The True Meaning of Christmas
A common thread
One who can see God in every thing
can also see his Self in every thing
One who can thus see God and his Self
in every thing is eternally walking with God
in every action-reaction of his life.
- Lao Russell, Why You Cannot Die! (1972)
Yesterday was Christmas. In my continuing effort to question my beliefs and search for truth, I decided to look at Christmas. I began with looking at the Bible. I received the above quote in an email from The University of Science and Philosophy. I thought it was quite fitting.
My family celebrated in the usual secular fashion. We had the Christmas tree. We ate too much, and the children received gifts. We watched a Christmas movie, the Red One. Santa was captured by someone out to destroy Christmas and had to be rescued. While rescuing Santa, a man becomes a better father and committed to his son.
Some of my Christian friends posted on Facebook about the true meaning of Christmas. Of course they were talking about the birth of Jesus. In one of my Bibles, the book of Matthew goes from page 717 to 743. The birth of Jesus to a virgin is mentioned on pages 717-718. It also mentioned the Magi following a star to a house and bringing gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. The book of Mark goes from pages 743 to 760 and does not mention the birth of Jesus at all. The book of Luke goes from pages 760 to 788. The birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary is told from pages 761 to 762. Luke does not mention the Magi but does mention angels appearing to shepherds in a field. The angels told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The book of John makes no mention of a virgin birth.
For my readers who are not familiar with the Bible. The four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called the gospels. They are the only books of the Bible focused on the life and teaching of Jesus. Of the four books two do not mention the virgin birth at all. The virgin birth is a small portion of the books that do mention it.
Why is a virgin birth important? It means that Jesus was different than you and me. Because of that difference, what Jesus actually taught – that God is father to us all – is not true. Hmmm. What is the true meaning of Christmas?
All Christmas stories have the following in common: Love, belief, something beyond mere physicality. Whether the story is virgin birth or Santa Clause, the story is beyond what science can confirm. When I watch Christmas movies, I find love winning over insurmountable odds.
I believe that is the true meaning of Christmas. Rather than fight about commercialization of Christmas or argue that the virgin birth of Jesus is a fallacy, remember Lao Russell’s quote and see God in everything you do and everywhere you go. Look for love everywhere - even where it seems impossible. Perhaps you will find something beyond mere physicality - beyond science - YOU!
"Thanks for asking. If Jesus was like the rest of us, then if we were following His teaching, we should be healing the sick, feeding thousands with a few fish or loaves of bread, and walking on water..."
Obviously, He was not like the rest of us in all respects.
".... If we are not doing that, then we are not good Christians...": Obviously, we cannot do that which Christ can do.
"...The ones I know still view the healing as coming through the power of Jesus and not directly from God...." God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same...in view of which your logic is still flawed.
I don't understand your logic in this statement: "...Why is a virgin birth important? It means that Jesus was different than you and me. Because of that difference, what Jesus actually taught – that God is father to us all – is not true...."