Israel Umoh
The celebration of Christmas has generated a lot of controversies in different ecclesiastical circles. Like a bashed baby, some clergymen and theologians continue to drum into the ears of many that Jesus Christ was not born on Christmas. There is no doubt about this, but the make-belief demeans the supernatural entity and mysterious power about the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Bible does not record when Jesus was born. So, the argument is misconstrued and misconceived in some quarters. Though there are many calendars, December 25 designated for the celebration of Christmas is tailored from Gregorian calendar.
The fact remains that Jesus was born. The time was not recorded. Neither was the date penned down by Bible historians. So, it is not about the date Jesus was born, but about the personality involved. In short, the personality defines the essence of the celebration; it is not the time and date that determine the commemorative event. So, the contention is misconstrued and uncalled for.
Since it is established that Jesus Christ was born as a man, people are justified to honour Him as a personage. The Magi (three wise men) justified the carnation of Jesus hence their desperate search for, and majestic visit to, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in remotest part of the world. It behoves mankind to reciprocate the Agape love of Jesus in any reasonable, not to dwell on a disputing issue that seems bathing Him again in the dirty shepherd’s trove.
However, Straightnews newspaper canvasses 10 lessons the living must learn from the birth of Jesus.
(1) God uses any instrument for His glory: The Magi were neither Jews nor Christians. Coming from the east, the magi would have been outside God’s plan. As astrologers, one could say they were pagans. Nevertheless, they recognized Jesus as the Messiah, visited, worshiped Him, and God guided and protected them. Read Matthew 2:1. So, God can use herbalist, sorcerer and occultist to fulfil His divine plan for mankind, if a born again Christian is not available for use.
(2) Meet a man of God: During this period, people must endeavour to visit or meet men of God. The Magi sought and met Jesus because they wanted to worship Him. Meeting men of God who believe in Jesus Christ, not those preaching heresies is helpful in obtaining God’s blessings. Matthew 2:2 makes us to understand that the wise men searched for Jesus, it was the Son of God who looked for them.
(3) Visit a man of God with gift: It is understood that the wise men visited Jesus with three major gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh symbolising kingship, priesthood and death. Read Matthew 2:11. Do not go empty handed because you want to receive blessings from God’s instrument.
(4) Equip yourself with knowledge: When the wise men saw the star in the sky, they recognized that it signalled the birth of a new King and a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. When Herod asked the chief priests and teachers of the law, they told him Jesus was born in Bethlehem, because it was foretold by the prophet Micah. Throughout the story of the wise men, we see several prophecies about the Messiah fulfilled: Micah 5:2: The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. Hosea 11:1: The Messiah (God’s son) came out of Egypt (Jesus fled to Egypt to escape Herod and returned to Nazareth once king Herod had died.
(5) Keep seeking: The wise men first went to Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, seeking “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” This seemed like a natural place to look for a new king: the palace. However, Jesus was not seen where the magi expected Him to be. They had to consult the religious leaders and sought guidance from Scripture in order to find the new king. They had to keep seeking after an initial disappointment.
This is true with us too. Like the wise men, we may come to a place where we expect God to show up only to find Him not (as with unanswered prayers). Our job is to not give up when this happens, but to keep seeking. Often, we find God in places that we don’t expect.
(6) Hard work is rewarded: The star appeared over the misty sky of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. The wise men likely walked from their own homes all the way to Bethlehem. They also had to contend with Herod, the evil king, and they had to return to their country a different way than they had come as guided by Angel.
However, their hard work was rewarded when they saw and worshipped the Messiah. Though non-Jews, they honoured Jesus as the coming Messiah, and were guided and protected by God himself.
(7) Expect trouble: Instead of rejoicing at the news of the birth of the king of the Jews, Herod was troubled. From his reaction, we could gather than he was jealous and threatened. He created trouble for all those around Jesus, including the wise men and everyone living in Bethlehem.
When we follow Jesus, we can expect trouble. Jesus warns his disciples of this, for example, in Matthew 10:21-23. When we are following God’s will, the devil is against us, and oftentimes the world is against us (or at least those with worldly ambitions, like Herod, are against us). However, when we expect trouble, we keep the devil from isolating us by reminding ourselves that others experience the same obstacles, challenges, and failures; we are not alone. And ultimately, the trouble that we face now is not the last word. As with the magi, we can expect God to lead us and protect us.
(8) Trust God to lead you into the future: God led the wise men in two very concrete instances in this story. He led them to Jesus, when they followed the star and the prophecy in Scripture. And he led them to safety after they had visited Jesus, by warning them not to return to Herod. In both cases, trusting God and following His lead would have required a huge leap of faith.
Assuming that the wise men took two years to get to Jesus, then a round trip to visit the Messiah would take four years of time and effort. They would be away from their homes, braving the elements, and potentially facing obstacles and trouble for four years time. When they began following the star, they also did not know where they were going or what to expect. They simply had to trust that God was in control and that he would lead the way.
Similarly, when the wise men chose to follow God’s advice when he appeared to them in a dream, they also required faith and trust. They would have had to trust that it was God speaking to them. And they would again have to venture into the unknown, travelling a path that they were unfamiliar with.
When we trust God, however, and when we listen to our surroundings, to His Word, and we cultivate spiritual discernment, we are rewarded greatly. Like the wise men, we can trust God to guide us and to protect us.
(9) Innocent babes were killed: Jeremiah 31:15: The slaughter of children by Herod is predicted. During this festive period, many who are careless could die. The Bible enjoins that believers must be wise as serpent, but as gentle as dove. Being innocent or naive in any spiritual warfare does not exempt you from harm or danger. Without spiritual discernment, a Christian could fall into an evil trap. Be wary in attending ceremonies, eating sumptuous meals or drinking spree, going on night parties, going on yachting, and engaging in some businesses that could attract untimely death. These ceremonies could bring about thriving evil arrows and spiritual poisons that harm the man’s spirit and body eventually.
Be armed with information about happenings in your state, environment and country so that you do not become a prey to the antics of devilish agents. Be wise against the plots of ritual killers, 419ners, secret cultists, occultists and other ravenous wolves. Be equipped with knowledge on every issue to avoid running into trouble or becoming a victim.
(10) Live courageously. When we realise that God is bigger than our problems, we should live without fear. But to remain fearless in a dangerous world, we must habitually eliminate fear from our lives. The magi’s effrontery teaches us that we could live and work courageously. In a dream, God told them to go home another way and not return to the murderous King Herod, who planned to kill Jesus. If God is that involved in the details of our lives so that He warns us in our dreams, it should reassure us that He orders our steps as well, protecting us from dangers seen and unseen.
As we move into 2024, we should not allow fear to taunt us and anxieties to deter us. God is greater than any enemy that waits behind the mist of the future. By His might and grace, our best days and opportunities beckon. Courage is the masterstroke for any future endeavour.
