What is Christmas?

Christmas is Saturday, Dec. 25. But what is Christmas? It’s a mad dash for retail businesses to end the calendar year with a burst of sales. In some cases, it’s a make or break time of the year.

Hallmark, the card company, has shifted its emphasis from selling Christmas cards to sappy love stories wrapped around Christmas at a lodge or in a small town that celebrates with traditions spanning to the 19th Century. It’s a heart-tugging, feel good time of the year when everything in life lines up.

Historically, Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Christians around the world celebrate the day with customs that included gift-giving, decorating their homes, attending church services, sharing dinners and focus on God’s son, Jesus.

Most children have heard the story of the Virgin birth. Gabriel, an angel of the Lord announced, “And you shall call his name Jesus.”

In Hebrew, the name is Yeshua. And, for that matter, it’s not Gabriel, but Gav-ree-el.

So, what’s the point? The name Jesus comes from the Greek way of expressing his name, which is pronounced “Yay-soos.” Hence, we English speaking Christians call him Jesus.

Christ was the Greek word for Messiah. So when one says Jesus Christ, they are literally saying Jesus (Yay-soos) Messiah.

Messiah means savior. Savior of what, or of whom? Simply stated, Yeshua was the stand in for a fallen mankind, who since Adam has sinned against God the Father and the Creator. That is, Yeshua was sent as a sacrifice for the sins of all who God created.

Okay, that’s it for the starched version of Christmas. One cannot talk of Christmas without looking ahead to Good Friday, the crucifixion of Yeshua 33 years after his birth in Bethlehem. That’s when the plan was fixed in time and eternity.

Yes, we have our own traditions, like Swedish meatballs, lutefisk, krumkakka, spritz, and other delicacies that show up at Christmas. We decorate our fir Christmas trees (natural or artificial) with lights, glass or plastic balls, and tinsel and place gifts under those trees. Why the gifts? If you recall, it was the wise men that came from the East to celebrate the birth of Yeshua in Bethlehem. That’s one thought, but there are secularists who do not recognize Christmas or its Messiah, but mark the occasion to share glitzy gifts and lavish dinners and champagne.

Regardless of why you celebrate Christmas, have an enjoyable and peaceful time from the staff at the Dodge County Independent.

CHRIST IS BORN

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. “

Isaiah 7:14

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6