Birth and Rebirth

                

It’s the Christmas season once again. It’s supposed to be a time of merriment and cheer, but this season is turning out to be stressful for many. Prices have risen on goods, food, energy, and other things. As a result, many people are finding it more difficult to partake in their usual holiday activities. That’s understandable, especially for nonbelievers. However, for believers, the troubles we’re currently facing in today’s world shouldn’t steal our Christmas joy. After all, we know the reason for the season. That shouldn’t be treated as a fun little saying. It should be our reality. Beyond the gift giving, family meals, and time off work, Christmas should be about celebrating Jesus, our savior.

It’s not surprising that the world forgets why we celebrate this holiday.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. - 2 Corinthians 4:4
The Devil has put in work to blind people to the truth. Almost everyone in the U.S. has heard about Jesus, but how many actually know him? Many have heard the story of Jesus’ life to some extent, but do they really understand what it means for them and the world at large?

Jesus’ life on Earth was important. He preached the Gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23). He served as a living example of what a Child of God should look like. He taught and inspired the people that would go on to create Christianity. He also died. God in the flesh was killed by mere human beings. That sounds crazy. Maybe some people who hear the story scoff at the idea of God dying, and that makes it hard for them to believe. They aren’t alone. People during Jesus’ time felt the same way.
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. - Matthew 27:39-41
Everyone who thinks that way misses the point. Jesus was born to die. It was the whole point of him coming into the world the way he did. Those who don’t know or understand that truth about Jesus' death probably also don’t accept the truth about his resurrection. It didn’t happen just to serve as a showing of God’s power. It was a demonstration for what will happen to those that believe. Each of us was born into the physical world. Each of us is following the course of our natural lives. Each of us will die a physical death. However, those of us that believe, will live forever with our Savior. That was a promise from Jesus himself.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. - John 14:1-3
Jesus’ life and all the good that came from it started with his birth. It was an important event, and that’s why we commemorate it with this holiday. However, it’s not the only time the concept of birth comes up in Jesus’ story. We all had a physical birth just like Jesus, but his advent into this world didn’t just begin his life. It set up the opportunity for our rebirth. Jesus did indeed promise that believers could join him in Heaven, but that promise came with a condition.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” - John 3:3
We have to be born again to receive salvation. We have to make the conscious choice to accept Jesus into our hearts and be reborn in the spirit. The Gospel is Jesus’ story. His birth, life, death, and resurrection are all part of that story. However, believers choosing to accept him and gaining the eternal life that comes with that choice is also part of His story. That is good news. It is reason enough for every believer to be joyful this season regardless of what challenges we face.

It’s not enough for us to simply be happy with our own understanding of Jesus’ story. We have to spread the joy. It’s on us to make sure those on the outside understand why we’re happy. We have to do our best to share the truth about Jesus, not just his birth, but his whole story. People have to understand that Jesus isn’t the reason for just this season. He’s the reason for every season in this life and beyond. Help in understanding and accepting Jesus is the best Christmas gift we can give, and Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.

Chris Lawyer

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