Many aspects of Christmas have been discussed over the past months, weeks, and days leading up to this special holiday. I would like to share with you the aspect of the "Cost of Christmas". I am not referring to the gifts, wrapping needs, postage, dinner, time, etc. I mean the REAL cost of Christmas. Most of these thoughts were shared in the Ladies' Bible Study last week and they meant so much to me - I just think they are worth sharing with all of you.In the hustle and bustle of these last few days, everyone is getting ready for a great holiday. It's a day when we remember the humble birth of our Lord and Savior...a day when we celebrate His leaving His home in Heaven to come to fulfill God's promise to Adam and Eve that He would send a savior to take the punishment of their sin. What did this sacrifice cost those involved?
Christmas cost the people of that time to be taxed:
In Luke 2:1-3 it says "all the world" and everyone had to return to their own town to be taxed. Can you imagine the turmoil and hardship the people of that time must have had to possibly have to walk hundreds of miles to get back to their original home just to pay taxes? There were no modern forms of transportation plus the fact that one family probably had members who were born in several different locations. What an upheaval!!
Think of the cost to Mary:
Here is a Jewish girl trying to please the Lord; one that was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah - only to be found pregnant before she had even been together with her husband. In those days, such a sin of immorality was often the cause of stoning. Think of the scandalous stares and whispers among the other women. In those days it would have been on the front page of the Enquirer (if such a tabloid had existed).
Think of the cost to Mary's family:
Mary and Joseph were engaged but not yet living together - the people of Nazareth must have had a field day with all their tongue-wagging and poo-pooing partly cast towards Mary's parents. Think of the embarrassment to them despite their trust in the Lord. How would your community react if one of your daughter's got pregnant out of wedlock? Today, many just take that for granted, but even 20 years ago - this was taboo in our society.
What about Joseph?:
Think of the heartbreak Joseph must have felt when he found out his fiancee was pregnant...and the baby wasn't his!! An angel came down and explained the situation to Joseph (Mat.1:19-20). Still, Joseph had to endure questions and comments from the hurtful people around him. Another cost to both Joseph and Mary was the fact that Joseph was a poor man and when they were turned away from the inn - no one seemed to care that a very pregnant woman was giving birth in a barn!
There was also a cost to the other characters in the Christmas story: the shepherds who were the poorest of the poor yet herded their sheep many miles to come to the manger that night; the wise men who were also highly respected in their country who had money and prestige - yet set off on a trip to who knew where...following a star! Consider the mockery they endured as their caravan trudged across the country with no definite destination...only following a star. Even Herod suffered a cost Imagine the humiliation when this king had to call in his scholars to be told of the prophecy of the Savior being born in Bethlehem! What a blow to his pride!!
Think about it...the unbeliever celebrates this day at Christmas parties or gathered around a tree full of credit card purchases that will become broken, re-gifted, or never used...in many cases. The believer also celebrates with loved ones and receives gifts - but most of us also attend church services on Christmas Sunday and Christmas Eve to celebrate this life-changing birth. Many quibble that how do we know that was the correct date of his births. We can argue over the date, but the purpose of that day is undeniable: "God came to live with us so that we could live with Him someday!" What a wonderful gift for each and every one of us who accepts it!!
10 comments:
You forgot a couple little tidbits about Herod. He was a very bad guy who ordered every boy-child under the age of three to be murdered because of his jealous rage against the birth of the newborn King. He also killed members of his own immediate family who did not go along with his twisted thoughts and actions. The only cost to Herod was the fact that this horrible and treacherous king didn't get his way when he was searching for the Baby Jesus.
One other thing I don't think you mentioned was the very important fact that the Wise Men brought "gifts" to the baby Jesus - this is a very important part of the Nativity story. Perhaps this is where the giving of gifts at Christmas first started. Please remember that Christmas is a wonderful holiday with or without gifts, and your continual poo-pooing of giving, buying, wrapping, etc. of gifts is getting kinda old. It's fun and thoughtful to give someone that special gift, and a very traditional and meaningful part of the holidays. It's only negative if a person looks at it in that way - as a burden or a chore. And....not everyone pays for their gifts by credit cards. And for those who have no choice but to buy gifts that way, does not necessarily mean it's a bad thing. Maybe it's just the only way they can afford it. I would much rather use a credit card if it was the only way I could get someone a gift, rather than leave that special person out. It's all in how you look at it, and if you are positive or negative in regards to the giving and receiving of gifts. If the "wise" men of Biblical times thought it was important, that's good enough for me!
