Joseph and Mary were the first people to receive the message of Christmas. When it was told both of them were not in a state of understanding neither the depth of its truth nor about the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Prophecy. But both decided to be quiet till the time they understood the truth behind the message. Even today people do not have a complete understanding about Christmas. Most people think that Christmas is a festival of Christians. But in fact, it is a festival of all humankind with a responsibility on Christians to spread the message as shepherds did when they first heard the Christmas message through Angels. They immediately went to see the child and made it known to all. Have we met Him? If so let us make Him known to all mankind. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich”. – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Jesus as our personal Saviour
Today’s pompous Christmas celebrations are mushrooming in commercial trend all over the world and many have mistaken this as a global recognition of Christ. Anyone can celebrate Christmas but only those who receive Jesus can cherish Christmas. How can we receive Jesus? In the Gospel according to Mathew the angel of the Lord has given the name ‘Jesus’ to the infant and gave the meaning of it.“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20
As he has come to save us from our sins, first of all we should admit that we are sinners. Every human tends to justify their mistakes in order to prove them righteous. This self righteousness acts as a barrier between us and Jesus as we are not understanding the very purpose of His birth. Paul has fully understood this on his way to Damascus and with true experience he has given the following statement. “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” 1 Timothy 1:15. Finding the Salvation in Christ is the real Christmas. Simeon reiterates the same idea here, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation” – Luke 2: 29-30
Jesus as a Saviour of all mankind
John explains the birth of Jesus as the light of the world. Light is essential for the world and nothing can be hidden in light. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world”. – John 1: 4,5&9. Even Simeon prophesied the same thing. “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” – Luke 2:32. We had just seen that how Paul, being a gentile had experienced salvation. We too were Gentiles. But knowingly or unknowingly we are under the cover of Christianity calling us as a worshiping community and restricting this Christmas – the gift of God – to a limited community. This phenomenon must be changed.
Grace of God is made available to all mankind
With the birth of Jesus Christ, God had decided to extend His grace to all humans. In Ancient days God bestowed His grace to His chosen people in order to lead and protect them. The whole army were dramatically drowned in the Red Sea. God had destroyed the whole world by means of floods and protected Noah and his family. God did all these in ancient times to teach a lesson to the gentiles by using his chosen people as great witness. But when He sent His son to the earth, he sent Him without such protection. God had disarmed Jesus knowing that this child will one day disarm all the authority of darkness through mere obedience. The only weapon left with the Godly Child was Agape love! Now the grace of God is available in abundance for all people, whether they know Christ or not. “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21
When Herod had passed the decree to kill all the infants below 2 years to ascertain that no child of that age had survived, God’s hand did not turn against the king. Instead God had decided to hide His son. This is the grace that has emerged from above through the birth of Jesus Christ. Prima-Facie the parents of those innocent victims might have mistaken this grace. But after a lapse of 33 and half years those parents would definitely have understood the will of God when Jesus Christ substituted Himself for sinners on the cross.“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
The Jordan Valley 
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