Christmas is more than just holidays, Father Christmas and presents. To celebrate and enjoy the season, one should remember its origins because the real Christmas story is found in the Holy Bible with the Birth of Jesus Christ. The Child, Born that night over two thousand years ago, is the Light of the World, King of Kings and the Son of God.
The Christmas Story, of Angels and Mary, a young Jewish girl from Galilee who gave Birth to a King in a humble stable, the simple, hard-working shepherds who came to adore Jesus, the bright Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men who followed it bearing gifts makes the festive season special because the Birth was a miracle and, it gave the world a Savior.
The Birth of Jesus begins with a reference to Caesar Augustus, Emperor of the powerful, Roman Empire and, of Jesus, a Jewish, Baby Boy Born into poverty. The contrast couldn't be greater.
"And so it came to pass in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went to register with Mary who also, was a descendent of King David and of the tribe of Judah. Mary was expecting a Child. While there, the time came for the Baby to be Born."
The joyous event of the Birth of Jesus was announced by an Angel to lowly shepherds accompanied by Angelic praise. The bright Star of Bethlehem revealed the Birth to the Gentile (non-Jewish), Wise Men who came to bow and worship the newborn King. The Gentiles later, would make up most of the Christian world because, from that foundation, Christianity grew, sending off branches in many directions from ancient Jerusalem.
God chose for His Son to be born in a humble stable, and placed in an animal feeding-trough for a Crib surrounded by farm animals. Jesus came into this world in humility, simplicity and in poverty to identify with the poor, and the down-trodden. And, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is a wonderful example of humility, courage, faith and willingness to do God's Will.
That humble stable was filled with the Presence of God. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior, God gave us a way to inherit the Heavenly, Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, taught people to love God, to love their neighbor and fellow-man, to treat other people as they themselves wish to be treated. He preached equality, care for the weak and needy, He fought sin, yet He did not despise sinful people. He was willing to forgive and to heal and He taught that repentance and faith could save people. The Apostles and other early Christians went everywhere carrying the Message of Jesus and the Word of God to all continents and all peoples.
The Wise Men remind us that Christmas is a time for giving. It is a time for peace and goodwill to all as we look forward to the joy of the season. And, Christmas Day is marked by church services and the traditional, Christmas table spread out before us where we can all sit down together with the family to enjoy a Christmas feast that brings joy and happiness to every heart.
The Christmas Story also, has its very own traditional pageantry, beautiful old customs and feasting making everything more cheerful and beautiful that brings out the best in all of us. For many children around the world, it is a time for gifts when Father Christmas arrives on a sleigh pulled by reindeer in the early hours of Christmas morning placing presents in stockings, by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree.
And, the spirit of Christmas embodies many wonderful qualities that can be felt and seen everywhere throughout the world. Most places of work will hold Christmas parties, homes, shops, business offices, streets and town centers are decorated with Nativity scenes, Christmas trees and bright, colored lights. And, shopping centers become busier with people buying gifts as they play the traditional Christmas Carols throughout the day, while people will often sing them out in the streets to help raise money for charities.
One of the most famous Christmas Carols of all time, Silent Night is a song that is beautiful and yet, so powerful, it touches people with its simple Christian message of heavenly peace. Written by Father Joseph Mohr in 1816 its music was added by choir director, Franz Xavier Gruber in 1818.
In the small, alpine, village church of Saint Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria, this timeless classic was heard for the first time as Father, Joseph Mohr and Franz Xavier Gruber, accompanied by the choir and a guitar, sang "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (Silent Night, Holy Night). From here, Silent Night went on to have such an impact around the world, it even caused a World War One battle to temporarily cease, as British and German soldiers sang of heavenly peace from their trenches on Christmas Eve.
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