The wise men didn't bring gifts to the baby Jesus until he was two years old at his home...they were not at the manger. Our pastor says it is alright to include the "3" wise men in our nativity set-ups, but they should be a ways from the actual manger scene as they were on the way but had not arrived yet. There were also many wise men, but we refer to "three" because of the 3 gifts they brought. Each of the 4 gospels is different regarding the birth of Jesus. We take our interpretation from Matthew 2. It was not my intent to put down gift-giving...only to put it in perspective to what the TRUE meaning of Christmas is. Gift giving is fine, but should not take the place of going to church or remembering what the holiday is about.If my reading is correct,the wise men were sent by King Herod to Bethlehem to search for the baby so HE could go and worship him (Matthew 2). Herod ordered the boys under 2 years old killed AFTER he had been outwitted by the Magi (Matt.2:16)
I researched my Bible study notes and my Bible to write this blog, and it was not meant to turn into an argument. It was meant to potray my feelings about Christmas,and as such, I hope it adds meaning to the spirit of the holiday to others.
Oh my! It's Christmas, guys. Can't we all just get along. ;)
As far as I'm concerned we can.
There isn't any not getting along that I'm aware of, Barbara? Mom used the word "argument" in her comment, not me. I was just adding a comment to add some things that she left out. Wasn't meant to be negative or argumentative in any way whatsoever. That being said, I beg to differ with her account of the birth of Jesus as I, too, have read all the accounts in the Bible. I do not see anything at all that says the wise men didn't bring gifts until Jesus was two years old - first I've heard of it? Actually, I believe that would have been quite impossible because according to my Quest Study Bible, Jesus was born approx. one year before Herod's death. And Herod sent the Magi to find the Baby Jesus by following the star from the east (Matthew 2). Herod's sole intent was to kill Jesus according to the angel who told Joseph to flee to Egypt (vs. 13). Your sharing of the account of Jesus' birth is exactly what Christmas is all about, but if you are going to quote scripture, it is best to get all the facts straight.
Upon further research on the Internet, I did find a couple of sites that stated the wise men did not see Jesus until he was around the age of two. So I may have mis-spoke on that particular issue. However, I do not take much stock in these type of sources as you don't know who wrote it, and how factual it actually is. And, since none of us were actually there, there is no way to know for sure anyway. It's really a matter of speculation and theory.
I forwarded Richard's interpretation on these topics to you, as he is a pastor who has more indepth knowledge about the Word of God than I do. I also talked to my own pastor last night,and he confirmed what Richard has said. I'm not trying to prove you right or wrong - just want to know that I am understanding what the Bible says for my own satisfaction. I think what Marcie was referring to re: the cost to Herod was only the words of Mat.2:3 as we all know Herod was a mean king. If I had taught this lesson, I would not have included Herod, but she chose to.
I believe the whole concept of Christianity is based on theory, speculation, and FAITH. If we don't exercise faith, we really couldn't accept anything in the scriptures,as there are many conflicting reports on the birth of Jesus, the resurrection story, etc. I accept the Bible on faith the same as I have faith a chair will not break when I sit in it. Even the 4 gospels have different stories relating the birth of Jesus. Mark and John don't mention it at all. I can understand why some people, even in our family, say they can't accept the Word of God because it is full of contradictions and omissions. However, the facts about salvation and our future life are very clear along with other items of importance in my Christian walk. Christmas has always been a mystery to many as we have no proof that this is the date He was born. My answer to that....who cares. We believe He came to earth and was born so the actual date is immaterial to me.
Well said - I even read somewhere recently that it is believed that Jesus was most likely not even born on Dec. 25th or even in the month of December at all. Who woulda thunk? Oh well - all I can say is "Merry CHRISTMAS" (not Happy Holidays)!! Please give my daughter a hug for me when you see her as we all miss her and Brian very much. Looks like it may be just the three of us for Christmas due to an impending nasty storm coming to the U.P., which may prevent any travel for Brandon and Ada who were supposed to be here for Christmas Day.
Breanna is on the road as I write this....and it has been snowing since last night. She said Martin was driving very carefully and my biggest concern is if those highways in Wyoming get closed before they make it through. Don't know how much snow they are getting but the crosswinds are terrible up there which forces road closures due to visibility. We have about 8" of snow so far and still snowing. Brian and Rob left before daylight for Breckenridge - 3 hrs. away - to go skiing for the day. Hopefully, everyone will make it home okay.
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