The festival of Christ…
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October 17, 2007, I shared a journal entry entitled ‘A whole lot of appreciation going on.’ It was in that entry that I drew attention to where the term ‘Christmas’ most likely came from.
Since we are again approaching the Christmastide season I would like to add some additional dimensions to the subject of Christmas, but perhaps in a way that can bring comfort to my readers. There is no question that this time of the year can be very stressful, and yet it can also be a time of great joy.
Think about it - ‘Great joy’ was the message that the angel brought to the shepherds, when he said, “Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (cf. Luke 2:10,11 nasb)
Where does the word ‘Christmas’ come from…
First, let’s talk a bit more about the word ‘Christmas.’ Some have the idea that when we say ‘Christmas’ we are using a Roman Catholic term. However, it is questionable as to whether this word even has a Latin base. We know that Christ comes from the Greek, Christos (khris-tos’). Christos speaks of the Anointed One, or God’s Messiah.
But where then does the ‘mas’ come from? It is often assumed that it comes from the Latin ‘mass’, which means dismissal, that is, the final words in the Catholic service. But that may not be the case at all.
The English word Christmas comes to us by way of way of Old English. It was originally spelled ’Cristes-messe’, which is thought to have meant the festival of Christ. ‘Maesse’ was the Old English word for feast, or, festival, or celebration. (First found in 1038.) So for the English of that time, Christes-messe was the festival of the birth of Christ.
Then we can add something else to the pot with regard to the term ‘mas.’ There is a Greek word that is pronounced very nearly as the word Christmas. It is the Greek word ‘Chrisma’ (pronounced khris’-mah.) This word speaks of the ‘anointing’. It is my thinking that the word Christmas probably had its origin in the Greek term Chrisma.
And so God’s people celebrate the festival of God’s anointed One, since we also share in His anointing by our birth into His kingdom.
Ok, enough already.
This is where I need to make a confession…
For a number of years, Christmas was a time of stress for me. Much of this came from my own idealism. (Idealism: Impracticality by virtue of thinking of things in their ideal form rather than as they really are.) I had spent so much time studying books like ‘Babylon Mystery Religion,’ and, ‘Hyslops Two Babylons’, that I was losing out on the ‘great joy’ that a Savior had become one with us by virtue of His birth in Bethlehem.
All this study was making me a sour man. That is, until one day the Lord planted this thought in my mind, ‘Christmas is what you make it to be.’ Over time I began to realize that it is perfectly alright to celebrate the birth of Christ, but simply do it in a way that the Lord is glorified, and where the spirit of the world isn’t given a place to work.
Actually we never stopped celebrating Christmas as a family. It has always been an important family time for us. We always give presents on Christmas morning. However, there are certain lines that we’ve learned to draw. The lines are those things that need to be left to each family.
What we try to do is take advantage of the season to spread both the good news and the love of Jesus Christ to those around us. There is likely no better time of the year for the love of Christ to be shared with the many. Nor is there a better time to talk about how God’s Son was born into our world to be the Savior of all mankind.
What makes this even more interesting is that Christmas is being celebrated in most of the world around us, even among those who are not fully acquainted with the story of the Christ, not to mention that even a great many secular Jews in Israel celebrate Christmas, much to the discouragement of the Orthodox Rabbis.
Of course this means that we have to learn to work around those things that are dishonorable to the true meaning of Christmas. But the Lord gives us wisdom in how to do just that.
So, why not take advantage of the season?
Is it true that Jews in Israel are celebrating Jesus Christ…
I have to add this final bit of information. You’ve often heard me say that it began in Jerusalem and it will end in Jerusalem. One of the great signs that we are nearing the wrap up of the age has to do with Jews in Israel who are turning to Jesus. They called themselves Messianic Jews. Here is a clip that is quite informative in that regard. (It is in Hebrew with subtitles in English):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sEBAldf4L0&feature=related
Always in Christ,
Buddy
