Is Christmas Just Another Holiday?

Is Christmas just another holiday?  The answer is, “no”.

I discovered this when I went to the ancient text out of which Christmas is based.  There, I learned textually what I already knew instinctively.  Like the bright star in the Bethlehem sky Christmas is special. It is about God, love, and special people. I looked at shear numbers and special people in the Christmas story.

Ceasar Augustus had put out a decree that all of the world would be taxed. Luke 2:3 says that everyone was traveling to places where they would register for the census.  They traveled in large numbers the way we do at Christmas time.   At Christmas time each of us crowd the airports, trains, buses and highways with a special story, headed towards special people. I kept thinking about the numbers in the text. Luke 2:3 says that all were proceeding to register for the census in his own city.    Every traveler had his or her own story, however, of the thousands upon thousands of travelers the Bible focuses on the story of Mary and Joseph.  What were the chances of that happening?

If you were at a newsworthy event among thousands and a news reporter picked only one person to interview, what are the chances that he would pick you?  The text focussed on Mary and Joseph. It told their special story. They were a spec in the dust of millions. Everyone was traveling to their assigned cities. We have the report.

It is in Luke 2.  Their story was His story. It was a story of God. It was about His arrival into the world through the lives of Mary and Joseph. Indeed, it was a special story. What are the chances?

Then I thought, “Wouldn’t God be pleased to use us to enter somebody’s private world and bring Christ into it?” There are hoards of people around us and, therefore hoards of possibilities to bless someone by bringing Christ to their world.

I thank God for the memory of a special teacher, Mrs. Lebowitz, because she brought joy and purpose into my world.  It was at a time when I was reclusive that she came to Eliot Jr. High School in Washington DC and taught us to sing.  I was in the choir.  She was the music teacher.  She pulled four of us boys out of the choir and taught us to sing in harmony.  The world already had, “The Temptations”.  We became, “The Fascinations”.  We later became, “The Boys of 9-217”, which was our grade and homeroom designation. Being reclusive, I needed an outlet and she was there to provide it. She brought it into my world and I am thankful.

What can you bring in the form of Christmas to someone’s world and make it special for them. Christmas is not just another holiday.  It is special.  Show someone how special they are.  Pick them out the way God picked out Mary and Joseph.  Pick them out the way Mrs. Lebowitz picked me and have a —

Merry Christmas!