HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS

CELEBRATING THE BIRTH DAY????

Well, Jesus himself never celebrated His birthday, neither did his parents.  During the incident of Herod ordering to kill all children below two years – Joseph was visited by the angel of God and ordered to flee to Egypt. After the death of King Herod Joseph was visited by the angel of God once again and asked to go back to Judea but as Joseph feared for the safety of his family the angel of God permitted him to move in to the province of Galilee – a city of Nazareth, where he lived till the age of thirty.

When Jesus was twelve years old, He visited the Temple at Jerusalem with His parents as an annual custom. After that till age of thirty when He came down to the banks of River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist – the Bible is silent about the details of His life. However it is understood that He remained subjected to His parents and shouldered all the responsibilities of the household as the eldest son; because Joseph had died in the mean time.

After baptism, Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and led Him into the wilderness, where He fasted forty days and nights.  The tempter tempted Him there but He overcame him by the word of God and came up victoriously. After that He began the public ministry. During the ministry He never exalted Himself nor coveted any name or fame for Himself. He always exalted the Father who has sent Him. He lived a simple busy life doing the will of the Father. He chose twelve disciples and called them apostles, who were always with Him. There were seventy other disciples also who carried the gospel of Jesus. Not even once did they celebrate His birthday ever. Neither did they cut a birthday cake or kindled a Christmas candle.

During the three and half years of ministry, Jesus taught the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven to the disciples. He taught publicly in the seashores, in the synagogues, in the houses and in the temple. Many things He taught to the disciples in privately also. But never did mention anything about the celebration of the birthday. Rather at the last night when He was dinning with His disciples, He told them to celebrate “Lord’s supper” of breaking of bread and wine to remember His death till His coming. The Lord’s Supper or the breaking of bread was the only celebration instituted by the Lord Himself and later observed by His disciples after the ascension of the Lord.

After crucifixion, burial and resurrection – Jesus was with the disciples for forty days. During those days He taught many things to them about the Holy Spirit but not a single thing about the festivals. On the fortieth day He ascended in to Heaven.

Disciples waited for the promise of the Father on the upper room and on the fiftieth day or on the day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit descended upon them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and endued with the power from on high. Apostle Peter stood along with the other eleven Disciples and preached the first ever sermon of the New Testament Church. Church came into existence, as the gospel of the resurrected Jesus was preached and believed by many. Many miracles took place and daily many souls were added unto the church. A great revival broke out in the Jews capital Jerusalem and the age old Jewish religion was in jeopardy. The Jewish religious leaders felt threatened and began to breath fire against the Apostles and the newly born Church. The Jewish Sanhedrin passed orders to persecute the new believers of the Church. The believers and the Church was a completely new concept for people and many were not able to accept this.

A great persecution followed after the stoning of Stephen at Jerusalem and quickly spread throughout the Roman Empire. Believers and Apostles were scattered through out due to this persecution. Both Jewish leadership and Roman government officials became enemies of Gospel and the Church. During those days Saul of Tarsus became the champion persecutor. Later Lord Jesus met him on the way to Damascus and changed him into Saint Paul. But the persecution which had started never ceased. It began to grow day by day. Apostles and believers of Christ became martyrs for Gospel.  People were not free to confess or profess their faith on Jesus openly. Jews and Romans both hated the believers of Jesus and many apostles and believers became the martyrs for gospel. Roman people hated Christians and tried to wipe out them from the face of the earth.

Believers were less in number and they had to pay the price for their faith in Jesus. Many were cast before the hungry Lions, many burnt alive, some cut asunder, killed by gladiators, strangled to death, stoned, crucified and dragged by horses etc. and in many more cruel way they were killed.

They loved the Lord more than their lives. By giving out their lives they preserved their souls for eternal life. Real Christians never knew such religious celebrations; theirs was only celebration called “Lord’s supper” which was the remembrance of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. By remembering the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ they were strengthened to face the persecution.

It was not until 313 A. D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine declared the “Edict of Tolerance” for the Christians, from then the persecution for Christians came down drastically. People were given freedom to profess and live their faith. In fact, after the “Edict of Tolerance” by the Emperor Constantine, Christianity became the national religion of the Roman Empire.  Church played a great role in the politics. Church began to lose the chastity of faith and doctrine of Christ. Many pagan rituals sniped into the Church. The Church later named as “Roman Catholic”.   ‘Catholic’ means   ‘Universal’ and it began from Rome so it became Roman Catholic. Church leaders were given great importance in the politics. They were called Papas or POPE, meaning “Father”.

