398-Is Christmas Really the Day of Jesus' Birth?#
398-Is Christmas Really the Day of Jesus' Birth?
(JP Text Group - shalom 整理)
The topic of sharing is: Is Christmas Really the Day of Jesus' Birth?
New Testament Book of Galatians 4:4-11:
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Let us first pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You. Thank You for giving us such a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of Jesus together. I remember Jesus coming into the world to save our lives, and I also commemorate the beautiful salvation that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. On this beautiful day, the whole world rejoices, remembering what Jesus has done. We also entrust this time to the Holy Spirit, to personally lead us back to the truth and hold fast to Your word. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
The topic of today's sharing is very interesting: Is Christmas really the day of Jesus' birth? What do you think? No, it’s not. In fact, we really don’t know when Jesus was born, especially in the last two years, there has been a strange phenomenon where some people strongly support celebrating Christmas, while others refuse to celebrate it.
Some new believers ask this question: Is December 25th Jesus' birthday? Why do we celebrate Christmas on this day every year? It’s indeed an interesting topic. Not only is December 25th regarded as Christmas, but there are also people who celebrate Christmas in November and January, as they all believe those are the days of Jesus' birth.
Many people are entangled in the debate over the day of Jesus' birth. If Jesus really was born, is it not acceptable for us to commemorate Him on a specific day? But is it necessary to argue about which day Jesus was born? How significant is it to us which day Jesus was born? Brothers and sisters, have you found out from the Bible which day Jesus was born? No, you haven’t.
Before I started speaking on this topic, many people began searching the Bible, saying that since the teacher is discussing this topic, we must first find the relevant scriptures to determine the exact day Jesus was born, calculating from the birth of John the Baptist, checking what king was reigning that year, and ultimately finding no answer.
Brothers and sisters, the Bible is very interesting. The year Jesus was born, King Herod was in power. He ruled Galilee and Judea from 74 BC to 4 BC and was a tyrant who killed many people out of fear for his throne. A week before Jesus was born, the Roman Emperor Augustus ordered all people to return to their birthplace for registration, which is the historical backdrop of Jesus' birth. Beyond that, it is very difficult to find other specific details about Jesus' birth.
The Bible clearly records the revelation received by Mary from God, as well as the revelation received by her husband Joseph to take Mary as his wife, and the pregnancy of John the Baptist's mother, along with the registration in their hometown, Jesus being born in a manger, the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt, and the later massacre of infants by Herod. All these events are recorded very clearly. However, one thing is missing: the date of Jesus' birth is not recorded. We really cannot find out which day Jesus was born. If the day of Jesus' birth were very important for our salvation, God would have surely told us, Amen. This point must be clear to everyone. The fact that the Bible does not mention these matters must have a reason.
I will share a little about one of the reasons, and you can think of others yourself. Remember when the Israelites were bitten by fiery serpents in the wilderness, Moses made a pole and put a bronze serpent on it. Do you know what that bronze serpent was eventually used for? That’s right, the Israelites later worshiped that bronze object as an idol. Did God create that bronze object for the Israelites to worship? No, it was meant to heal them. This event was so significant, and the miracle was so magnificent that the people felt it was not just an ordinary bronze object and thought it should be commemorated, resulting in it becoming a “god.”
If the date of Jesus' birth were written in the Bible, how many people would schedule cesarean sections to give birth on that day? Many would feel proud to share their birthday with Jesus! In fact, God did not record these details because saying them would not benefit us; instead, it would lead us into a form of idol worship. This is one reason, and you can think of others.
Another reason is that God does not tell us, which reveals God's intention. Because Jesus' birth is different from that of ordinary people. We are ordinary people, and the day of our birth is worth commemorating. Do you know why? Because on that day, you came into the world, which is worth celebrating. But Jesus Christ was not born at that time. When was Jesus? He existed before the foundation of the world, Amen!
Galatians 4:9-11:
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
People think Jesus was born on a certain day in December, but that is not the case. He existed before you were born. Today, when you believe in Jesus and know Jesus, it is better to say that God knows you, Amen, or that God has revealed Himself to you.
