The birth of Jesus-feast of joy or maybe not!
Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Why is it called the (feast of joy) if a Child is destined for the fall of many, and He is a sign which will be spoken against? Even Mary, His mother, is told that a (sword) will pierce through your own (soul) also?
From this perspective, anyone can ask a legitimate question: “Is the birth of Jesus a celebration of joy for all?”
Some will argue, “Yes, it is!” Others will say something like, “It depends!”, Or “It’s just a feast, nothing else!”
But, let’s see what one of God’s people said exactly when the Child Jesus is brought before the temple by His parents, in the desire to fulfil the commandment of the Law concerning Him?
For Him it was perhaps the most important moment of his life, a moment awaited with all of his heart:
Luke 2:28-32
He (Simeon) took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
Like Simeon, the prophetess Anna was joyful, the birth of Jesus was long-awaited, it was a celebration of the soul.
Yes, if we accept the name of Christmas and the proposed date for just a few lines of the article, it can be easily said, that most of the world is waiting for these days from the end of the year as a holiday. For many so-called Christians, the answer could be simple and immediate: “Yes, Christmas is a celebration of joy!”
This could be the ticket for those who are eagerly awaiting the end of December, days off work, culinary delicacies, gifts, songs, laughter, and the list goes on. But for most this festive holiday is a simple story told to children under a Christmas tree full of gifts. Often the pale story of humble birth in a stable with animals is replaced by the much haloed and enthusiastic story of the arrival of Santa Claus with his sack full of gifts, in a carriage pulled by many reindeer.
However, do the masses waiting for the feast of the Savior’s birth really love Jesus the birthday Boy or more so the feast?
Questions like these have been asked every year in these circumstances, and this concerns every Christian in the first place because they bear His name, the sign of a Christ.
But in this article, we will look at things from a different perspective, which requires attention and meditation: Why is it called the (feast of joy) if this Child is destined for the (fall of many) and He is a (sign) which will be spoken against or oppose?
Even Mary His mother was told that a (sword will pierce through your own soul also). Christians attest to the (feast of joy) and they are right, that’s because Jesus the (light that enlightens the nations) came into the world. Simeon said: “The Saviour has come, the Redeemer of the world has come! Which is certainly true. God’s restoration is attainable for all. Salvation which (God has prepared before the face of all people) so why did he come?
The answer is in this verse:
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
But at the same time, some questions may arise that should make us think: (How much joy can the Christmas festivities bring to the many who will fall?)
For whom will He be a sign which will be spoken against?
So, in the end, who did Jesus Christ actually come for?
Who are those who rejoice in His birth?
What we do know for sure is that the birthday Boy of this holiday has opened a way. Moreover, He opened the only way of salvation for man. He made it possible for all sinners to be reconciled to the Father. The One who opened the door through His birth and death teaches:
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
A legitimate question arises: “Is this holiday still a reason for the joy of many if nobody really benefits from it?
He makes this statement knowingly what He teaches, “few who find it.” So, the answer to our question is deduced from His statement and it can be this: “Yes, it is a holiday, but for the few!” From the words of Jesus, it can be clearly deduced that it should not be a joy for most people the festival of Christmas.
Moreover, this idea is emphasised in the book of Romans where it speaks about a (remnant). A remnant is defined as a small surviving group of people. It is sometimes defined as something left over. A nation whom God foreknew and a nation that God selected to be His people and He marked to be their God:
Romans 11:5
“Even so then, at this present time, there is a (remnant) according to the election of grace.”
Jesus also said:
Matthew 10:34
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. “For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; “and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Is the birth of Jesus a celebration of joy?
Yes, it is, but not for how the masses see it. For most, His birth came for their misfortune, or even for their eternal perdition.
The word perdition began life as a word meaning (utter destruction). Yes, it’s Christmas. The streets are decorated with garlands and lights in all shapes and colours, with tall fir trees, reindeer, and Santa is promoted. Supermarket shelves are full of festive treats tempting to the eye. Christmas carols, getting drunk, falling asleep in front of the TV seem so innocent do they not?
