CHRISTMAS

REFLECTION AT CHRISTMAS TIME

Christmas is getting near, and this time there seems to be more tolerance for the word Christmas. Yet even among those who are of Christian persuasion there is difference of opinion. What you believe depends on what you emphasize.

In Matthew 2 the wise men came form the east looking for the baby, because they had seen his star. They went to the authorities for more information and the scribes came up with an answer based on Micah, the prophet. Here is what they said ”:...out of you (Bethlehem) will come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” When you take that literal it turned out rather inaccurate. No word about that His Kingdom was NOT of this earth, that He introduced the “Kingdom of Heaven”, and the plan of salvation, the atonement! Not a word about the “church” mostly made up of gentiles.

Interpreting prophecy is a risky business. Just ask the mothers of all the babies that were killed by Herod in Bethlehem. Today we are again interpreting prophecy, that has to do with the end times, with the middle east, and with the radical extremism of Islam. All these things are on a natural plane, we still forget about the spiritual kingdom, untouched by politics and safe in the realm of the Spirit. Embrace that and you will have found the meaning of Christmas!