Why do you want to return to the weak and beggarly elements, desiring again to be in bondage? What does this mean? It refers to observing days. Many people are particularly concerned about the Sabbath, saying that this day is extraordinary because God completed all His work and rested, designating it as a holy day. Therefore, we must observe it well because on this day, God’s great blessings were bestowed.
Brothers and sisters, is this statement correct? Yes, it is correct. But do other days not receive blessings? Many people insist on worshiping God on Sundays because that day is recognized by God. You are mistaken; worshiping God on any day is blessed. We are no longer bound by the observance of days to receive God’s blessings; that is under the Old Testament. You have already been freed from that elementary teaching, Amen.
As for months, do not say that this month is the last month of the year, and God will compress all the blessings we missed throughout the year into this month. You are mistaken; every day is a blessing, every year is a blessing, Amen. It depends on how you understand these matters. If you stubbornly believe that only a specific day, such as December 24th, is the night of peace, is there peace only on that night? Under the New Testament, as long as the Holy Spirit is with you, every night is peaceful! You do not have to wait until that night of peace to enjoy God’s peace; you have already transcended that date, Amen!
Are festivals the same? Some say this is Christmas, a day of worldwide joy, and that God’s blessings are greater on this day! That is not the case. Under the New Testament, every day, by faith, we receive God’s blessings, and God’s blessings are equally great. It does not matter if you receive God’s blessings on a specific holiday. In the past, indeed, under the Old Testament, Israelite men were required to go to Jerusalem to worship God three times a year. That day was indeed worth commemorating because at that time, Jesus’ ministry had not yet fully manifested, and people had to worship centered around the temple. However, when Jesus came, He used His body as the temple, which is the church, Amen. Once the church was established by Jesus, as long as you come to the church, lift up Jesus, and are willing to act according to His word, you will receive His blessings without needing to observe a specific day, Amen.
Regarding years, this is more common in some charismatic groups in the country, which tell you that this year is the year of Jubilee, 5775! This year is 5776, what year is that? It seems like they are waiting for that year when God grants us forgiveness, rest, and blessings. But I tell you, in the days of Jesus Christ, every year is a year of Jubilee, every year is a year of forgiveness. You say you are not in a good mood today, why? Because today is Singles' Day. Is it unsuitable to believe in Jesus? Some other gods in the world say today is not a good day to go out! Today is not a good day to get married! They strictly define the days, but in Christ, all curses have been removed, and every day is a good day!
Can we commemorate Jesus' birth today? Can we do it in January? In May? Yes, we can. As long as you commemorate Jesus, it is good, so do not be overly concerned about which day it is. Since the Bible does not specify the day of Jesus' birth, it indicates that He is not confined to that day! Is our birth confined to a specific day? Because you were born on that day, you had no choice; however, Jesus is different. He has His own choice; He can choose when and where to be born. Why? Because He existed before creation.
Let us look at 1 Peter 1:20: He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
Before the world existed, our Lord already existed. Before this world, Christ was already there, Amen! Was He born on a certain night two thousand years ago? No, He existed before time and space; but we are different; we were born within the confines of time and space. We can commemorate our birthdays, which is acceptable. When we are three years old, we light three candles; when we are thirty, we can light three candles just to mark the occasion.
But Jesus does not need that because He is not bound by this. Therefore, God will not tell you the specific day Jesus was born, but He tells you why Jesus came into this world: it was for you! In these last days, Jesus was manifested to let you know that God sent His only begotten Son for your sins. Is this not what we should commemorate? So everyone should stop trying to calculate which day Jesus was born; no matter how good you are at math, you cannot figure it out because the basis and scriptures given by God simply do not exist. Do you understand?
Many things God has deliberately hidden because He does not want them to become idols, Amen! I will mention one more thing for you to think about. Where did the Ark of the Covenant, which the Israelites cherished the most, go? Some say the Ark was originally in the temple, right? Yes, it was in the temple, and when the Romans invaded, I believe that if they had seen the Ark, they would not have destroyed it because it was too precious and beautiful. But why is it not there? Where did it go? You don’t know, right? Not knowing is correct. If you knew where it went, that would be a big deal.