Yet we easily forget morality as do many so-called music artists that promote their Christmas agenda.
Mixed festive pagan songs that weave Jesus and Santa together?
Not to mention the manifestations that enter into the rituals of celebrating the birth of Christ, by deliberately bypassing His Name so as not to offend someone.
This article only mentions several things just in passing, in our attempt to sketch out the festive atmosphere of Christmas. It doesn’t probe too deeply into the depths of drunken behaviour, greed, overeating and fornication over this time.
Many so-called Christians only go to church over this time to (eat drink and be merry). They do not entertain the habit of going to the House of God on ordinary days. It’s pretending to be His people while scoffing down a few mince pies. At Christmas, prayers are often said, but never again after the festive fun has abated. It’s almost like it’s to pray at Christmas because that’s what we do, but let’s not get too carried away as God does not really exist!
Charity boxes are often placed to help others in the name of Jesus, but most are scams and never reach their intended goal.
Many people, health professionals and laymen alike, believe that depression, anxiety, and suicide rates rise during the holidays. The media often links suicides during this time of year to the (holiday blues), and yet we are supposed to be celebrating Holy-days where we get the word holiday from?
Is Christmas a celebration of joy for those who remember Jesus only as a holiday?
If we think from Jesus’s perspective, a possible answer closer to the truth would be this: “Christmas should not be a joy for them!”
What would the Birthday Boy of the feast say?
Did He become accustomed to neither cold nor boiling love on the part of those for whom He gave His life?
Or with the way of waiting for His second coming on the part of the five unwise virgins?
Shouldn’t the prophetic words spoken by Christ Himself in the last book of the Bible be considered?
He may perhaps have spoken to our generation too:
Revelation 3:1-16
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. “So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
There is also the possibility that the Birthday Boy might address Christians today, as God once did to the Jews:
Amos 5:2-24
“I hate, I despise your (feast days), And I do not savour your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the (noise) of your (songs), for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
What use is (foreign-fire) with coloured sequins on the altar of the holy God in celebrating the birth of Christ! What use is the amalgamation of holy things of righteousness, with the iniquities of the world, blended with the superficiality of the Christian life with the divided heart of the faithful?
What good is Christmas day as a celebration of joy, gathered together to rejoice, drink, feeling good, if the Birthday Boy of Feast is missing?
Or could the simple answer be it’s a holiday created for us, not for Him, tradition over truth?
On this note, we can no longer speak of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and His coming into our world as the Lord and Saviour. Where is the honour due to the Son of God, descending among man?
Too many Christians today, these Bible verses should be remembered:
Psalms 29:1
“Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength.”
Isaiah 42:8
“I am the Lord, that is My name, And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to (carved images).”
A stark reminder is that a child came into the world in the humblest of ways. This child is now the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He sits on the throne at the right hand of the Father in times like these. Dust has been left on many Bibles even by so-called Christian’s at Christmas. But the scriptures remain for these unsettling times:
Revelation 7:12
“Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever.”
Yes, the birth of Jesus is ordained for the collapse of many, but it’s also a sign for many to rise. Is the birth of Jesus a celebration of joy?
The answer is Yes it is, but in this case, for whom is it a holiday for?
The Bible is the Word of God and therefore instructs that the Father raises man in one single way. God blesses someone and raises him up, only if the man first collapses in front of Him in his fallen state in humility and repentance. If people just exchange gifts, eat and drink without first recognizing Jesus then the festivity is pointless. Feast festivals of God are vastly different to the pagan man-made versions today.
The richness of God’s Word is that it often reveals a deeper truth if you know where to look. Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” He put on a temporary tabernacle — a human body — to dwell on this earth and offer himself as a sacrifice. Even with the small glimpse into these feasts, we see his intentional love for humanity has endured centuries, and he has left us clues that foreshadow the beauty that is to come.
