MERRY CHRISTMAS AND COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON!!!
Written by
Emeka Orji
December 2023
This season is inarguably the most popular season globally. I’m very much aware that this season means various things to various individuals and that’s what motivates how people celebrate or what they do this season.
In all the fanfare, decorations, parties, carols as well as uncertainties that have characterised this year’s Christmas, it is important that we are reminded as well as reflect on the VERY REASON FOR THE SEASON.
I’m very much aware of the debate on the exact date and need for CHRISTMAS but I consider it unnecessary.
CHRISTMAS remains the COMMEMORATION and CELEBRATION of the BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST as prophesied in ISAIAH 7:14, 9:6-7 and got fulfilled in 1st Century AD as recorded in the following scriptures;
“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” WHICH IS TRANSLATED, “GOD WITH US.” (Matt.1:23)
…”FOR UNTO US IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOUR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD.” (Luke 2:11)
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US, AND WE’VE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.(John 1:1,14)
From these scriptures, we understand that the BIRTH or the COMING of JESUS CHRIST into this world is an expression of GOD’S LOVE to HUMANITY and the EXECUTION of His REDEMPTION PLAN FOR MANKIND whom He created and empowered to be His representative on earth(Genesis 1:26-28) but whose Relationship with God got SEVERED consequent upon his disobedience of God’s commandment(Genesis 2:16,17, 3: 1-7). This SEVERANCE OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN NECESSITATED REDEMPTION AND GOD DECIDED TO COME IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
Therefore, the BIRTH or COMING OF JESUS CHRIST INTO THIS WORLD is actually an expression of GOD’S LOVE towards us and “A MEANS towards an END” as recorded in John 3:16;
…”FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE(DIVINE LIFE/KINGDOM LIFE)”
LET’S THEREFORE REFLECT ON THESE AND ENSURE WE CONTINUALLY RESPOND TO GOD’S LOVE BY BELIEVING AND LIVING FOR JESUS CHRIST.
MAY THE PEACE, LOVE AND JOY OF THE LORD FILL OUR HEARTS THIS SEASON AND ALWAYS AS WE COUNT DOWN TO HIS RETURN.