How many archaeologists have been thinking about where the Ark is? Some interesting people even say that the Ark is buried in the ground where Jesus was crucified! Can it be there? God does not tell you because this matter no longer needs to be commemorated. The Ark symbolizes Jesus, Amen. Since Jesus has already come, the real form has arrived; you only need to look up to Jesus. You no longer need to come before the Ark to receive God’s word. You just need to seek Jesus, and God’s word can be given to you. Jesus was foreknown by God before the foundation of the world but was born in these last days for you.
Let me share some interesting things about Christmas:
In AD 138, a Catholic elder named Clement proposed that the birthday of the Roman sun god, December 25th, be designated as Christmas, and held Christmas ceremonies and celebrations on that day, which was also the last day of their harvest festival.
In AD 325, Roman Emperor Constantine convened the Nicene Council, establishing December 25th as Christmas. From that time on, the celebration of Christmas on December 25th began to spread.
In AD 336, this was included in church history.
In AD 440, Rome officially recognized December 25th as Christmas.
So, celebrating Christmas on December 25th is not ordained by God; it is determined by man.
Please do not say that Jesus' birthday is on this day; it is not necessarily so. It was just that at that time, the whole of Rome had come to believe, and there had to be a day to celebrate Jesus' birth, so the official designation of December 25th as Christmas was made. In AD 1607, several very famous elders gathered in Bethlehem to further confirm that December 25th is Christmas, the birthday of Jesus. Now you know, the designation of Christmas as Jesus' birthday was made by a few elders.
Initially, they only celebrated Christmas, but later they directly stated that it was Jesus' birthday. Why did these elders in the church do this? Because that day was originally a day to worship the sun god, and there were large sacrificial activities on that day. These elders believed that they were worshiping a secular god and wanted to change this day from idol worship to celebrating Jesus' birthday. In fact, the term "Jesus' birthday" is incorrect; you just need to know that it was created by those elders in the church. As for their names, do not bother looking them up; it is meaningless.
Another point is, is there any relationship between Christmas and Santa Claus? No relationship. Celebrating Christmas in the West is like us celebrating the Winter Solstice. In the West, they eat turkey and pizza, while we eat lamb and dumplings. Do you know why we eat dumplings during the Winter Solstice? Some tell you that if you don’t eat dumplings, your ears will freeze off; in fact, this is a marketing campaign that has been ingrained in people's minds for many years. As for Santa Claus, let me tell you where he came from; it’s very interesting. You must understand these things. Santa Claus originally came from impatient parents who wanted their unruly children to behave. They adapted the story of Saint Nicholas helping the poor into the story of Santa Claus, complete with reindeer and sleighs.
Why do many people in the church celebrate Christmas with a Christmas tree? It was actually adapted from some ancient myths. Who adapted it? A few impatient parents created it. Do we still need to engage in these things? Can we celebrate joyfully and celebrate Jesus? But why must there be a Christmas tree? Why must there be a red-suited old man and stockings? This is meaningless because it does not conform to the Bible. Can there be a Christmas tree on this day? Yes, if you think it adds to the festive atmosphere, hanging things and gifts on the tree to make the children happy is fine, because it was originally prepared by a few parents for their children. It is also good for us to prepare something for the children, but please remember, this has nothing to do with Jesus.
Isn't Santa Claus's outfit very interesting? Bright red, do you know where this comes from? It was created by the Coca-Cola Company. To promote their spokesperson, isn’t Coca-Cola red? To sell their products better, they designed Santa Claus in bright red. Later, when some apples were not selling well, someone thought of a way to say that eating apples on Christmas Eve would bring peace, and on that day, all the apples were sold out. Now you know where these histories come from! Do these have anything to do with Jesus? No, they do not. But can you eat an apple during the holiday? Yes, that’s all you need to understand.
Some say that under the law, that is not allowed; they know that on this day, you cannot eat apples, but you can eat them on other days! Look, you are going back again. I can set up a Christmas tree on other days, but I cannot do it on that day! Can I? Yes, as long as you know these have nothing to do with Jesus, but can we celebrate joyfully? No problem.
On the day before Jesus was born, Joseph the carpenter and Mary traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, over 120 kilometers. It would take about seven or eight hours by horse-drawn carriage, but Mary was nearing her due date and could give birth at any moment. While the couple was on the road, Mary was about to give birth, and Joseph pulled an apple out of his pocket and said, “Dear, eat an apple for peace.” You all know this is a commercial activity, right? Is there any relationship between Christmas Eve and apples? No relationship. Is there any relationship between Christmas and Santa Claus? No relationship at all. Is there any relationship with sleighs and reindeer? Absolutely none. Although He is the Prince of Peace, that is a fact, but many commercial activities have nothing to do with Jesus.
