WHY CHRISTMAS? OR THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
In the beginning God created something good. But man, God�s highest creation, rebelled and brought sin and death into the world. Sin does not mean the creation was destroyed, but corrupted or poisoned. The relationship between God and humanity; humanity and nature was disrupted. In addition relationship within humanity was disrupted. You can see this disharmony even today.
Though God pronounced a curse at the Garden of Eden. He also pronounced a promise. In Genesis 3:15, God promised that the �seed of the woman� would crush the head of the serpent who tricked mankind into sin. This is what Luther called the protoevangelium or first Gospel. A prophecy of the death of Christ and triumph over Satan. This passage is alluded to in Mel Gibson�s PASSION OF THE CHRIST where Christ in the Garden kills the snake which approaches him. This is also alluded to in the hymn LET THE EARTH NOW PRAISE THE LORD which includes a petition to bruise the serpent�s head.
Christmas is not the end of the story. We must also remember Easter. Christmas is the beginning of God�s coming to earth to reclaim creation to himself. A Christmas carol expresses this sentiment beautifully in the words �God rest ye merry, Gentlemen, let nothing you dismay; remember Christ, our savior was born upon this day TO SAVE US ALL FROM SATAN�S POWER WHEN WE WERE GONE ASTRAY.� (Emphasis added.). Easter is the completion of Christ's earthly ministry.
In remembering Christmas we must not simply stay at the manger. One must go from the cradle to the cross. Certain songs do make this connection. �I wonder as I wander out under the sky, why Jesus our savior to come fore to die�� In the carol �What Child is this?� we see the words �nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.�
The story does not end at the death of Christ. Yes, it was necessary for Christ to die to pay the penalty. But that is not the end of the story. With the resurrection (which we commemorate during Easter) we now have hope of a new world and new creation.
Have a blessed Christmas !
Guy
# posted by GuyTak @ 11:04 AM