Pope became the supreme leader of the Church whom they claimed as the representative of Christ on earth.

Earlier the Romans were pagans and worshippers of many gods and goddesses. They were worshiping Sun, Moon and many planets like Saturn as gods. Their worshipping place was called Ziggurats. Once they were converted into Catholicism, their ziggurats were turned into Cathedrals. They brought in the pagan idols into the so called Church. Their pagan rituals became Christian rituals which has nothing to do with Christ or Bible.

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CHRISTMAS STAR

CHRISTMAS – STAR

Wise men of East saw a star in the sky and understood that a great king is born. They began to follow the star to meet that great king and worship Him. The star led them to the place where boy Jesus was.

Matthew 2:9 says, “When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the East went before them, TILL IT CAME AND STOOD OVER,WHERE THE YOUNG CHILD WAS.”

Verse 11 : “And when they were come into THE HOUSE, they saw the young child with His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.”

Note it: The star stood over the HOUSE, not over the INN or the CATTLE SHED where the Child was born.

They met the Child Jesus much later than the shepherds, almost about two years later. The wise men met Jesus at the house, which could be a rented one, whatever, which Joseph later managed to arrange one at Bethlehem.

So, the star has nothing to do with the manger, but with the house.

How do one justify then, by hanging a, so called, Christmas Star on the top of the house and decorate a manger inside the house??

In fact, the Star which people today hang over their houses is not the Christmas Star but its origin has some other reason.

In Bible, God speaks of this festive Star in Acts 7:43 : “Yea, Ye took up the tabernacle of MOLOCH, the STAR OF YOUR GOD REMPHAN, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.”

Beware! Christian Friend! God will not be displeased if you do not hang a Star on top your house in the month of December; but He will rather be displeased if you do so.

In the name of Christ would you adopt all non-Christian activities like drinking, dancing, merry making with evil things? Do you think Christ will be pleased by that? Never.

Rather Christ would be pleased if you meditate the humility, purity and sacrifice of the son of God and change your life according to His words in the Bible.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. Luke 2:11

As the month of December arrives in the calendar, most of us get into Christmas celebration preparations. We plan our holidays, visit our dear ones, bake cakes, make new clothes, send greetings, shop for the family so on and so forth….

I live in the suburbs of Delhi, the Capital city of India; where the concentration of Christian population is all most nil. But the neighbors, store keepers, friends and people who interact with us and know that we are Christians often remind us of Christmas cakes, greeting cards, Santa Claus and fun during Christmas day. They almost wait for the date – 25^th December every year and ask for gifts, perks etc.

Well quiet often it strikes in my mind that – what is this Christmas celebration all about? Why we Christians get so busy in getting involved in the celebrations without even understanding the truth? Why nobody ever bothers to find the answer to few simple questions regarding Christmas??

I made up my mind and got into the business of finding out the truth about these celebrations.  It took quiet a long time to do some research in this line and here I am trying to put those truths before you.

Try to answer the following questions:

Is 25^th December – the Birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Why the name X-Mas is given to the birth of Christ?

Which is correct – either X-Mas or Christmas?

Did really the disciples of Jesus celebrated the festival ever?

Is there any mention of incident or instruction to celebrate Christmas in the Bible?

 Did Christ command to observe His birthday as Christmas day?

Is Birthday Celebration a Christian tradition or heathen in origin?

Who else celebrated their birthdays and what was the consequence??? Etc.….

Such questions often seem to puzzle our simple minds. Sometimes we don’t want to bother ourselves by these puzzling questions. We simply over look the matter and follow the traditions of our forefathers.

Keep on reading….

My sincere prayer is that may the Lord Holy Spirit guide you into all truth. Truth is Jesus Himself.

THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD

The Holy Bible, very clearly and precisely reveals the record of the birth of Christ. Jesus the Blessed son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity – was ordained for the salvation of the lost world. His coming into the world was promised by God through the prophets, centuries before His coming. The Old Testament saints and the devoted Jews were always waiting for the “Messiah the Christ”, the Redeemer of Israel.

The birth of Christ changed the whole history of the mankind. Today the history is divided into two parts – as BC and AD. Birth of Christ took place exactly as it was written and prophesied. But the general expectation of the people was that He would come as a political leader and show His splendor and glory as the King of Jews. So when Jesus was born in the city of David and kept in a manger, nobody took notice, nor got interested in that incident.

