Christmas Truths

Some of us are passionate and excited about celebrating Messiah’s birth on December 25th. Some of us are passionate about NOT celebrating Messiah’s birth on December 25th. The great irony in the “I love Christmas” and “I hate Christmas” divide is that both attitudes can blind us to what is important and true.

Those of us who take pride in not having a Christmas tree and going to a movie and out to eat Chinese food on Christmas can get consumed with NOT DOING what we believe to be inconsistent with the inherently Jewish reality of Yeshua’s birth. So much so that we lose sight of the fact that at Christmastime millions of people, overwhelming non-Jews, are singing about and worshipping the Jewish King. Surely this is worth celebrating!

Likewise, those of us who consider it a joyous obligation to celebrate Christmas can get consumed with DOING the traditions surrounding Christmas – giving & receiving gifts, meals with friends and family, and even taking in the annual Christmas service and pageant at a local church. So much so that we lose sight of the fact that the Jewishness of Yeshua is not happenstance. It is essential in God’s plan to free creation from the fall – to the Jew first, then for people of every tribe, tongue and nation. This too is worth celebrating!

No matter on which side of the DOING/NOT DOING divide we stand, we can unite in our passion for our priority: Messiah our King was conceived by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), born of the virgin Miriam among His people Y’israel, in David’s home town of Bet’lechem (Bethlehem), and was given the name Yeshua because He would save His people from their sins . . . for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. Let’s not allow our personal passions to keep us from seeing and embracing our highest priority, that which is worth celebrating and shouting from the housetops every day of the year.

“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32).

Written by Dan Strull, LIFE Board Chair