I wish the world would celebrate the birth of Jesus the way it celebrates the birth of other men, by concentrating on His life, accomplishments, teachings, world influence and death, rather than the manger scene with three wise men and shepherds tending their flocks. People have made it all about “the baby Jesus” while ignoring the impact of the man He became.
The truth is that the Scriptures give little emphasis to the birth of Jesus. Matthew records His birth to age 2 in just 20 verses. Luke likewise devotes only 20 verses to the Lord’s birth. The Gospel accounts of Mark and John make no mention of the event; there is no direct mention throughout the rest of the New Testament of the events surrounding the Christ’s birth.
Instead, Jesus of Nazareth bursts upon the scene as a wise, charismatic, mature thirty-year-old, attracting large crowds with the hope He brought to their lives via His humble and devoted lifestyle, His teachings and His miraculous powers. Let us celebrate the life of Jesus Christ and the salvation His death gave to us all.
I wish I could take the Christmas season and somehow change the emphasis from the manger to the cross; from three wise men to the three days in the tomb; from the annual Christmas service about His birth, to the weekly remembrance of His death.
