True meaning of the first Christmas

Many are speaking on the true meaning of Christmas. Some to soothe their secular conscience address Christmas as “Xmas” or “happy holidays.”

While these, to some extent, describe the holiday they do not carry the full meaning of the term “merry Christmas.” To understand the meaning of Christmas a person must go back to the first Christmas.

Most people today accept that Christmas started with the birth of Jesus the Christ in Bethlehem. Many things are interesting to note about the life of Jesus the Christ. Here are just a few of the facts about Jesus the Christ. He was born in an obscure village, worked as a carpenter until about 30 years of age. Then, rather quickly and to some unexpectedly, became a homeless preacher. Jesus the Christ never owned anything other than his clothing his entire life; he did not travel far and he had no formal education by today’s standards.

Interestingly enough, it is recorded that as a child he taught the elders. On one occasion, he missed the launching of a boat and walked on water to catch up with his followers. When traveling with his disciples, a violent storm rose up and his response was to calm the storm through his spoken word. He is the only person to claim he was the son of God, then prove it. He did so by healing the blind, deaf and the crippled, cured incurable diseases (some of which are still incurable) and raised people from the dead.

To thank Jesus the Christ for his gifts of healing the people turned against him, his friends abandoned him. One of his own turned him over to his enemies only to be tried in six different courts in mock trials. He was then flogged with a whip to near death. Beaten, his beard ripped from his face and his back streaming with blood, he was then forced to carry his own method of execution to Calvary. He was then executed in the cruelest fashion of the time — crucifixion.

As they gambled for his only possessions Jesus the Christ responded, as outlined in Luke 23:34: “Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

The most amazing was his own resurrection. To prove his own resurrection, he appeared to more than 500 witnesses. No other person who has ever lived has been able to repeat his miracles on earth.

No ruler that has ever ruled no army that has marched, no country or kingdom that has ever existed has ever made the worldwide historical impact this one man did. There is no other book that has been printed, translated or read more than the Bible. No other book has changed as many lives as the Bible.

So how does this all work into the idea of what Christmas means? The greatest gift ever given to mankind was the birth of Jesus, the gift God gave us on that day — the gift of eternal life, the gift of a living God, the gift of eternal promise. Jesus the Christ came to earth knowing from the day of his birth what his destiny would be. He knew the day and the hour he would die and by what method.

So many today take this gift to the world lightly, barely thinking about the gift. There are many stories that try to explain the gift of giving practiced on Christmas Day; however, all those gifts combined over 2,000 years pale in comparison to that one gift God gave us on that day — the gift of salvation.

There is no pretty paper on the gift. It can be unwrapped any time and any place a person wishes. A person does not have to wait for a particular day of the year. The gift brings peace and love to the person who accepts it. There is no cost; the price was paid many years ago. All God wants from those who believe is their love and a commitment to him and his word.

This all started in an obscure village 2,000 years ago with the birth of one baby on a day we all call Christmas. Merry Christmas to all from Lighthouse Chapel.

Mike Blodgett is the chaplain at Lighthouse Chapel. Contact him at 373-5866, or lighthouse_chapelak@yahoo.com.