Let’s look at a verse, John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
What does Jesus give us? Peace. When the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart, in times of danger, God reminds you of Christ's words through the Holy Spirit, and peace immediately fills you. If you are walking alone on a dark road, you can say in the name of the Lord Jesus, “I am not afraid,” because the Holy Spirit is with me, and in an instant, you feel no longer afraid because you know the Holy Spirit is indeed with you. And when we commemorate Jesus' birth, it actually tells us that peace comes from Jesus.
The Bible does not record the specific day of Jesus' birth, indicating that this day is not the most important for Jesus' followers. But is it necessary to celebrate Christmas? Many people resist celebrating Christmas, and I am still talking about those within the church. They say Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible, so we should not celebrate it; celebrating it is celebrating the devil's holiday. This statement is too extreme, and I do not quite agree. If we can commemorate Jesus during this holiday, then this holiday is meaningful.
Is it very important to commemorate Jesus' birth? It is extremely important. Take non-believers, for example; at least they know that Christmas is somewhat related to Jesus, right? Although they also know about Santa Claus, apples, and gifts, on that night, almost everyone knows one thing: to celebrate Christmas, you must go to church! Isn’t that a fact? If they can remember to go to church on Christmas, that is enough.
After going to church, the pastor tells them about the birth of Jesus, about the good news of the gospel. Isn’t that great? If we resist celebrating Christmas and do not allow anyone to celebrate, then when will the world know they can go to church? What a great opportunity to spread the gospel! So it depends on how we recognize it. Through these matters, we see that celebrating Jesus' birth is necessary. Because Jesus' birth, as the Bible says, was when light came into a dark world.
Let’s look at a passage of scripture, which should be the two most frequently used verses during Christmas, Luke 2:10-12:
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Isn't it true that during Christmas and on Christmas Eve, people almost always use these verses in abundance? Why? What does this indicate? The birth of Jesus is related to everyone, but the day of Jesus' birth has little to do with us. We only need to know that the birth of Jesus is related to you, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, what Savior? The Lord who saves our lives, Amen!
As for where He was born, is it important? Very important! Is the day He was born important? Not important! But where He was born is very important! Where was He born? Lying in a manger. You can listen to my previous sermons about the birth of Jesus. Why was Jesus born in a manger? Because a manger is a place of provision for food, and in the region of Israel, the shape of a manger is also the place where the dead are laid to rest. This indicates that Jesus' birth was not for living; He was born in a manger, already foreshadowing that this child was born to die.
So Jesus was born in a manger, and in the end, He returned in the same form of the manger. Now do you understand? Other children in the world? They are born to live better. Do you hope your child is born to die? No, we hope they live better, even better than us, right? But only the Heavenly Father sent Jesus into this world to be born to die for our sins. Therefore, through Jesus' birth, we see the Father's love for us, which is an unconditional great love!
People say, “I want to know Jesus Christ; where do I start?” It must start with the birth of Jesus! In fact, this term is very well said, “born,” where did He come down from? So brothers, we have been saying this term accurately; Jesus was not born because He was already there; He simply came down from heaven to this world on that day. So do not get entangled in the date; the focus is on the person, Amen. In the despair and darkness of humanity, the great light of Jesus enters into people's lives, and the world begins to change. From that moment on, as long as people accept Jesus, they have life and hope.
The first great light appeared when there were shepherds in the wilderness, and suddenly a great light appeared. The shepherds were very afraid. If light appeared during the day, it might not feel so glaring, but if it is very dark and suddenly a great light comes down, people feel very scared. But in fact, this indicates that Jesus' birth occurred at the darkest time in the world. Jesus came to give people a light, showing them where the direction is. Just like our lives, even if you do not believe in Jesus, do you know that at the moment your life was born and came into this world, it was destined for death? It’s just that some people are unwilling to mention it. But when Jesus comes, He can change your state of death and bring you into life.
