Christmas Essay

A few unorganized thoughts on Christmas that I wrote last year or the year before last.

One interesting fact is that the bible does not use the term epiphany.

The bible just says the three kings travelled from eastern lands to see the king of the Jews. When they lost sight of the star they went to Herod. Then they started the journey again and saw the star. The star gave them great joy. The star stopped over the stable in Bethlehem. The three kings worshipped baby Jesus and returned another way because God warned them in a dream to not go to Herod.

I think it is so beautiful that three humans travelled far with nothing to give them directions than a star. The star was their gps. Gps or global positioning system that gives us free information on how to get to our destination is metaphorically similar to the star that appeared in the sky to the three kings and showed them the way to Bethlehem. In between the star stopped or disappeared. When the star disappeared they went to Herod.

Let not the star disappear in our lives.

To me the star is my parents. If I keep their instructions in my head and heart I will not lose my way.

Who is the star in your life.

What is the star.

The star guides the three wise people.

My parents instructions guide me.

Unlike modern gps the star does not speak. Yet the star is visible.

The story of the three wise men is certainly a very curious story.

The story of the three wise men appear in the gospel of Matthew. This story is present only in the gospel of Matthew. It is not present in the gospel of Mark, Luke or John. Mark and John do not contain the story of Christmas at all. Only the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke contain the story of Christmas.

Why is the story of Christmas not present in the gospel of Mark and the gospel of John?

It is amazing that both gospels that do contain the story of Christmas highlight different aspects of the Christmas story. Thus Matthew includes the story of the three wise men, and also Joseph's unbelief. And the gospel of Luke includes the story of Elizabeth and zechariah and Mary. The Gospel of Luke does not talk about Herod at all. The Gospel of Mathew does not include the angels appearing to the shepherds.

If we read the Christmas story closely there is so much we can learn. There is intertwining of so many perspectives and so many groups of people's stories.

There are so many places. Nazareth

The hill country of Judah. Bethlehem. Galilee. The east. Jerusalem, and even Egypt.

Political and administrative events of the time give us the historical context of the true story of Christmas. They vouchsafe the real historical world where Jesus was born into. Caeser Augustus was the emperor of Rome. Jesus was born when Caeser Augustus was the emperor of Rome. Thus the census that caused Joseph to go to Bethlehem give context. The eastern wise people who approached Herod etc give context. Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome. Herod was the king of Judea. Caeser Augustus, the Roman emperor gave a decree that all the world should be taxed.

The heavenly events that happened were the angels appearing in the sky.

The angels told the shepherds to look for a sign. The sign was a newborn baby in a manger.

How often are we likely to see newborn babies in mangers. Not likely.

So the angel told the shepherds to look for something unusual. While it is usual to see a newborn lamb in a manger a newborn human baby is very unlikely.

I would like to have signs from angels.

The best part to me of the Christmas story is the message to the shepherds and the sudden appearance of angels singing in the sky. I wonder how that would have sounded like. Or looked like. Imagine a night sky being completely lit up with heavenly hosts.

I wonder if there is any other reason why God would have planned for baby Jesus to be born in a stable other than humility.

What else could be accomplished when baby Jesus was born in a stable, the humblest place a human can be born in.

Nazareth to me is a wonderful word. A wonderful name for a place to have. Mary was from Nazareth. Jesus is known as a Nazarene. The people who worship Jesus are nasranis.

The fragrance of Nazareth has spread all over the world. In a bustling town far away from the real Nazareth there are convents named Nazareth hospitals and schools and other educational institutions named after the little Judean town that Jesus called home.

Where does the Christmas story start?

In Luke the story starts with Zechariah. Although it is technically not part of the Christmas story it is in the same chapter as the section where the angel appears to Mary.

The angel appears to Mary when Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant. In fact the angel tells Mary about Elizabeth's story as well.

The story of Jesus, the son of God and the story of John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth are intertwined.

Probably that is the reason Mary hurried to the hill country of Judah where Elizabeth lived soon after the being visited by the angel. Mary's magnificat is sung during the visit of Mary in Elizabeth's home. Mary would have hurried to the hill country of Judah because the angel told Mary about Elizabeth becoming pregnant in her old age. Imagine knowing about your cousin's pregnancy through an angel.

I really like Mary's song. My most favorite line is that God's mercy is upon all those who fear Him. God's mercy is for all generations.

The name of Jesus was decided before Jesus was born.

In the gospel of St. Matthew the perspective of St Joseph is given. St. Joseph was also visited by an angel just as Mary was. St. Joseph being a righteous man was considering breaking his engagement with Mary but doing so without causing any disgrace to Mary. However the angel appeared to St. Joseph and told him that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife.

