More on Christmas

Well.... I listened to the interview Michael has posted on the real story of Christmas and must comment. The big difference in the man being interviewed and me is he is speaking of the birth of Jesus as being a parable instead of an actual event. Jesus was born of THE God ( not a god) and is promised starting in Genisis. Marcus (the man interviewed) makes Jesus common. He compared him to other famous men in history. He is God made Man -- still God. He is not common. The gospel of Matthew was written mainly to a Jewish audience and thru geneology and content through out presents Jesus as Messiah King. He gives all the past kings in the geneology to show his legal right to be the King of the Jews. This could only be possible through the line of David to his legal father, Joseph. Luke is written mainly to the gentiles and presents Jesus as son of man and goes back to Adam to show his humanity. He is presented through Mary to again show his humanity. The gospel of Mark has no geneology because his purpose was to present Jesus as servent. John starts with "in the beginning..." to show Jesus Divinity. All together they are complete.

Christmas is about Jesus, our promised savior being born as fortold in the old testament. It is not a story, but about a real event. If it were not real, we would be without a savior to pay for our sin and make it possible to spend eternity in heaven. He came to be our required perfect sacrifice. There is no need to explain any deeper meaning than this. We needed a savior to pay for the penalty of any sin so we could be in the presence of Almighty God on judgement day.

No on has to celebrate Christmas. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph after being conceived by the Holy Spirit of God Almighty. He was promised and came not as the Jews expected in the form of an earthly powerful King, but rather a baby in a manger. He grew like any other child, but without sin (because he was God). At the appointed time, He started his time of teaching and preparation for ultimately living as "Christians". He gave his life on the cross, shedding his blood as sacrifice for my sin and all the sins of the world. We no longer need to work our way to being on Gods good side. We need to trust His way and accept His payment and follow him as we make our way through this life here on earth. It is done.... it is finished! Accept it, spend time in prayer and worship with Him and study His word for truth and direction. That is the way to eternity in heaven. My reservation is in and confirmed.

I find no need to re--create the wheel, if you will. The bible is the hand book for living. It is the word of God. It is the good news to all the people. I find it freeing to know I am forgiven for all my sin and know I have a place in eternity with God when life here is over. I am a follower of my savior Jesus Christ. If I could get to heaven on my own good works, He would not have had to come and die on my behalf. There is one way to heaven and it is only through Jesus Christ. Is his birth a myth? I am basing my eternity on it being a fact.

Basically, I definitely have to respectifully disagree with the interview. Jesus was born of the one and only true God, and so much more than a parable. And that, makes all the difference.

God Bless you all!!