As for those who strongly oppose believers celebrating Christmas, saying it is a festival of the Greek sun god and a pagan celebration, trying to explain history in this way is meaningless. What do I want to say? If a person is born on November 11th, which happens to be Singles' Day, is that important to you? You say you cannot celebrate your birthday because it is Singles' Day, and if you celebrate, you will never find a wife! What should you do? Isn’t that very entangled? Can a person born on November 11th celebrate their birthday? Does celebrating a birthday mean you will never find a wife? It has nothing to do with it.
Although that day was previously celebrated for the sun god, we are not celebrating that; we are commemorating the birth of Jesus, Amen. Just know who we are worshiping. On this day, we can commemorate Jesus and spread the gospel to the world. What a wonderful thing!
Why commemorate the birth of Jesus? Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Jesus came to give us His glory, Amen. Therefore, the birth of Jesus, His later growth, His blood sacrifice on the cross, and ultimately His glory are all because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
When humanity's ancestor Adam sinned, death came to humanity, and the earth was cursed, leading to continuous problems. Many people in this world have no hope and no way out. Why do people long for peace? It is because people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so peace is lost. How can this peace be regained? By accepting Jesus into your heart, this peace will return, Amen.
Many people have no way out in the world, but when you come into Christ, you have a way out. Many people do not know the meaning of their lives, but if you accept Jesus as your Savior, you become a person with a mission. The birth of Jesus shows us peace and hope, Amen.
Galatians 4:4-7:
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
This passage is very interesting; perhaps very few people mention it during Christmas. Why do we celebrate Christmas? Because it is related to the birth of Jesus. When the fullness of time had come, was it not God's day? But God did not tell me which year, month, or day that day was; He just said that the day of God had come. Why do I say this? You must first remember one thing: our God is not limited by time and space; He is beyond time. He simply sees that on that day, people needed Jesus because the time had come, so Jesus came down, Amen.
Today, technology is so advanced, but we still do not know the exact day this baby was born. Although there are cesarean sections now, that can cause certain harm to the child. The correct date of a baby’s birth is not something we can know. Even if there is a due date, it may not be very accurate. But when God sent Jesus into the world, He did not want us to know what time it was; He knew that this day was when we needed Jesus, Amen.
What is my perspective? It is that when we celebrate the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year among the 24 solar terms, the celebration of Christmas happens to fall on this day. Since God has permitted it, then this day also has God's purpose to be fulfilled.
Our understanding can be very simple: at the time when we need light the most, because the day is the shortest, the light suddenly passes, and we encounter endless darkness. People have been groping in the dark for so long, but on that day, the light came! If you are currently facing darkness in your life, not knowing where to go, having no direction, and no strength, suddenly the light comes, giving you hope, Amen.
I believe some people, like those who experience temporary blindness for a few days, when they regain their sight, will realize how precious light is to them. Perhaps none of us have experienced this, but a friend once told me that if you have never lost your sight, you really do not know how precious light is to you! In life, we may encounter darkness and dead ends, even feeling discouraged and hopeless. But do not lose heart, because Jesus is still your way out and your hope!
You say the world around you is becoming more and more rebellious, and there is much hypocrisy between people, making it hard to distinguish truth from falsehood! Please do not try to discern truth from falsehood in people; it is too difficult. Seek Jesus; He is always true, Amen! So when we commemorate Jesus, it reminds us that there can be much falsehood in this world, but in Jesus Christ, everything He gives you is true, and what He says will surely come to pass in your life!
Because we have been under the law for too long, the Israelites had already been under the law for 1500 years, and there was no way out. They were always hoping for the Messiah to come, and God had not spoken to them for 400 years! At that moment, the light was born, the light came into this world, showing people hope, Amen! So when you look at the Old and New Testaments, it seems like flipping a page brings you to the New Testament, but in human history, there were actually 400 years in between, referred to in theology as the 400 years of darkness. Why is it called darkness? Because there was no word from God. At that time, God told the Israelites that their thirst was not due to a lack of water but a lack of God's word. If a person finds themselves in that situation, how pitiful it is.
But at that moment, the Son of God was born. For what purpose? It is clearly stated that He sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law. Those living under the law live in suffering, not knowing when disaster will suddenly strike or when curses will suddenly come, ending their lives. Isn’t it true that we also have no certainty about such matters? Because you do not know what might suddenly happen.
