GOOD NEWS!
The quotation below is attributed directly to Jesus of Nazareth. It gives His “take” on why He visited us in time gone by. He was having a conversation with a harried, confused businessman and religious leader who hadn’t a clue about things that really matter. Worried perhaps about how his peers and colleagues might view his visit to consult with a controversial Rabbi, Nicodemus had slipped in under cover of night to “swap some ideas,” perhaps give the young Teacher some of his own counsel and ask a few questions to clear the air.
Always able to look past our subterfuge, Jesus quickly and directly went to the real heart of the matter.
“For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son, (so) that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
That’s the almost forgotten reason why there’s such a celebration (more like a sale-a-bration these days) tomorrow.
That’s the Good News! Enough to cause angels to sing or shout (or sing AND shout!)! Glory to God and on earth, peace, good will toward men. That’s Good news of GREAT JOY for all the people on the planet then and now and forever.
Nothing else now even remotely and strangely associated with that Eternal Event will produce that kind of response. Not all the flashing neon lights, the gaudily decorated trees, the sleigh bells jing-a-linging, the holly, the ivey, the mistletoe and the hugely obese jolly old fella and his band of dwarves and impossibly agile herd of flying reindeer (one with even a flashing red nose leading the pack and directing the way.).
I’m not trying to be an old curmudgeon like Scrooge snorting “Bah! Humbug!” Go ahead and enjoy all the great old traditions and make some new ones of your own. Enjoy Der Bingle and dream with him again of “A White Christmas.” Or the almost angelic voice of Karen Carpenter, silenced too soon by death but kept alive through the genius of our electronics wizards.
Just don’t allow yourself to swallow all the hype, stuff yourself and your children with stuff which will eventually rot or rust or lose their attraction. At the expense of depriving yourself and them of Joy, Peace, Forgiveness, Hope, Faith, and Eternal Life.
Why don’t you read that report again? This time with your brain and your heart engaged fully and open? And before the excited, noisy, joyful squealing and ripping of wrapping paper, consider the real reason why there is even a Christ-mass in the first place! John 3:16.
God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student, donkimrey
12/24/11
Scripture Student 