Every year for carol singing on Christmas eve, we will choose some popular and beautiful Christmas hymns and songs. To remind people that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who brings salvation, not Santa Claus or festive attractions, is one of the most popular contemporary Christmas hymns entitled “Who’s the hero?” It reminds us that the protagonist of Christmas is not Santa Claus dressed in red and riding on a sleigh, but our Lord Jesus Christ who was quietly born and bestowed upon us the grace of life.
Places all over the world at Christmas time are put on colorful and eye-catching decorations to encourage people to enjoy themselves to the full. At the same time, churches, other organizations and believers will hold different gatherings: Christmas worship, carol singing, evangelistic meetings, etc., to help brothers and sisters focus on remembering Jesus Christ’s birthday and seize the opportunity to share His gift of salvation with other people. Indeed, this is the most appropriate thing to do. In general, Christmas holidays are full of activities for Christians, whether they are serving in ministries or as participants.
The birth of Jesus Christ is itself abundant grace. Among the four gospels, only Matthew and Luke recorded it, and both using just two chapters. However, these few chapters vividly describe the social background and some characters before the birth of Jesus Christ and their reaction to the birth of the Messiah. From King Herod on the high up, the well-educated, the religious priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, shepherds with a low social status, to the new couple Joseph and Mary who were being caught in unexpected turns in their lives. In addition, there were angels heralding the good news, astrology and astronomy, the desolate wilderness, a quiet Bethlehem, escape routes, and people hurrying to register for the census, etc. All these interweave scenes of surprise, doubt, fear, but also joyful celebration, an atmosphere full of hope and gratitude. Altogether they set the backdrop for the birth of King Jesus Christ in a humble place.
What did the gospel authors want us to see amongst such complex plots and sharp contrasts? Every time I study the accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ, I feel overwhelmed. They lead us to think again the way God prepares His redemption plan and reflect on how people respond when God reveals His will to them. They invite us to truthfully reflect: does the birth of Jesus Christ still have anything to do with me today?
Let me encourage you to read the scriptures about the birth of Jesus Christ carefully during your busy schedule at Christmas. Let the hero of this festival invite us with love, and speak to us personally, so that we can sing heartily like the last line of the hymn Ring the Bells:
Christ the Savior lives today
As He did so long ago!
Rev. Alice You