A couple of days ago, a brother contacted me and said, “Teacher, I am very fearful right now.” He said that within a short period, first, a relative who was very young suddenly died; another friend also suddenly died. He said, “I saw them very young and healthy, and suddenly their lives were gone. I am very afraid because I do not understand how life can be so fragile.”
How should I comfort him? “You are different from them; you are not under the law but in Christ. You should see that the Holy Spirit is with you, and He has always been protecting you!” This is the assurance we should have. Otherwise, we keep saying that Jesus was born and that He has given us His peace. This peace is not something you ask for every day: “Lord, please give me Your peace; Lord, please grant me peace!” It is not something you ask for; it is something God has given. When you see Jesus, you see peace. If you are willing to let Jesus take the lead in your life, peace can fill you.
So in this anxious generation, where people are afraid every day, even to the point of insomnia, you do not need to be like that because you are a person of hope! God has redeemed you from the curse of the law; where has He redeemed you to? In Christ. When you read the New Testament, you will find that wherever the phrase “in Christ” appears in the Bible, there is no curse, only blessings and promises! You can go home and find the relevant scriptures. What does this indicate? In Jesus Christ, we are always at peace, joyful, and hopeful. Just know that you are in Christ, and these things already belong to you. You are no longer under the curse of the law, needing to rely on your own sweat to make a living; you do not need to do that anymore! God gives you wisdom and ability, and you can enjoy life, Amen.
A couple of days ago, when I was visiting, a sister who had not believed for long said that in the past, she only wanted to make money. She thought, “I want to earn more money,” but in the end, her health deteriorated, and her relationship with her husband was terrible. When the hospital report came out, she was stunned and thought, “What should I do? I am so young!” At that moment, she realized how precious life is. Fortunately, she accepted Jesus, prayed before the Lord, and God healed her body. From that moment on, she changed. She no longer desperately sought to make money; she realized that life is the most precious thing.
Brothers and sisters, who does not know this principle? Don’t you all know? But when we act, it may not be like this. I am still young; I should work more while I am young. If others work five hours, I will work fifteen hours; if others earn 10,000 a month, I will strive to earn 100,000 or even a million a month! Well, you can set such goals; there is no problem, but please do not let these become your only goals; that would be tragic. Jesus should be the direction and goal of your life, and everything else you do is just to enjoy being with Jesus. How wonderful is that!
No matter what work you engage in, if you do it with the power of Christ, you will see the blessings that God has given us. For example, if you work in a hospital and see so many patients coming in, a word of comfort from you can give many people great hope, right? For example, when many people go to see a doctor, what are they most afraid of hearing? “You can eat whatever you want; drink whatever you want!”
One person heard the doctor say this to him, and he said, “Doctor, I am so young; I do not want to die! Please save me!” The doctor said, “You are completely fine; eat whatever you want!” Isn’t that interesting? Many times, we are frightened by the words of people in this world, but in Christ, Jesus never tells you such ambiguous words that frighten you; He only gives you words of double blessings, Amen, so that you can receive eternal joy and peace. He will not be like people. We must know that you are a son and have received the title of son. Do you know what that title means? In life, we all need a title. When a man and a woman get married, they have a title; I am someone’s son, which is a title.
Do you know that you are a person of title? People often talk about matching social status, but in reality, very few can match you; do not underestimate yourself! But where does your life come from? It is given to you by Jesus. Jesus has given you His identity; you have become a disciple of Christ, a child of God, and that began with the birth of Jesus. One of the purposes of His birth is to give you His life and His identity.
In the past, we were slaves, servants of sin, under the law’s control, but now you are a child of God, Hallelujah! So do not look down on yourself too much, nor should you elevate yourself above Jesus. You should view yourself correctly; I am a person of title. Jesus has given me all His blessings, and through me, I can pass blessings to those around me. Isn’t that the gospel? Amen.
Look at the people around you in darkness; if you give them Jesus, they can receive the peace that comes from Jesus. So you have the authority to call out “Abba Father.” When you believe in Jesus, the Spirit of the Son of God, which is the Holy Spirit, enters your heart, and you can call out “Abba Father,” Amen. Some people seek to recognize a godfather or a powerful figure, but your father is not a godfather; He is real! And He will never change, Hallelujah! He has no selfish motives towards you, giving you all His benefits. From now on, you are no longer a slave but a son, so we can commemorate the birth of Jesus. His birth is actually giving you everything He has.
