The tag line asked how much you really know about Christmas, but it included questions about traditions and trivia as well as the real story. I messed up on several...like who sent the very first Christmas card? Wow, did he know what he started? (BTW, I can't even remember his name!) I quit the test when it asked who invented the first artificial Christmas tree. Who cares?
This week in Bible study we talked about the major question running through the entire book of John (New Testament): WHO IS THIS JESUS? John does not tell the full Christmas story with shepherds or wise men or angels. He simply says, "The WORD became flesh and lived among us." The Message version says, "He moved into the neighborhood."
After He moved into the neighborhood and people started listening to Him, and watching what He did, they wondered if He could be the ONE Israel had been waiting for all these centuries. The question arose about His birthplace --- because the prophecy said the ONE would be born in Bethlehem. The neighbors all assumed Jesus was locally born --- but indeed He was not.
There are so many false assumptions about Jesus because we may know more about holiday traditions than we know about the real story. And the truth is that not all of us Christians are very good representatives. We are Jesus-followers, but not always very Jesus-like. If you're a Jesus-follower, here's some questions I keep asking myself as I prepare for Christmas:
---Are my Christmas celebrations like Jesus would want for His birthday?
---Am I frustrated and upset about the crowds at the stores and the packed parking lot? (YES!)
---Am I spending more than I can afford because I want to please everyone on my gift-giving list?
---Are my family traditions so important that I have no time for Jesus?
Tonight why not talk with your family about the meaning of Christmas for all of you, and make some refocus plans...it's not too late!
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