That First Christmas

Hello Frineds!

Can you believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away? I am sure by now that your Christmas list is done and that you are eagerly waiting for Santa Claus to come. Maybe this is your last week of school before you get a couple of weeks off. Maybe your parents are watching you extra close to make sure that you are being extra nice these days. With everything going on–helping wrap gifts, putting up the Christmas lights, decorating the Christmas tree, and maybe decorating some Christmas cookies–have you taken the time to think about the “First Christmas”: the Christmas when Jesus was born in a manger in a stable?

I may be older than you, but I am not old enough to be at the First Christmas. Therefore, I can only imagine what it would have been like. There probably weren’t any colorful Christmas lights: only candles and the heavenly Star to light the way. There probably wasn’t a Christmas tree since Christmas trees were not native to Bethlehem. The smell of freshly baked sugar cookies didn’t exist: only the stench of smelly farm animals. And there weren’t even Christmas decorations: only hay and tools. (There wasn’t even any technology or Charlie Brown or The Grinch or songs like “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” “Jingle Bells,” or even “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”) The Frist Christmas is nothing like Christmas is today.

I am reminded of a song by Tenth Avenue North, a Christian group, titled The First Christmas. The lyrics are as follows:

No room in the end
No toys by the tree
No lights, no presents, no snow, no bing.

The first Christmas (that first Christmas)
The first Christmas (that first Christmas)
Yeah, but we finally got what we need
The first Christmas (that first Christmas)Alright
Oh come now

No stockings on the mantle
Parades or movies
No Santa, no cookies, no office parties

The first Christmas (that first Christmas)
That first Christmas (that first Christmas)
But the world, we got what we need
The first Christmas (that first Christmas)

No special cup from Starbucks
Or shopping online
But with Jesus in the manger
They were doing just fine

The first Christmas (that first Christmas)
That first Christmas (that first Christmas)
Cause we finally got what we need
The first Christmas (that first Christmas)

Yeah we finally got what we need
The first Christmas

The First Christmas didn’t have toys, didn’t have trees, and didn’t have snow. It didn’t have lights, didn’t have stockings, and didn’t have movies, cookies, and parties. Although it didn’t have everything that we have today, the very First Christmas had everything that we need today. The very First Christmas had Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It had hope, peace, joy, and love. It had everything that we need in order to live like Jesus. Do you want to live like Jesus? The very First Christmas reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas!

As you finish getting ready for Christmas, take some time to think about the very First Christmas. What does Christmas mean to you? What brings you joy on Christmas?

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!