What do you want to give to Jesus? Give Him everything! You say, “I have nothing else, just bitterness and complaints…” Yes, just give those to Jesus! You say, “I have many diseases and much pain; just give those to Jesus!” Do not hesitate to give them; only by giving these to Jesus can you receive from Him! If you hold on to these, how can you receive what Jesus has? Do not get entangled in days and festivals; give all these to Jesus. What Jesus gives you is His peace, joy, and the gospel, which is the good news.
Since we are going to celebrate Christmas, how should we celebrate it? I have two suggestions for you:
First, proclaim the good news of Jesus' birth to the world. Jesus came into the world to give us His life; this is the greatest good news in human history. If God does not reveal Himself to people, we would not be able to find this God at all; if the angel had not told us that Jesus was born in that place, we would not have known. Therefore, those shepherds, longing for this God, were shown the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ and were told to go and share this great joy with all people.
Although Jesus' physical birth occurred 2000 years ago, many people in this world still do not know about Jesus. Many people celebrate Christmas and only know about apples, Santa Claus, and Christmas trees. You must tell them what should truly be commemorated, Amen. You must tell them about the birth of Jesus and the redemptive work He accomplished on the cross. We should emulate the angels and shepherds of that year and proclaim the great joy of the Savior's birth to the world.
As for which day it is, we will not discuss that; any day is fine. But if there is a day when people's hearts can be opened to you, let us seize that day, Amen. As for those who nitpick, let them be. They insist that since the Bible does not mention the word Christmas, we should not celebrate it. I want to tell them that the Bible does not mention the Spring Festival either, so they should just go to work honestly and not celebrate! If it is to commemorate Jesus, it is all acceptable, Amen.
Secondly, bring peace and joy to those who believe in and accept Jesus. Although many people believe in Jesus, they do not know that Jesus has already accomplished the redemptive work for us on the cross and still live under the law, desperately pleading with God. This is too unfortunate.
Isaiah 9:6-7:
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
This is what Jesus will do after His birth. God gave us this child to increase His peace upon us. If you live under the law, do you feel peace? You are always afraid that God will hit you with a stick, worrying every day about whether you have sinned again. Is God staring at you again? You do not need to be like that. If you receive such a fearful message from God, when you walk down the street and someone glances at you, you say, “What are you looking at?” People from the Northeast say, “What are you staring at?” And then it escalates into a fight.
When you are filled with peace in Christ, even if someone glances at you, so what? If they stare too long, it does not harm me; maybe their eyes are just like that. It depends on how you view these matters. In Christ, we always have peace and joy, Amen.
Finally, let’s look at a passage of scripture, Matthew 11:28-30:
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
This is Jesus. Jesus came into this world because He saw us laboring and heavy laden. Living under the law is exhausting and painful. Serving under the law feels like walking on thin ice, always fearing that if you make a mistake, others will gossip about you. Relationships in the family are very poor. It is all because you are carrying heavy burdens! What should you do? Come to Jesus. Jesus invites people, “Come to Me, and I will give you rest.”
Rest does not mean dying or doing nothing; rest is when God gives us His peace, joy, and strength. We carry God’s victory to do things, and you are full of faith, facing everyone and everything without worry, Amen! It does not mean that these things will not exist. After believing in Jesus, everything will go smoothly; that is not the case. It means that no matter what you encounter, you will no longer be troubled to the point of sleeplessness.
The more developed the economy, the more people suffer from insomnia because there are too many worries and fears. But you do not need to be like that in Christ. The birth of this child is to give you His rest, to give you His peace, and to let you receive His life. Therefore, you must take on the yoke of Jesus Christ. His yoke is easy, meaning it is simple to accomplish things, Amen.
Earlier, I mentioned a sister who was previously in very poor health. After believing in the Lord, one time, she went to church to worship God and felt wonderful. This Lord is truly marvelous. She had never heard such information before, and that day she was very grateful, singing all the way home. When she returned to the store, her performance that afternoon exceeded the best performance of anyone in the store for a week. She said, “I didn’t expect that believing in Jesus would bring such blessings!”
