Новые времена Go back to the homepage Realizing the true meaning of Christmas Ready or not, the calendar year is rapidly coming to an end. That means it's time once again to celebrate two holidays that many of us find very meaningful – Christmas and New Year's Eve. This week, let's focus on the annual Christmas celebration. Next week, let's look at what the start of a new year might mean. For many businesses, Christmas is not marked by the fact that it is a religious holiday. It is often the determining factor in whether or not a financial year can be considered a success. Retail sales are usually up, not only from the purchase of Christmas gifts, but any merchandise that is in any way related to the festive celebrations. The income of the Christmas season has a lot to do with whether a company's net profit will look black or red; whether year-end bonuses can be accrued; and whether the business expects to increase or decrease its budget at the start of the new year. For many of us, Christmas also means a lot of personal concerns: what gifts we should buy (and for whom); what celebrations and other special events to attend; getting together with family and friends for a holiday meal; and what charitable donations to make during the "season of giving." To name a few. These are all valid concerns. But for followers of Jesus Christ, nothing is more important than taking the time to recognize and celebrate the "true reason for this season" – the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. Or, as the Gospel of Matthew 1:23 tells us: «Immanuel, which means, «God is with us.». Without Jesus Christ, there would have been no need for Christmas. Scripture makes this clear. God took on human form. In Jesus Christ, we see that the Creator is actively involved in the history of the world He created. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was in the beginning with God. Through Him all things began to be, and without Him nothing began to be that began to be" (John 1:1-3). Jesus came to dispel the darkness. Our world seems to be getting darker and darker, with evil manifesting itself in many forms. The twenty-first century marketplace is no exception. One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to banish darkness, to show people the way out of darkness and despair and into light and hope. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not embrace it" (John 1:4-5). "Again Jesus spoke to the multitudes and said to them, ‘I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'" (John 8:12). Jesus came to pay a price we could not pay. The Bible teaches that the punishment for our sinfulness, our willful rebellion against God, is a higher price than anything we could ever pay. So, in His mercy and grace, Jesus went to the cross to pay that price for us. "But God proves his love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8). "For he who knew no sin, he made him a sin offering for us, that we might be made righteous before God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus came to offer us a new life. We justify our human shortcomings by saying, "I am only human. Jesus, who not only died but rose from the dead, offers us a new spiritual life, freeing us from what the Bible calls the bondage of sin. "For what He died, He died once for sin; but what He lives, He lives for God. In the same way, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:10-11). © 2023.Robert J. Tamasi has written "Ambassadors of the Marketplace: CBMC's Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship"; "Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today's Workplace"; "Seeking Life with the Heart of a Shepherd," co-authored with Ken Johnson; and "The Heart of Mentoring," co-authored with David A. Stoddard.Bob's bi-weekly blog: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. Questions for reflection/discussion What is Christmas for you? What does it mean to your business or organization? Do you have any special Christmas traditions that you and your family observe? If so, what are they and why are they important to you? Many argue that the true meaning of Christmas has become diluted, if not rejected. Do you agree? Why yes or why no? When you consider Christmas in a biblical context about Jesus Christ (not just His birth, but His life), what thoughts come to mind? NOTES. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20; Romans 3:23, 6:1-4,23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20. Difficult task It's easy to get caught up in the festive atmosphere of Christmas and the many celebrations of the season. But it's important to take time to reflect on its true meaning – about Jesus Christ, His life and His world-changing mission. Plan to set aside some time over the next few days to discuss this with a family member or close friend. Think: How would the world be different if Christ had never come?
