Matthew 5:42

But it need not be material wealth.

If you have love to give, and one in need, let that person have it.
If you have comfort to give, and one in need, let that person have it.
If you have help to give, and one in need, let that person have it.
If you have cheer to give, and one in need, let that person have it.
If you have anything to give, and one in need, let that person have it.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons (and Daughters) of God." Matthew 5:9

Merry Christmas.

[Gabu]

Aw, come on guys, I took all that time to write this for you and get zero replies.

At least tell me you hated it!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Aw, come on guys, I took all that time to write this for you and get zero replies.

At least tell me you hated it!

Nothing to add really

[Nym90]

Wow, awesome. I couldn't have said it any better myself.

I echo Al's sentiments, you said it all, so there is no need for comments. :-) Bravo. Hopefully more will heed this.

[Richard]

You're forgetting the most important verse of all, the reason why Jesus was sent in the first place:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."


And His message:


Matthew 23:

36: Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38: This is the first and great commandment.
39: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

[Platypus]

so basically, whther he existed or not, we should celebrate Jesus as a figure that is the best of humanity-either mythical or real, depending on your views.

That seems like a nice message to spread

[dazzleman]

Great message.  It shows the true spirit of Christmas.

Maybe the dearth of replies early on was due to the time of night (between 2 and 5 AM).

A very Merry Christmas to all.

[patrick1]

I meant to reply to this last night but was having too much fun with the Global dictator guy.  Very good sentiments and like Al I have nothing really to add.

[WMS]

Great message, Gabu, and it really gets to the heart of things.

Well done!

[KEmperor]

Um......no.