Jesus portrays humility so that a holy-day should mirror His true believers to act as He did, and not just accept a traditional holiday. This honour should encompass the highest forms of holy-joy in the feast days. To honour and serve such a God, who sacrificed Himself for us, can be one of the greatest joys of the true believer’s heart, and an elation amplified by the wonder of His presence. This merriment brings forth happiness because He saved bringing you out of a world doomed to perdition. He will then be with you in the trials and tribulations of life.
As Jesus love for His creation is endless for those who choose Him until old age and beyond, this Agape love should be enough to fill our hearts not our stomachs over Christmas with joyful repentance and not over indulgence. Christ’s incomparable presence at the Christian’s feast table in the home is the greatest joy and the greatest honour, and in one day we will dine with Him at His heavenly table. But this is not what human nature desires. We don’t cherish the need to sing about Jesus Christ anymore. We just want to be together with loved ones, to eat, have fun, and forget about Jesus. Then we avoid repenting of the fact that we put Jesus Christ in second place and not only for Christmas.
God does not share His glory with anyone not even with human beings. All the more so on holidays when His reverence is reduced to theory, and places of honour reversed. In other words, just as there is no holiday without the Birthday boy, there is no honour if He is pushed into second place. Also, there is no birth of Jesus Christ as your personal Savior if He was not born within your heart, hence the celebration is null and void. For the disciples of Jesus, those who sat and dined with Him, this verse is valid every day:
1 Corinthians 2:16
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
Believers can see how Jesus thinks, from the highest appreciation he gave to someone, respectively, to John the Baptist:
Matthew 11:11
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Then there is the question of what was John the Baptist doing?
The Bible teaches in the book of Mark:
Mark 1:3-4
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.”
John came baptising in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. He said:
Luke 3:5-6
“Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
John the Baptist said in other words what Simeon had echoed when Jesus was first brought to the Temple. John spoke about a fall and a raising. “Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low”.
Do you know what a man is compared to without God?
Without submission, he is a mountain or hill. This person does not want to repent, exalts himself, and does not want to go to Golgotha to crucify his nature. This man is seen as an immovable mountain. An example to better understand this can be found even in the passages that are read in the churches these days, respectively, when the angels came and notified the pastors. The word (pastor) derives from the Latin noun pastor which means (shepherd). The term (pastor) also relates to the role of the elder within the New Testament and is synonymous with the biblical understanding of minister. They were the first who believed the good news, rejoiced, sought and found Him, brought gifts, and worshipped Him.
But there was a great mountain, king Herod, who would not bend down, humble himself, and acknowledge like John that he was not worthy to untie His shoe. (John 1:27) He did not want to admit that he needed the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. But Jesus, the incarnate Word of God passed by Herod, Tiberius Caesar, Pilate of Pontus, the high priest’s Anna and Caiaphas and many more. God could not speak to them because they were high mountains.
But Jesus stopped at a simple man called John the Baptist, who was dressed in a camel skin coat and eating grasshoppers in the wilderness. He was the first man born of a woman to be exalted in the eyes of the Lord. John the Baptist lived on earth at the time of Jesus. He was ministering, but there came a time that he would step down and proclaim the ministry of Jesus to be more superior then his own. But like John the Baptist, shepherds and others every valley will be raised. While people like Herod or the higher priests Anna and Caiaphas will be levelled because every mountain will be flattened. There are countless folk who live their faith with measured halves.
Today, perhaps more than ever, many mirror Herod who do not desire to humble themselves, admit that they need a Savior, and they need repentance. They do not want to acknowledge the holy (key) to repentance which God has left for us. Without repentance, belief, water baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit, nobody can enter into the Kingdom of heaven, no matter how much he goes to church, no matter how many songs he sings, or how many carols mouths.
