What's Christmas all about?

As we enjoy all the shopping, the presents, the fine food and drink, the decorations and everything that makes a good Christmas, we sometimes forget that CHRISTmas is really all about Jesus Christ!

Although it is clear that God had planned this long before that night, for mankind it began in Bethlehem on a night when God’s Son was born as a human child.  Heaven and Earth rejoiced together, angels were seen by shepherds and a brand new star emerged in the sky - all confirming the promise that God had made years before to send His own Son.

Jesus Christ grew up with his younger brothers and sisters as a simple Jewish boy, the son of a skilled carpenter.  He learned the Jewish law and traditions while working alongside His father and learning his honourable trade.  However, it quickly became apparent that He was very different. 

At about the age of 30, Jesus was baptised and God confirmed that He was His Son by the Holy Spirit descending onto Him, while a voice said for all to hear; “This is My much loved Son ...”

Following His baptism, Jesus then spent forty days and nights in the wilderness, fasting and praying, after which He spent three years demonstrating by His powerful words and by many miraculous deeds that He truly was (and is) the Son of God.

Following a pre-arranged plan, Jesus then died to take away the sin that separated people from God and rose again to open a way for us to know His Father.  After appearing many times to His followers, He returned to Heaven, in front of His amazed apostles.  

... (Jesus) was taken up into a cloud while they (HIs apostles) were watching, and they could no longer see him.  As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”  (Acts 1:9-11 NLT)

Jesus promises that anyone who follows Him can have new life, spiritually alive and re-united with God - and that’s what Christians experience today!  That’s what we are celebrating this CHRISTmas.  

What about you?