What does Christmas really mean?

To some its that time of the year that gifts are exchanged
To some, its that time of the year to have fun, partying and making merry.
To some, its a time to change relationship (a guy taking a new lady and vice versa)
To some, a time to impregnate or get pregnant
To some, its a time for carols etc
To some, its a time Jesus was born
To some, its a time to return to home countries and win over the girls.

Yes it may be true, but Christmas is beyond that. Its actually a time of reflections. Its a time that the greatest love was shown to man kind. God gave the world the greatest gift. Gift of life, and eternity. A time to reflect on this gift and the significance thereof. There must be connectivity between us and this greatest love and gift, not just having fun and exchanging gifts.

I would be doing a short article on some Christmas songs, for us to reflect on the lyrics on those songs and the true meaning.

Lets start with one of the most popular Christmas songs.
O Come, All ye Faithful
"O Come, All Ye Faithful" (originally written in Latin as Adeste Fideles) is a Christmas carol which has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade (1711–1786), with the earliest copies of the hymn all bearing his signature, John Reading (1645–1692) and King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656)

Well, the author doesn't really matter. What matters is the message.

The song has four verses. We would discuss some.

verse 2
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

Line 3 says Very God, begotten, not created: This means the man Jesus himself is very God. Remember what we read in Philippians 2 vs 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage
This tells us about the nature of Jesus that was born this happy morning. To liken it to that line 3, Jesus is very God.


The other part of line 3 says 'begotten, not created'
let us examine the The Supremacy of the Son of God Colossians 1

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16[b] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him[/b]

The above verses corroborate the line in that song that Jesus was begotten and not created. No one can create a creator, just as a car cannot create its creator.

This is a misery and sign of love, which is the greatest love. As you step out today, reflect on this song . Oh come all ye faithful. Scroll down to verse 2 and line.

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Another verse to reflect on is 4

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

line 3 says Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing This is so true and reflective from the verses we read in Colossians 1. However, the book of John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.

The word became flesh and decided to dwell among us. This corroborates that line 3 in verse 4 Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

Let us take him into us. Jesus is all in all. Everything were created for him. Jesus is the God incarnate, that became visible to man kind.
Just as the song says
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

You must adore him, for his love, for his mercies, for his gift of life, for his protection, for the greatest love he showed to mankind, laying down himself as a Sacrificial lamb for reconciliation. That man may no more die.

Christmas is about Jesus. Its about love.

Jesus started from the cradle and rose to the cross to die. This is the greatest Love. This is the gift of life. Embrace it today and live till eternity

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Second song is "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems, having been written by Charles Wesley. Wesley had requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics, not the joyful tune expected today. Moreover, Wesley's original opening couplet is "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings"

The above doesn't really matter also, but the message.

Verse 1 says

Hark! The herald-angels sing
"Glory to the newborn king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald-angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king"

We are looking at lines 3 and 4
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Christ the Lord.

Peace on earth and mercy mild: Remember he was called the prince of peace, and a merciful father. This means his birth brought peace to the earth, not only peace but mercy.

Isaiah 9 vs 6 And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Psa86:5) 5For you are sweet and mild, Lord, and[b] plentiful in mercy[/b] to all who call upon you

God and sinners reconciled: This is so true. He came to this world to be born for you and I, he came and died for us, that man may be reconciled with God before death. See 2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

Brethren in the lord, today the 25th, please rejoice and be happy cos Jesus has brought Peace to the earth. He's the prince of prince and a merciful saviour.

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Lets examine verse 3

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness![11]
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king"

In this verse, we are examining lines 6-7

Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth

Born that man no more may die This is so true. Not that man will not die this physical death of the body, but yopur spirit/soul will not die with the body. This is the promise of eternity. We have it in John 3 vs 16. 'That whosoever believes in him would not die but have an eternal life'. Though the body dies and gets buried, but your soul and spirit would live for ever more because of Christmas day.

Born to raise the sons of earth Yes, he came to raise the sons of earth. Lets see Matthew 1 vs 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins
He came to raise his people up to God

Born to give them second birth this is so very true again. Matthew 9:13
{13} “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ F[b]or I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance[/b]
He came to give us second birth. Remember John 3vs 3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again
This second birth is not to come into this world being conceived by another one just as Nicodemus exclaimed in John 3:4. It is accepting Jesus as your personal lord and saviour and being baptized in the spirit. remember what John said in Matthew 3vs 11
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

The second birth comes after being baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire.

Finally brethren. Let us Rejoice that the saviour is born.
Let is rejoice for the gift of life
Let us rejoice for the gift of eternal life
Let us rejoice that we have a saviour.
Let us rejoice that we will no more die.
Let us celebrate Christmas with Joy, in anticipation of seeing the Kingdom of God.

God Bless you and have a very merry Christmas and prosperous 2016