Don’t get me wrong Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. However, there are some ways in which it isn’t so wonderful. Just think of those gift buying excursions that often turn into anything but wonderful: stop-and-go traffic, rude drivers, frenzied purchasing, etc… The commercialization of Christmas will only continue to pressurize the holidays to the point where those who “buy” into its message will find themselves hating the holiday.
Now let’s remember Jesus. He really is the reason for this season. He said in John 7:7 that the world hates him because he testifies that its works are evil. Now can you imagine buying a doll for your child that has a truth detector built into it? Not only that, but it can detect good or bad motivation. And, to top things off, it can flat out declare the most hidden sins of anyone within range. Does that sound like a doll you want to bring into your house? Can you see now how the commercialized message of Christmas has changed the original message of Christmas? Let’s explore this further, beginning in Luke 2:34-35.
Mary had taken the baby Jesus to the temple in order to present him before the Lord. During this time an old man named Simeon comes up to her and begins to prophecy about Jesus. When he states that Jesus is destined for the rising and falling of many in Israel, it is clear that some will like it and some won’t. The current way things were had developed by actions that weren’t always godly. Many fortunes had been influenced by things that were wicked and deceptive. The High Priest himself had been appointed by the Roman Prefect. In many cases this process was helped along with bribes. We see the same dynamic in Jesus’ trial 30 some years later. Both government and religion revealed their seedy underbelly during it.
Now the rising and falling that is referred to here is in relation to God himself. The apostles would not have appeared to have been elevated in Israel. In fact after the death and resurrection of Jesus, we see those who crucified him throwing the apostles in Jail. But in God’s eyes things were different. Suddenly Galilean fishermen were of higher esteem in his eyes than the High Priest in Jerusalem.
Simeon also refers to Jesus as a sign that will be spoken against. As a “sign” the words and actions of Jesus would point to something. What was that? Jesus points us to the Truth, but specifically the truth about the Father in heaven and our predicament before him. This clarity of who God is stood in stark contrast to the teachings of the religious leaders. Their sin and twisting of the Scriptures was glaringly obvious. Thus, they not only spoke against him, but they also crucified him. This picture of a sword piercing through to our soul is told to Mary about herself. But notice the wording implies that it will pierce others (in fact all). Even Mary, who had been found worthy to give birth to the Son of God, was not sinless. Her flesh would struggle with the actions and words of Jesus. The sword is a metaphor for the word of God cutting through the outer image we put on and going down to the “heart” of our motivations, thoughts, and actions. This Word would reveal the thoughts of the hearts of men. It is easy to try and hide our motivations from each other. This is how we protect ourselves and get ahead. Those who are the most skilled often are rewarded with greater honors. We can only judge by conjectures we make looking at surface projections. Are they real? Often not. Thus Paul states in 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” Here he specifically deals with trying to judge the thoughts and motivations of people’s hearts. The praise of men is no guarantee that God is pleased with us. In Christ, we no longer have to hide in the darkness of pretense. However, neither should we use the grace of God as a license for flaunting willful sin. Paul warns about this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Paul warned that things would become very perilous, both in the natural and in the spiritual. People may say all the right things and do the right things, but if that is merely a mask that they are hiding selfish motives behind then it will eventually come to light. True believers need to keep alert so that they can protect themselves from false teaching that pampers the flesh and has demonic origins. After listing the many different sins, Paul points to perhaps the worst. “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” Whether they are Christians or not, Godly ways and terms are co-opted and redefined to cover wickedness. This is done by false religions, Christians who follow “another gospel,” and even by the secular humanists of our present day. The things of God, such as: peace on earth, joy, love, and forgiveness are kept but the part of the gospel that could actually make those things a reality are rejected. Only God’s Spirit can convict us of sin and regenerate our heart. No amount of good works can regenerate a heart. Without repentance from sin and faith towards Jesus the gospel is neutered. It becomes impotent. We live in a day and age where many Christians are bargaining with humanists in order to create a compromise. But that compromise will be a eunuch that cannot save the world.
To have Christmas without God is the same as neutering Christmas. It is to embrace pretense and run from the reality. We must not allow ourselves to embrace a gospel and Jesus that is powerless to save us.
We must choose whether we desire to rise among men or to rise before God. This is a huge problem in the church today. We seek to be praised by the world. But Jesus said he was hated by the world. What are we doing differently? Do not be deceived by the veneer of this world. It has already been judged by God and his wrath is looming over it. Don’t seek joy in toys. Don’t look for peace in believing that all men are good. Don’t put your hope in man’s ability to solve the world’s problems. These are the paths of the destruction of our soul. But all these things will be delivered to those who put their trust in Jesus the Christ alone.