The child Jesus cannot be born into a proud heart, but only into a heart brimming with sincerity, ready to empty itself of selfishness and put on the coat of humility. Let us brood over the great apostle Paul. He was a high mountain in the first part of his life. There weren’t too many people like him in Israel. He was “brought up at the feet of Gamaliel” one of the greatest philosophers of his time. The time had arrived when Jesus went out before him, while Paul had fallen from his lofty mountain condition. Because he collapsed and acknowledged his plight, the Lord Jesus lifted him up and gave him the honour that astonishes today:
Matthew 19:28
“Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The apostle Paul is one of the twelve who will be with Jesus for eternity, sat on one of the thrones. He was exalted by God more than we can imagine. Together with Jesus, His twelve apostles will be rulers of the universe and take up the station of authority for the first twelve places. If people want rewards like this, then obedience, faith and submission to Kingdom authority is the way. But Paul, says:
1 Corinthians 15: 9-10
“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
After a few years his repentance goes on:
Ephesians 3:8
“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,”
And later he says:
1 Timothy 1:15-16
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy”
He humbled himself and he continued to humble himself throughout his earthly life. As Christians, many of us humble ourselves for a while, but we take our glory and like to wear it like a badge. Finally, the main idea is that any mountain will be gone. You are a mountain if you have not yet yielded and bowed the knee to Jesus. Problems arise through human will, temptation, stubbornness, and being taught falsehood that individuals do not want to humble themselves voluntarily. But there will come a time when every knee will bow, but for many it will be too late to be lifted up. Unbelief is the greatest of all sins as it opens up other avenues of sin. But for now, there is still a grace period where God still calls his created beings into repentance and restoration. To follow Jesus Christ is to mirror Him:
Philippians 2:5-11
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus humbled himself until his death on the cross, and God the Father exalted Him.
Our part of the jigsaw is humility, to fall on our knees, bow before Him and not the Christmas tree. To recognise who we are and that we are nothing without Him. His part will be to exalt us for being steadfast spiritual warriors dressed in the armour of God. He has many thrones and mansions for the saved but rank is irrelevant:
Matthew 25:23
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
Jesus Christ stripped Himself of His glory voluntarily, he took off the garments of divinity and humbled himself as a servant to the many, creating a narrow pathway to heaven, and a door that requires knocking on for entry. whoever does not humble himself today in these times of grace, will be humbled by God, perhaps when he expects it less. In the book of Isaiah it is written:
Isaiah 2:10-17
“Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be (exalted) in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up and it shall be brought low upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan; Upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up; Upon every high tower, and upon every fortified wall; Upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all the beautiful sloops. The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day,”
Only Jesus will be exalted in the day of the Lord. He will fell tall cedars, and demolish mountains. He will strip the abuse of wealth and the failings of human nature. Pagan holidays will be replaced with His festivals once again. All celebrities and people of power that glorify themselves and abuse their station, will be humbled. Computer systems will crash and the uploaded Word will be exalted. The ignored and persecuted now will be exalted. From this perspective, the main message of the birth of Jesus Christ is the moment of Golgotha. The Crucifixion was not the maximum moment of His humility. Christ humbled Himself before the cross, from His infancy to the last day he breathed on the earth:
Isaiah 53:7
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”
But that silence then turned into jubilation for the supreme rising of Him on the altar of sacrifice. God had accepted His offering even before it was offered as a worthy blood sacrifice for sin. Jesus was spotless, blameless, holy, righteous, obedient, and totally sinless. The cross at Calvary was the moment when the glorification of Jesus was consecrated. The moment when the value of a life lived in holiness was crowned forever, and the perfection of the plan of salvation was sealed with a holy kiss. If we are standard-less today and rebellious God’s word asks us:
James 4:10
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
James 1:9-10
“Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.”
Is Christmas a celebration of joy?
Well, we should celebrate His death and resurrection, and be joyful of His birth. The Bible never told us the date of the birth of Christ. The Bible never teaches that we should celebrate birthdays as we are actually honouring ourselves for a day, and taking away His glory. We can be joyful every day with the birth of Christ, as we are temples to the Holy Spirit. Festivities can be inwards projected outwards and the tree of truth can be spoken from our mouths. With truth illumination, the holiday lights-Holy-days are once again recognized and established in our hearts.
Psalms 100:1-5
“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you land! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”