Do you know what I told her? “This is just the beginning!” Isn’t it interesting? But it is not deceiving, just the beginning. You have only tasted a little of the Lord’s grace! If someone hands you a bottle of honey, you only licked it with your tongue and said, “Wow, this is delicious!” I didn’t tell her that you only licked a little; the taste afterward is even better. So I want to tell everyone that the more you pursue Jesus, the better it gets!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You. Thank You for leading us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Let us remember that Jesus came into this world for us. We can celebrate on Christmas because Jesus came into this world for our lives; He came for our sins, so our sins can be laid upon Him; He came for our glory, so we can receive His glory; He came for our rest, so we can receive His rest, living each day with His victory!
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much. You sent Jesus because You love me. Since I accepted Jesus, I am no longer the same. My life is in Your hands, and every day is also in Your hands. What You give me is all Your blessings and peace, so I am willing to share this peace with more people. Please grant me eloquence and strength to do this beautiful thing, to spread the gospel of Christ, so that more people may know You. Hallelujah! All glory be to You. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!
Let us partake in the Holy Communion together:
Everyone, quiet your hearts before the Lord, and reflect through this song on why Jesus came into this world. He came for me, died for me, went to the cross for me, and came to receive glory for me. Because at this moment, not only should we think about Jesus, but we should also receive His body. Although He has returned, His body has been left for you, and His life has been given to you. The Holy Spirit is in your heart. At this moment, if there is a place in your life where you need Jesus, call out to Him and pray. He is willing to give to you. If you have diseases, let this Holy Communion bring you healing!
In the name of the Lord Jesus, we set this bread apart. From now on, it is no longer ordinary bread, but the body of Jesus given for me. Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much, for giving me Jesus, and for His body to be my healing and health. I do not have to wait any longer; I can receive His health at this moment. Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me so much!
If you have specific needs, pray to our Heavenly Father and call out to Him. When you touch the body of Jesus and eat it, the life and power of Jesus will enter your body. He will repair your damaged cells, remove all your decayed tissues, and restore you so that your entire body is healthy. Believe this and receive it. Everyone, pray before the Lord. When you receive the body of Jesus, call out to Him in this way!
Heavenly Father, we thank You. We believe that You have heard the cries and prayers of our brothers and sisters. When we call out to You, You will hear our cries and answer them because we are Your beloved children, and You are our Father. This is the title You have given us. Heavenly Father, at this moment, let them receive the power of this Holy Communion, receiving Your healing ability. In the name of the Lord Jesus, your bodies have been completely healed! Your bodies are strong, Hallelujah!
In the name of the Lord Jesus, we also set apart this cup. From now on, it is no longer ordinary wine, but the precious blood of Jesus shed for me. Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross for my sins, so all my sins are forgiven. This blood is the most beautiful and eternal covenant between me and the Heavenly Father, allowing me to receive peace and joy in Him.
Even if no one understands me and I feel wronged, I can come to Christ to seek my Father, who will always accept me. So regardless of how people view you, please return to Christ and remove all condemnation and guilt, letting them fall away. Enjoy His joy in Christ. At this moment, let His peace fill you and His joy fill you, Hallelujah! If you have any grievances in your heart, pray to our Heavenly Father and give them to Him. His peace will fill you!
Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You. Thank You for Your care and protection over us throughout the year. Thank You for watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us from the beginning of the year to the end. Heavenly Father, we thank You; Your grace has never left us. As the new year approaches, please continue to lead our brothers and sisters. This year has passed, but we can expect more of God’s grace to come! Because on the cross, You have accomplished the best blessings for us, and we are willing to live by Your word! As the new year is about to begin, let every brother and sister turn the past behind and look forward to new blessings coming!
In the name of the Lord Jesus, I also bless all the brothers and sisters who hear the word, bless you and your families to be free from all diseases, and bless the work of your hands, so that you can see the wonderful love of Christ come upon you. Please remember, you are a person of title, carrying the authority and glory of Christ. No matter where you go, you will carry the beauty of Christ. You will live each day in the rest of Christ and in His victory, and you will see a different life! In the name of the Lord Jesus, I bless you, bless the work of your hands, and let you become a blessing to many! In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!