Only the selected few could know about the simple advent of the Savior. Shepherds were the first group who got the good news by the angels and they were the first to come and see the new born “Chief Shepherd”. They were happy and went out to spread this news to everybody who came across.

Bible records about the visitation of the Magi or the wise men of the East; who saw “His Star”, a unique, different and huge star in the sky and understood a great king is born. Therefore they collected their gifts and victuals and began to follow the star towards the west. Following the star was not an easy task those days. They had to travel in the dark nights only so that they could see that star and follow. Despite so much of hurdles and hardship they could undertake and reach up to the city of Jerusalem, which was the political capital of Judea. 

They knew that a great king was born and the star has so far led them to the city of Jerusalem so their first reflection was – He must be born in the Palace; whereas the star was leading them beyond Jerusalem to the rural Judea – to the city of David- Bethlehem.

As they entered the Palace at Jerusalem, instead of meeting the “born king of Jews”, they were confronted with the cruel, selfish and troubled king Herod.

The wise men realized their mistake and came out of the Palace; at once they saw the Star waiting for them outside the Palace to lead them further. They were glad to follow the star and at last the star halted upon the house where the child Jesus was. Notice here the star halted not on top of the manger but on top of the house where boy Jesus was living by then.

The journey of Magi or the wise men from East took almost two years to meet the boy Jesus at Bethlehem and by then Joseph could find a house to keep his family.

 HIS STAR AND THE WISEMEN OF EAST

Dear friend, let me delve a little in to the spiritual aspect of the word of God here.

Well, Bible calls them WISE MEN, but seeing their response to the circumstances, any present day scholar would have called them FOOLS. However, Bible calls them WISE – then what was their wisdom?

Note here – they saw “His Star”- that is they saw the Star of Jesus. Well some times some people interpret this Star as Jesus himself. But No, this Star is not Jesus but this Star represent the Servants of Jesus, spiritually.

This Star guided the WISE MEN to the HOUSE where Jesus was. Therefore the word of God in Daniel 12:3 says – “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the STARS for ever and ever.”

Wise men would still follow the star.

They became wise because they followed His Star. Dear friend, if you are willing to follow the teachings of the true servants of Christ, then you are that Wise man.

Following the star was not an easy task.  People would have considered them as foolish they were traveling the dark night following a star, not knowing the path. Sure they might have come across many hurdles, hardship, dense forests, high mountains, deep rivers, rough and rugged unpaved paths full of many dangers, still they took the risk and did not give up.  They went on following the star. It might have claimed their strength, their time, their money and even life. But they kept on following the star and at last their endurance and perseverance paid off; they could reach the House of Jesus and worship Him.

Dear friend, the way that leads to eternal life is straight and narrow and few shall find that. That is not the easy high way. Following Jesus is really hard and demands lots of perseverance and patience.

But the WISE MEN ARE STILL FOLLOWING THE STAR, STILL FOLLOWING THE WAY, STILL FOLLOWING THE DOCTRINES OF THE APOSTLES.

Wise men came to Jerusalem and enquired about the born king of Jews.

Could any body be born as king?

Certainly, not.

 One could only be born as a prince and after the coronation only he would be declared a king.

 But look here, the wise men are searching for “the born king of Jews”.

 Isn’t it interesting?

They knew what they were asking. People might have called them fools – but they knew Jesus is the King – rather the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Jesus was born as a King, lived as a King and when died on the cross, He died as the King of Jews. Upon his head it was written – JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF JEWS (INRI – ISUS NAZARENUS REX IUDORIUM)

Jesus overcame the death, rose again and went to heaven.

 Dear friend, He has promised that He will come again and shall come again as the KING OF KINGS! AND LORD OF LORDS!!

In the Palace of Herod in Jerusalem, this news caused a great commotion. King Herod was greatly troubled and with him the whole city of Jerusalem was also troubled. A troubled person will trouble others also. He enquired diligently from the wise men about the date and time of the appearance of the star; and came to conclusion that it was almost two years by then the star has been seen. (Matt. 2:7, 16)

These wise men saw the star as they came out of the palace of King Herod and rejoiced. They were searching the Savior in a wrong place. The star then leads them to the House where Jesus was living with Joseph and Mary.

Wise men never saw the child Jesus in the manger, as some Christmas greetings cards depict in the picture.  No, they met Jesus at the house and it was after nearly two years of His birth.  That’s what the Bible reveals at Matt.2:16.  Because after the departure of the wise men, Herod ordered to kill all the children aged “from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

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