Community Corner

A Christmas Message: So this is Christmas

Pastor Eric J. Rey, pastor of the Hampton Bays Assembly of God, shares his Christmas thoughts.

Editor's Note: The following was written by Pastor Eric J. Rey, pastor of the Hampton Bays Assembly of God. 

In John Lennon’s popular Christmas song, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" he sings the question, “So this is Christmas and what have you done?” The song echoes the truth that Christmas, which is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, requires a response from us. So this is Christmas and what have we done? How have we responded to the birth of The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

The New Testament Bible’s four Gospels record various responses to Jesus’ birth. Matthew’s Gospel chapter 2 records the responses of King Herod, the religious leaders, and the Magi. Their responses reflect three different ways people respond to Christmas and more specifically to Jesus.

The response of King Herod the Great was outright rejection of Jesus fueled by his own paranoid insecurity and hate. Matthew 2:3; 16 records, “3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” Herod did not want any rivals to his throne. Many today respond the same way. Could this be one of the reasons for the “War on Christmas” we hear mentioned in the media? Christmas aside, the fact of the matter is that many people don’t want any rivals to the throne of their lives. This includes the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They want total control. They want to be their own god.

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The response of the religious leaders was a more subtle form of rejection caused by their own indifference and complacency. The Chief priests and Teachers of the Law knew the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of their Messiah. Matthew 2:4-5 records, “4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written.” The ignored both the Star of Bethlehem shining brightly in the sky and the sacred scriptures to be fulfilled by Jesus’ birth. Despite all their knowledge they did nothing. They just didn’t care. The Gospel of John 1:10-11 records, “10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” Many today respond the same way. They may not outright reject Christmas or Jesus.  They may even superficially celebrate the holiday or somehow acknowledge Jesus’ reality. But when it’s all said and done their response is one of apathy, complacency, and indifference. They just don’t care.

The response of the Magi was one of acceptance fed by their sincere hunger for truth. Because they studied the stars the supernatural star of Bethlehem sparked their curiosity to find its purpose. Because they studied the Jewish Scriptures (Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 60:3) they understood that the star they saw in the sky had announced the birth of the Jewish Messiah and King.   Matthew 2:1-2;10-11 records, “1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”  The Magi diligently and joyfully searched for Jesus until they found Him. They then acknowledged His Lordship by bowing down and worshipping Him. They also gave to Jesus gifts for a King, Priest, and Prophet. Many today respond the same way. They recognize that Christmas is less about Santa and snow and more about The Savior. Sincere spiritual hunger fuels their quest for truth which eventually leads them to Jesus who said of himself in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” They find Jesus and they surrender their lives to Him.

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This Christmas will we respond as the Magi did?  Will we seek Him and find Him? Will we surrender our lives to Him? May our Christmas celebrations be filled with joy and worship for Jesus the Savior who has been born. May our lives be continuously lived in humble surrender to Jesus’ Lordship. Because it is Christmas, may this be what is done.

Merry Christmas!    


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