The angel did not appear to Joseph in real life. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. But after being sure of the fact that Mary was blessed by the Holy Spirit Joseph showed life long commitment to Mary and the Christ child.

In the gospel of Matthew there are two prophesies concerning Jesus from the old testament. The prophecy about Mary and the prophecy about Bethlehem.

The wise men or magi or astrologers who approached Herod asked for the king of the Jews. Herod asked for a meeting with the wise men and asked them at what time did the star appear to them. The bible does not record the answer of the wise men. Later the wise men went their way and the star appeared to them once again. The star led them to Bethlehem. The star stopped over the place where the child was. The bible records that the wise men were filled with joy when they saw the star.

The star stopped over the place where the child was. The star was the gps. The star appeared in the east to the three wise men causing them the set out on a long journey. The star guided them to Bethlehem. The star stopped over the place where the Christ child was. The star had done it's duty. The duty of the star was to guide the three wise men to Bethlehem. The star accomplished that purpose. Over the holy stable in Bethlehem the star stopped. The star did not move further.

The three wise men were filled with joy at seeing the star. The star silently guided them to Bethlehem from a great distance.

The three wise men went to the stable and saw the Christ child and worshipped Him. They opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts that they had brought. They had brought gold frankincense and myrrh. Then they returned to the eastern lands. We do not know if the star guided them back home to the eastern land. We only know that they were told to avoid Herod and so they returned to the eastern lands another way. They did not go back to Jerusalem.

In the gospel of Luke Mary sings a song and so does zechariah.

Bethlehem is Joseph's ancestral town. He goes there with Mary to get the census done. Then Mary is about to give birth. And since there was no room for them in the inns of Bethlehem Mary and Joseph go to a stable and Mary gives birth to the Lord Jesus. Mary wraps the baby in swaddling clothes.

In Bethlehem itself in nearby fields there are shepherds guarding their sheep. That night an angel appeared to them and the radiance of the angel shined all around the shepherds. The angel told them that they were bringing to the shepherds a good news that will bring great joy to all people. The good news is this-- the saviour messiah has been born that day in the city of David. The angel further told them that they will recognize the Lord by a sign. The sign is this-- a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

The angel gave the shepherd a clear sign. The Messiah or the Lord Jesus is a baby. The baby will be wrapped in swaddling clothes. The baby will be in a manger.

After this announcement the whole sky was filled with heavenly angels. The angels in the sky started singing. The angels song was as follows. -- Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those with whom God is pleased. A popular Christmas carol there is a line join the triumph of the skies. Christmas was something our heavenly father wanted to happen for the salvation of humankind. When Christmas actually took place in Bethlehem 2000 years ago it was a great victory, and achievement for God. That is why the angels appeared in heaven and started singing. And that is the meaning of the line in the hymn join the triumph of the skies. During Christmas we are invited to sing with angels. Can anything be better than that?

The angel choir in heaven reflects the triumph of heaven.

After that the angels sang they went back to heaven. The shepherds talked among themselves and decided to go to Bethlehem village to see and worship the Lord Jesus. When the shepherds went to see the Lord Jesus they found a baby in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. They worshipped the Lord Jesus and told others what the angels told them and what they had seen. Then they went back to the fields to continue with taking care of the sheep. They realized that in Bethlehem in the stable they had seen exactly as the the angel had told them. In other words the angel had given them very clear signs. The shepherds did not have to wander all around Bethlehem looking for Lord Jesus. The angel told them Lord Jesus would be a baby. Would be wrapped in swaddling clothes. Would be in a manger.

The wise men were filled with great joy when they saw the star. The angel told the shepherds that the angel was bringing them good news of great joy. Thus the star who guided the wise men to Bethlehem and the angel who broke the news of the child Christ being born in Bethlehem both had to do with great joy. The star brought great joy to the wise men. The angel who visited the shepherds said the news he had that of baby Jesus being born in a stable in Bethlehem was a news of great joy. Does this mean that the baby Jesus Himself is a star? Or is the star the news of baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem. The news of the birth of Jesus ought to bring great joy and not a little bit of joy. The news about the birth of Jesus ought to bring a above normal amount of joy.

Coming back to the song of Mary.

Mary burst into a song in the home of zechariah and Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth who first acknowledged that Mary was blessed above all women because she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Then immediately baby John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth's womb. It would have been such a special moment that a baby who is not even born is cognizant and responds to happenings outside the womb.

