What About Christmas?
by Jorge Sedaca
by Jorge Sedaca
During this time of year as you think about the birth of our Messiah Yeshua, you should ask yourself some questions:
Was His birth part of God’s eternal plan of redemption for all mankind?
Was His birth promised and prophesied for many centuries prior to His coming?
Was His birth mentioned throughout the Old Testament?
Was His birth the fulfillment of God’s covenants with Israel?
Do you realize that, without His miraculous Incarnation, no one would obtain forgiveness of sin, salvation from eternal condemnation, abundant life here and eternal life after death?
Do you see that, if He had not been born, He would not have taught us all that He did teach and would not have interpreted the Tanakh (Old Testament) as only He could?
Do you realize that, if He had not been born, He would not have lived a perfect life as an example for us to follow?
Do you realize that, if He had not been born as a man, He could not have suffered and died to pay for the penalty of our sins?
Do you see that, if He had not been born, He would not have been the Perfect Passover Lamb or the Perfect Atonement for the sins of Israel and all mankind?
And do you realize that, if He had not been born, lived, suffered and died as He did, He would not have conquered death by rising from the tomb?
Do you see that, because of all that, we have the hope of our own resurrection and the assurance of eternal life?
Myriam, Yosef, Elizabeth, Zacharias, Simeon, Anna, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, John the Baptist, the rest of the Apostles, Paul and thousands of Jesus’ followers answered “YES” to all these questions because they realized His birth was the fulfillment of God’s promises and covenants. And that’s why they thought it was important to rejoice and celebrate Yeshua’s birth.
That is why God included many passages of Scripture in the Old Testament that talk about His coming. That’s why Matthew and Luke dedicate two chapters in each gospel about Jesus’ birth. That’s why John writes about it in the first chapter of his gospel. That’s why Paul makes reference to His birth several times, but especially in Philippians 2.
We can disagree on the date of His birth, but what better time to tell others about the real meaning of Christmas, Messiahmas or Yom Yeshua than when everybody is at least thinking about it or has heard something about it? What better time to tell others about the birth of Messiah than when many churches, rightly or wrongly, are celebrating His birth? Just as Paul says in Philippians 1:15-18, whether for the right or wrong reasons, the name of Christ is being proclaimed.
Some people use the argument that we are not commanded in Scripture to celebrate His birth. But remember that neither are we commanded by God to celebrate Purim – yet as Jewish believers we do. We are not commanded by God to celebrate Hanukkah – yet as Jewish believers we do. How much more important is it for followers of Yeshua to celebrate His birth than to celebrate Purim or Hanukkah?
Some think that His birth occurred during Sukkot, and therefore it is a better date for celebration. Well, then, let’s celebrate it during that time! But the truth of the matter is that most of those who think this way don’t even remember to celebrate His birth during Sukkot!
I don’t know why other people give gifts at Christmas, but my wife and I give gifts in response to God’s greatest gift, His Only Son Yeshua Ha Mashiach! Just as we give gifts during Hanukkah, Christmas can be a time of rejoicing and showing our love in tangible ways.
Each of us has the freedom to celebrate Christmas or not, but I hope you celebrate Messiah’s birth at some point during the year. It is one of the greatest miracles of history and one of the most important doctrines of our faith as believers – the Incarnation of God in Yeshua!