By Pr. Grace Ntale
The word Christmas is a derivative of two words; ‘Christ’ and ‘mass’. It is a traditional celebration of Christ’s birth which is globally held on the December 25. However, though generally accepted, it’s not the exact date Jesus was born.
There is no evidence in scripture that the early church celebrated the birth of Christ, in fact early traditions differ about the time of the year in which Jesus Christ was born with some suggesting mid April while others early January.
Observance of December 25th only became common by the A.D 330s when this date was chosen to replace a Roman celebration commemorating the Sun’s climb following the winter solstice.
Nevertheless, what is undeniable is that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin called Mary as predicted and fulfilled in the holy scriptures in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:10-11 and Luke 1:20-23.
Why is the celebration of the birth of Christ (Christmas) relevant?
The relevance of Christmas cannot be over emphasized because the birth of Jesus Christ was the birth of hope for the salvation of humanity. The Angel spoke to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 and said “she (Mary) will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because He will SAVE His people from their sins”.
The bible also says in Luke 19:10 that “For the son of man came to seek and to save what was lost”, Jesus is the best good news that man has ever and will have ever have.
When Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, it opened a chapter in human race that ushered a sinful nature and lifestyle; so man became a sinner not just by action but by nature and by birth. Romans 3:23.
This condemned man to damnation forever since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) The only way man would be saved from this misfortune was by someone with a sinless nature dying for him since the spiritual law demands that if there will be remission of sin, blood had to be shed.
This is why Jesus came, He is the hope of the world, the bible calls Him the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world in John 1:29 hence giving us permission to go back to our God intended original habitation as Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden.
Jesus Christ is the only savior of the world. The word SALVATION or Sozo is a compound word with several meanings:
-Rescue from eternal damnation (eternal fire)
-Deliverance from bondage of the powers of darkness
-Freedom/Liberty from the deception of Satan
-Healing from the sting of death which is sin
-Prosperity
Jesus Christ brought all the above to humanity with just one single condition of believing in Him. He is the source and channel of eternal life. Roman 6:23, John 3:16.
He is the symbol of God’s love for humanity and therefore celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ (Christmas) is receiving and celebrating God’s love.
It’s my prayer that we all celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with knowledge and understanding and that we do it rightly. Merry Christmas to everyone.
The writer is a Pastor at Dove’s Haven World Freedom Centre Church- Maganjo