Every year at this time of the year, children and adults alike celebrate the arrival of old St. Nick to mark the beginning of the Christmas season at a Christmas parade. After a long line of antique cars, holiday floats, horses and riders, a marching band, horse-drawn wagons, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the last one to appear is Santa Claus. As he gets closer, it is not unusual to hear an excited child exclaim, “Here he comes”.
The legend of Santa Claus goes back to a monk named St. Nicholas, born around 286 A. D. near modern-day Turkey. He is said to have given away the wealth he inherited, traveling the countryside to help the poor and sick. One of the best known stories is that he saved three sisters from being sold into slavery by their father.
But we must never forget the real reason for the celebration of Christmas, and we must never forget the One who came into the world and whose birth we celebrate. His birth goes back over two thousand years, and it was predicted in the Holy Scriptures for thousands of years in advance. Isaiah the prophet predicted that he would be born of a virgin, and that His name would be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Many names and titles have been to Jesus in the Bible, some given by others, and some He gave Himself. Being called Wonderful is an accurate description of what He did for a world full of sin and evil. The wonderful thing that He did was to offer His life as a sacrifice on a Roman cross to pay the penalty for the wrongdoings of others. As a Counselor, He gave great words of advice and comfort to those plagued with grief and misery, as well as agony. As the Mighty God, He came to earth with great power over sin and spiritual death, as evidenced in His resurrection from the dead. As the Everlasting Father, He came to represent His Father in heaven. As the Prince of Peace, He came to provide peace between God and humanity because they were at odds with one another over sin.
Jesus was born in humble circumstances, being born in a cattle shed and laid in a cattle trough. He was visited by humble shepherds, who left their sheep on the hillsides of Bethlehem following a visit by a multitude of angels announcing His birth. He forsook the riches of heaven to come to this earth, and went about helping the poor and needy people of His day. He healed the sick, He cast out evil spirits, He fed the hungry, and He raised the dead back to life, He calmed a storm at sea, He restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and He performed many other miracles. But the most important He came to do is to save the lost from their sins.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
