Observing Christmas in Christian Ways

MEMORY VERSE: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” —John 1:14

JOHN 1:9-18

THE caption of our lesson implies the possibility of Christmas being observed in un-Christian ways, and we know that this is actually the case. Commercialism has entered into the observance of Jesus’ birth to a lamentable degree, a commercialism which has stooped even to the feature of liquor as a part of Christian festivities. Consider the deaths on the highway over the Christmas holiday period due to drunken drivers.

It is also important to understand why the birth of Jesus is such an important milestone in the outworking of the divine plan of salvation, and we have some of the truths pertaining to this brought to our attention in our lesson. The very first verse of the lesson presents a glorious truth concerning Jesus; namely, that he is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

In the nearly two thousand years since Jesus was born, a few have been enlightened by the glorious Gospel of the kingdom which he proclaimed, but by comparison with the world population as a whole, this number has been very small indeed. However, the promise still stands that Jesus, as the true Light, will yet enlighten every man that cometh into the world. This will be accomplished during his messianic kingdom reign, when even the dead will be awakened to be enlightened, and given an opportunity to believe, obey, and live. We should remember this when we observe the birth of Jesus.

The religious world of Jesus’ day did not recognize who he was, nor did the nation of Israel accept him: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him [individually], to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:12) Thus is pointed out the beginning of the selection of those who, in the messianic kingdom, will live and reign with Christ. Throughout the age, Gentile believers have been added to this company. This has been the work of the age, beginning with the coming of Jesus. Not until this work is completed will there be peace on earth.

“The Word was made flesh.” Jesus did not assume a body of flesh. He was “made” flesh. The purpose of this was that he might give his flesh for the life of the world. (John 1:14; 6:51, Heb. 2:9) Jesus’ birth would have been to no avail so far as the redemption and the recovery of the race from sin and death is concerned unless he sacrificed his humanity as a “ransom,” a “corresponding price,” thus taking the place of Adam and his race in death. Let us remember this also when we observe the birth of Jesus.

“We beheld his glory,” John writes. This was not a heavenly glory, but an earthly glory. It is the earthly glory referred to in Paul’s quotation from the psalms concerning the original creation of man: “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor.”—Heb. 2:7

Jesus was born into the world perfect, even as Adam was perfect when he was created. No wonder John was impressed, and said, “(We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” No one on earth since Eden, except the generation of John’s day, has ever beheld a perfect human.

John compares the giving of the Law by Moses with the coming of Jesus, and points out the difference in meaning: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” The Law had its place in the outworking of the divine plan. For one thing, it demonstrated the need of a Redeemer, as it proved that no one could gain life by keeping it.

But it was the coming of Jesus that opened the grace of God in its fullness, and began to reveal the great truths concerning the life provided by God’s love through the gift of his beloved Son. Not until the close of the thousand-year reign of Christ will the fullness of this blessed thought be fully appreciated by all mankind. Not until then will the Heavenly Father’s glorious character be fully revealed as a result of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Let us rejoice as we keep this thought in mind.

QUESTIONS

Can we properly observe Jesus’ birth unless we know its significance in the plan of God?

What are some of the thoughts we can, with profit, keep in mind in connection with the birth of Jesus?

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