As soon as Mary reached Elizabeth's house Mary greeted Elizabeth. The person who heard and responded to Mary's greeting was baby John the Baptist. Elizabeth's child leaped within her and Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary God has blessed you above all women. Elizabeth said or the holy spirit spoke through Elizabeth that why would the mother of my Lord visit me. Elizabeth goes on to say that Mary is blessed because she believed an unlikely story told to her by an angel from heaven. The story told to Mary is not a common occurrence. Mary was told that before she got married she would have a child. Mary believed the angel. Mary believed because she was actually visited by an angel. Mary did not see some bible verse and arrive at some conclusion on her own. She actually talked to the angel.

Mary burst into song at this point. Mary's song is called the magnificat. It is Mary's song of praise to God and shows the attitude of humility and fear of the Lord.

Mary praises God with her soul.

Mary's spirit rejoices in God her saviour.

Let us pray to God to help us praise God with our soul.

Let us allow our spirits to rejoice in God our Savior.

Heavenly father noticed a lowly servant girl.

Because heavenly father noticed a lowly servant girl all generations will call her blessed.

Mary sings that mighty God is holy.

And the mighty God has done great things for her. Let us look for the great things God has done for us. The fact that we are not in Afghanistan itself is a great thing. Or Saudi Arabia.

Mary sings that God shows mercy from generations to generations to all who fear Him.

God's mighty arm has done tremendous things.

God has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

I am not sure who exactly is proud and haughty in Mary's life. Who is Mary referring to when Mary says God has scattered the proud and haughty people.

Mary sings that God brings down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. Mary means herself when she says God has exalted the humble. But which prince came down from the throne.

Mary says that God has filled hungry people with good things and rich who are not hungry go away from God with empty hands.

God has helped the people of Israel and remembered to be merciful. I think this is an important thought. God has remembered to be merciful.

For he made this promise to our ancestors

To Abraham and His children forever.

Here the promise Mary is referring to is God's mercy upon us to give us the opportunity to lead godly lives in an unfriendly world.

Mary was given the promise of being Lord Jesus mother but all descendants of Abraham can have the mercy of God I think.

Mary's magnificat is really nice. God is on the side of the humble on those who fear Him.

Mary went back to her own home after three months of staying with Elizabeth. After that John the Baptist was born to Elizabeth and Zechariah bursts into song at the birth of John the Baptist.

Zechariah's song also starts with praise. God has visited and redeemed His people, he sings.

God has sent a mighty saviour from the royal line of His servant David, Zachariah sings. Just as God promised a mighty saviour has been sent. The promise was from holy prophets from long ago. Zechariah sings that he will be saved from his enemies. And from those who hate us. Zechariah sings that God has been merciful to his ancestors by remembering the sacred covenant. The covenant to Abraham is remembered by God zechariah sings. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness as long as we live.

Then Zachariah addresses his son. You my little son, he says will prepare the way for the Lord. John his little son will be called the prophet of the most high. And will prepare the way of the Lord. You will tell people how to find salvation through forgiveness of sins. Because of God's tender mercy the morning light is about to break upon us. To give light to those who sit in darkness and to guide us to the path of peace. This is Zechariah's song. John the Baptist grew strong in wisdom but lived in the wilderness until his public ministry.

The second chapter of Luke has a continuation of the Christmas story. It begins with the news of the census by the Roman emperor Augustus. All the Jews were supposed to go to their ancestral land. Joseph went to Bethlehem with Mary. While they were there it became time for Mary to have her baby. Mary gave birth to baby Jesus and wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes because there was no proper lodging available to them. We have grown to think that the inn keepers of Bethlehem said no room to Mary and Joseph. I wondered if it was the same as the kolby koloff song no room. Is there a connection between what the inn keepers said to Mary and Joseph and the kolby koloff song no room.

I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that something that changed the world happened in a stable. Cattle saw baby Jesus first after Joseph and Mary. That stable would have felt like heaven. The most luxurious palace can feel horrible without Jesus and the most humble place can feel like heaven with Jesus. So although Mary and Joseph would have seemingly been put to great difficulty the consolation would have been great in seeing the savior of the world as a baby in the stable.

We are all given a life to live.

In this life always things are thrown at us.

But if we have the great joy of Christmas and the all encompassing peace of Christmas we can navigate anything.

In this ever changing constantly changing world the peace of Christmas gives us stability assurance, rootedness and steadfastness. The great joy of Christmas helps us to increase our talents and lead an abundant life or a life filled with lots of goodness.

There are so many Christmas songs that encapsulate the myriad messages of Christmas. One Christmas song that I liked a lot this year and last year was o little town of Bethlehem. In the song there is the line in above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. But although the sleep of Bethlehem is deep and dreamless the everlasting light shines in the streets and alleys of Bethlehem. The song paints such a charming picture of a quaint little town it's inhabitants going about their lives because the everlasting light shines there.

