Did you have an excellent Christmas? What IS an excellent Christmas? There are so many "true meanings of the season" bantied about, that it is really hard to discern. The allegory I like the best is about a boy's birthday party. Well, people just THINK it is his birthday, and so they invite a whole bunch of people, decorate elaborately, make an incredible spread of goodies to eat, and then, get this ... they create a list of gifts THEY want! And do you know what? Everybody else is in on it except for the boy whose birthday it was supposed to be. He isn't even invited! Ridiculous, isn't it?
The initial sentiment is good -- celebrate the birth (although we don't really know the date) of Jesus. But Scripture doesn't give us a date, or a mandate for that matter, for the celebration. Down deep (and some will have to dig WAY down) we realize that the gift of Jesus didn't come at His birth. It came at His death, and more importantly His resurrection. The two celebrations are inextricably intertwined. And if a person doesn't see that intertwining, forget about celebrating the birthday. It won't mean anything to you. Especially, if you don't invite Him.
