The Best Christmas ever.
BY MARLON VEAL
When you hear the words “The Best Christmas ever” many different things may come to mind for each person. Perhaps a Christmas when you received that special gift that you had been wanting all year, or just a time when all of your family was able to gather together and celebrate. But no doubt the best Christmas ever upon this earth was the very first Christmas.
For example, think of what a thrilling Christmas that first Christmas was for the three wise men.
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found [him], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Mat 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Many scholars have had their opinion of how the wise men knew that this star would lead them to the Christ child. But no doubt they knew the prophesy concerning the coming messiah and the approximate time of his birth. In addition to being very wise concerning prophesy many scholars also believe that these men were also astrologist, studying the stars and planets. No doubt this new glorious star caught their attention and they were able to put two and two together and recognize the significance of it. It is obvious they weren’t just blindly following this star for they inquired “where is he that is born King of the Jews?, for we have seen his star in the east”. It is also obvious that they understood this was not just an earthly king to be born, but the incarnate Son of God, for they said they were “come to worship him”. It is this that truly makes these men wise.
No doubt there had been much anticipation through out their lives, waiting until the day this child would be born, a saviour for all mankind. And now, they were on their way, following his star, a star which would bring them into the very presence of Christ. As these men followed the star and were brought there before the child in the manger they were overcome with great joy. Finally the saviour had been born and here they were in his very presence! What a thrill. They were able to bow before the Son of God and worship him and present him with precious gifts. How could there be a better Christmas than the first? To be able to bow before the one whom this holiday honors. To be able to give your gifts to him and behold him with your own eyes!!
Now for many of us who have lost a loved one in the last year instead of a time of joy Christmas brings back memories of happier times, times shared with that loved one. It can be a time of great depression and sadness, just the thought of that loved one not being here to share Christmas with us. We might tend to think that our Best Christmases are behind us, that they’ll never be the same, that we’ll never to be able to enjoy the Christmas season again. I know there are times I feel just exactly that way. But there are two things to consider.
First of all, if your loved one was a child of God, born again by his grace then they became wise unto salvation through Christ who “of God is made unto us wisdom...”
1Cr 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Cr 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Just as those wise men of old, that loved one, who had accepted Christ as lord and saviour began following that star, the “Bright and Morning Star”, Jesus Christ through this journey of life with great anticipation that they would one day come into his presence as Jesus himself said... “that where I am there ye may be also”. They followed him through the deserts, across the mountain tops and valleys of life, through the storms, the darkness, the heat and the cold, and finally through the shadow of the valley of death. And then into his glorious presence!!
What better Christmas could our loved one ask for? To actually be in the presence of Jesus Christ the one whom Christmas is for! To be able to bow before the Saviour, behold him with their own eyes and offer unto him the precious gifts of praise and glory unto his name! Without a doubt if we could hear from our loved one they’d tell us, “This is the Best Christmas Ever!!”. Even that very first earthly Christmas with all it’s joy and excitement could not compare with your loved one’s first Christmas in heaven in the presence of the lord!
Secondly, the gift which was given by God in love, [john 3:16] that first Christmas is that which gives us hope for a wonderful reunion with our loved one some day. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin that Christmas night, grew to be a man, lived a sinless life and freely laid down his life for you and me.
Because God is a holy God sin cannot come into his presence. To provide a way for us to spend eternity with him, sin had to be dealt with, the price had to be paid.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus Christ was sent into this world for one purpose, to die, the just for the unjust, the sinless for the sinner, you and me.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, the Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission [forgiveness] of sin. But the sacrifice for sin had to be perfect, therefore we could not pay the price. Even those things we might call good about ourselves, our righteousness, God calls them all as “filthy rags”
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
It had to be a perfect sinless sacrifice, so God sent his Son Jesus, he was born to die, to provide the way for us to be able to enter into the presence of a Holy God.
Because of Gods gift of his precious son given to us on that first Christmas, we can have the hope of not only eternity with The Lord in Heaven, but a joyous reunion with our loved ones some day, if we too will come to him in repentance and faith We can have the assurance that one ,day we will again celebrate the birth of our Lord together again. Except this time, forever, together in his presence!
So when our minds get to wondering and we find ourselves depressed and saddened by the loss of our loved one and the prospect of spending Christmas without them, let us remember first of all that there is absolutely no reason to feel sorry for them as I said I am confident that could they speak to us they would say “This is the Best Christmas Ever!!”.
Secondly, let us remember to focus upon the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ and the great hope which his birth, life and his sacrificial death upon the cross of Calvary has given to us. The great hope of not only eternity with him, but also a great reunion day and eternity with our loved ones gone before. If you really focus on this, this could be your Best Christmas Ever.