The other song I have liked this year is angels we have heard on high. I just like the joy in this song. It is as though the song is exhorting us to experience the great joy of the season.

Hark the herald is a worship song where if we sing along we can worship God. It is good to take the time to just worship.

Then another song I liked a lot this year which I did not even start listening more than a few days ago is while shepherds watched their flocks by night. The last line of this song is that goodwill will begin and never cease. It is a simple song which basically just puts to song the words of Luke 2, especially the section where the angels appear to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem.

In the gospel of St. Matthew there are two bible verses from the old testament which indicates that the reservations of Christmas started much before Christmas actually happened 2000 years ago.

The first verse in the gospel of St. Matthew from the old testament is that

Look, the virgin shall conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son.

And they will call Him Immanuel

Which means God is with us.

So Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus in the old testament during the time of Isaiah the prophet. The exact manner of the birth of Jesus was all determined during the old testament times. The name of Jesus Immanuel was also determined before hand. The meaning of the name Immanuel is God is with us. Jesus is so very divine yet He is pleased to dwell with us. St. Joseph is asked by the angel to be the earthly father of Jesus.

The other bible verse is about the place where Christ was to be born. Even the place of Christ's birth is determined in the Old Testament. In the book of Micah is contained the verse that tells us about the birth place of Christ.

And you O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are not least among the ruling cities of Judah.

For a ruler will come from you

Who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.

This bible verse was told to Herod by the leading priests and teachers of religious law when he asked them where is the Messiah supposed to be born.

In Bethlehem in Judea they said to Herod and proceeded to tell him the entire verse from the old testament book of Micah.

The question about the birthplace of Jesus arose in Herod's mind because the three kings arrived in Jerusalem asking where is the newborn king of the Jews? They also said we saw His star as it rose and we have come to worship him.

King Herod was deeply disturbed by the words of the three kings as were the other citizens of Jerusalem. King Herod probably saw baby Jesus as a threat because he thought baby Jesus came to take away his power.

But why were the people of Jerusalem perturbed by baby Jesus being born. Are not the people of Jerusalem ordinary Jews going about their lives. Why does it say in the gospel of Matthew that the people of Jerusalem were also disturbed to know that three people from eastern lands had come looking for the newborn king of the Jews.

Herod's response was to call the leading priests and religious leaders and ask them where the Messiah was supposed to be born.

When the leading priests and religious leaders told Herod that Bethlehem was the place baby Jesus was born Herod requested a meeting with the wise men. He asked them at what time did the star appear to them when they were in the East. Then he told them to go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. He asked them to come back to Jerusalem to tell him where baby Jesus was born so he too could go and worship the Christ child.

Why did Herod ask the wise men about the time the star appeared in the east?

More importantly why did the three wise men reach Jerusalem and ask where is the new born king of the Jews. We saw his star as it rose and we have come to worship Him.

Did they ask because the star was no longer visible to them? Or did they ask because they stopped focusing on the star? It is not likely that the star would actually disappear. Why would the star disappear and then promptly appear after the interview with Herod.

In any case after the interview with Herod the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. The star went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.

The sentiments in the very popular and very mournful Christmas hymn titled o come o come Emmanuel was fulfilled during Christmas not just for Jews but also for gentiles. Emmanuel means God is with us. All humanity wanted God to be with them. Both Jews and gentiles.

Scattered throughout the old testament sky like stars shining in a vast firmament are words whose meanings are not fully clear. Words that paint a picture, draw an image about a virgin being with child; of a little town from where a great ruler will come; of a child being born to us; the very name of the child is to mean that God is with us. These words are contained in different books they unexpectedly make us think. They are not all organized in a way that is coherent to ordinary humans. The words themselves are lit up. In the tumultuous story of the Jewish people which forms a large part of the old testament these few words that resonate with Christmas words that echo and whisper and faintly draw

images of the Christmas before Christmas happened. When Christmas actually happened 2000 years ago it was the confluence of threads of many stories. Story of Mary, the story of Joseph. The story of Bethlehem. The story of the Roman emperor Augustus who made the decree of census. The story of the travellers streaming into Bethlehem causing there to be no room in the inn. The story of the stable. The person who would have constructed the stable. The story of the simple cattle in the stable. The story of the three wise men. The story of their journey. The story of the camel's they travelled on. The story of Herod whom the three wise met on the way. The story of the leaders of the religious law who examined the scripture to find out where the Messiah would be born. The story of the shepherds who were watching their flock in the night in the fields. The story of them going into Bethlehem town and seeing baby Jesus. All these strands came together on Christmas when the son of God was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Christmas means peace. Christmas means great joy.