Jim has a golden watch, inherited from his grandfather and father, but no chain to go with it. Della goes to a hair-dealer, and sells her hair to buy a platinum watch-chain for Jim. Her husband has sold the precious watch to purchase a beautiful comb set for Della. Both undergo sacrifices of their supreme treasures for one another.
Jesus’ giving himself for humankind through his birth exceeds all gifts, but most forget it. Last week, a famous supermarket in Kathmandu installed a pine tree at its entrance to remind shoppers to buy Christmas gifts. That evergreen vegetation by itself gave no indication of Jesus, the main character of the festival. What does Dec 25 mean to dedicated followers of the Savior?
We don’t know Jesus’ actual birthday. Some believe that middle-eastern non-Jews celebrated Dec 25 in honor of the sun-god, and Jesus’ followers merely adopted it for Christmas. Adaptation takes place all the time in human living. Thus, Nepali Christians have made Saturday their day of worship. Why? Although Jesus rose from the grave on a Sunday, our country has designated Saturday as its weekly holiday.
Early Christians too could have adapted the sun-god festival for Christmas.
Folks close to Jesus knew right from his birth that he had to die as a sacrifice for humankind. Strangers and prophets foretold that destiny for him. Jesus himself made that the goal of his life as he grew up.
Four writers—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—have given us accounts of Jesus’ work. People call each of these four books the "gospel" which means "good news". During the time of these writers, a messenger traveled to city squares; and proclaimed the birth of a royal heir as "good news". As the Son of God, Jesus became the inheritor of the King of kings, his father. The four gospel writers proclaim the birth of the greatest crown prince ever born, thus the “best news” ever.
Scholars regard Mark’s gospel as the first, and date it to around 65 AD. They think both Matthew and Luke had Mark’s book in front of them because they have followed the first gospel’s outline in composing their works. The gospel of John remains almost independent, and scholars date it last, to approximately 90 AD. The four writers wrote accounts of Jesus within 30 to 60 years of his death, estimated at 33 AD. Compared with famous people’s histories, sometimes written centuries later, the four gospels portray events not far off. Some eye-witnesses of Jesus were still living to relate stories to these authors. The Christian faith bases itself on firm facts.
The four writers have narrated the story of Jesus, and emphasized what they thought fit. They haven’t acted as mere historians but also as creative theologians. Thus, a reader of all gospels will find that the stories complement each other. This happens all the time in journalism. Take, for example, Paras Shah’s shooting his pistol in Chitwan. Different reporters have related the event, and given their own emphases. We find each write-up different, but still true.
Strangers or the three Magi (wise men) came from the east to pay homage to Jesus. They asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" When they found Jesus, they gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—all very expensive items. The gifts came to good use. King Herod, a vassal-ruler under the Roman Empire, heard from the Magi about another "king" just born. Herod would entertain no rivals. In order to ensure that no future king would challenge his throne, Herod killed all Bethlehem-boys two years old or younger. Jesus faced persecution right from birth! Joseph and Mary fled with their baby to Egypt, and lived there till Herod died. How did the family survive? By selling the gold, frankincense, and myrrh they received as gifts from the Magi. In addition, Joseph must have worked as a carpenter.
Last week, a famous supermarket in Kathmandu installed a pine tree at its entrance to remind shoppers to buy Christmas gifts. That evergreen vegetation by itself gave no indication of Jesus, the main character of the festival. What does Dec 25 mean to dedicated followers of the Savior?
Matthew introduced the baby Jesus as a king. The Jews expected a messiah (which simply means God’s chosen one for a special task), a king to lead the battle against the occupying Romans. However, Jesus intended to rule not only over the Jews, but overall. God would make Jesus king, but only after he died for others. Thus after his sacrifice of himself at Mount Calvary for humankind’s sin, the risen Jesus reigns as king over anyone who accepts his lordship.
Luke has an angel announce to shepherds, "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." So, Jesus is the Savior for all people. How will he save? The prophet Simeon gave a hint when he met the boy Jesus and his parents in the temple. He told Mary that "a sword will pierce your own soul too." He was indicating what a painful death Jesus would die on Calvary, and his mother Mary would have to witness it all. John the Baptist says of Jesus "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." To the Jews, a lamb implied an animal to be sacrificed. The Baptist knew Jesus would die for others.
Shepherds in Jesus’ days didn’t have a good reputation. In addition to using foul language, they stole each others’ sheep. Thus the first people to witness Jesus at birth were strangers from the east (the Magi) and ill-reputed shepherds.
Jesus preached, healed, and even raised the dead to life. However, he knew that a greater task awaited him at Calvary. So, as Jesus heads for his last journey to Jerusalem from which he would return alive only in the resurrected body, Luke has Jesus say: "I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed." Baptism normally means immersion in water. Jesus was thinking of the blood that he’d shed on Calvary; and meditating on the forgiveness of sins it would offer to humankind, he eagerly awaited it.
This Christmas, let us forget the decorative pine trees or the mythical Santa Claus. The author O Henry patterned the couple’s love for each other after the Magi’s gifts. Many Nepali Dellas and Jims will give the best they have for their beloved. We have greater models—God who gave his son Jesus to save humankind and Christ who sacrificed himself for us at Calvary.