We have commercialized Christmas SO much that we have taken out what it is truly, really about and have made it all about presents, food, Santa, & just plain ol' us (the wretched humans we are)! Did we mean to do it? Was it our plan? I don't think so, but as we try to hustle and bustle about hurrying to do the things that are "normally" done during the Christmas season we tend to forget the "reason for the season". I know that I am guilty of this more than I'd like to share. There still is hope for all of us-- it exists with Christ and we can put him back into Christmas. As one of my facebook friends put as her status Merry Xmas!!! It just isn't the same without CHRIST now is it?!?!?!?!
We heard during, a Wednesday night church service, about the symbols of Christmas....these are the everyday things we see during this season that you just may not realize the symbolism within the Bible!! This was just such an awesome sermon that I just HAD.TO.SHARE!!!
Symbols:
Star (Matt 2:1-2)Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”: the star shown bright & high over the stable and even the Christ child's home as a toddler to serve as a guide to HIM.
Angels (Luke 2:8-12) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”: announced the birth of Christ to the Shepard's while watching there sheep.
Ornaments (Isaiah 61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. : God wants us to be prepared & to hang righteousness & salvation onto our souls.
Bells (Exodus 28:33-35) And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around. And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die.:the bells were sown into the old testament (& even up to Christ's death) priest's hem of his robe to show that there was still life behind the veil...if the bells stopped ringing he was no longer worthy before God & was struck down instantly!
Lights (John 8:12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” :He is the light of the world and His light shines thru us when we become saved & serve Him.
Manger (Luke 2:2-7) This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.: It is there where it all really happened; the King came humbly & lowly so we could know that He has been there.
Tree (Romans 11:16 & 21)For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. :If we are with Christ than He is holy & if He is holy & we are called the branches than we too are also holy with Him.
The question we were asked...Why is the Christmas tree the focal point of Christmas? This type of tree is born & harvested just for the Christmas season and then it dies. We raise them from a seedling just for them to die shortly after being cut down & decorated. We can also relate this to Christ's Birth-Life-Ministry-& finally Death. Think about it for a while......
*This post was originally written in 2012*
