In the midst of natural and human catastrophes, difficulties and hopelessness, fear grips us leading to all sorts of uncertainties and thus dashing our hopes and futures.
In such scenarios we exist and in midst of all these chaos and fluid settings we celebrate Christmas vis-à-vis Christ coming into this world offers us the hope, the joy, the happiness, the goodwill, and the assurance of life and in all fullness to each and everyone. This is the core message of Christmas. Christ entering into the world of humans assuring hope to the entire humanity.
If Christ had not entered into the world of humans and not taken the human form, there would not been any relevance and essence of life and living. Human existence would have assumed and gone to another tangent. Undoubtedly, the course of history and interpretations would then be different. This dynamic and the shifts in human history and its understanding are indeed the crux of everything. In this process we should observe the fusion of Godhood and humanhood coming together. At the same time, it is unfortunate that the message of Christmas has been grossly misunderstood by many—merely a yearly event or a celebrative festival.
Perceptions and understanding of Christmas differ and thus varies from one to another. There are some who tend to think that during Christmas season shopping spree, gifts, and celebration in gala and gaiety and those look at the season to making huge profits. Others solely look at Bethlehem wherein the star flickering in the sky, shepherds in the field and angels singing. While others, point to the events happening in the world manifesting dystopia—doom and decay. In such horrific world where humans face all kinds of pains and pathos: “Where is the Prince of Peace in a world filled with hatred, wars, conflicts, killings and many others?
The deeper message of Christmas is indeed the Coming of our Messiah in our midst, which unequivocally heralds the entry of God in Jesus Christ into human history. It is like the heaven descending to earth. This is the most vital and historic intervention that we come across anywhere near human history wherein God in Jesus Christ has taken the crucial stance by responding to despairs, afflictions, frustrations and hopelessness, so that humans have life and in abundance. In such situations where humans yearn and long for justice, peace, freedom, liberation, equality and love, so that humanity enmasse be saved It is this saving grace of Lord Jesus Christ continues to illume hope and everlasting life for the present and future—a continuum.
Humanity is currently living in volatility and thus facing horrendous problems that makes every human helpless, susceptible, volatile and hopeless. Having immersed in such harrowing terrains, the humanity in entirety come across Christmas 2024. Entering and celebrating Christ coming to us—Christmas 2024 is indeed the greatest blessing because we are reassured and above all extended the hope of Jesus, the Christ coming to us. We are once again witnessing the assurance of God’s covenantal promises. It is again in this Christmas Season we humbly and gratefully submit our entire being to the Messiah of Peace.
In such contextual realities, Christmas 2024, can be summed up with triune facets: Manger, Messiah, Mercy. However, traditionally we used to go back and remind ourselves and reflecting over what had happened on the night of Jesus’ birth. The Bible tells us about the angel coming to those fearful shepherds and saying, “Fear not, I bring you good news” (Luke 2). This is of course conveying deep-seated meaning of Christmas that has been proclaimed for centuries and being proclaimed even now. It adds to our traditional belief and understanding.
The Good News is that God sent His only Son to Earth to save the humanity from all kinds of iniquities. Therefore, Christmas is neither a fable nor a utopia nor a fiction nor a riddle, but a triumphant entry of Lord Jesus Christ taking the human form, suffered/crucified, and risen from the grave on the third day and lives amongst us in Spirit. The greatest event ever happened in any history we have come across which is why we are going to observe once again.
This is the most amazing, unforgettable, glorious reality. God in Jesus Christ brought about salvation to all. It is this salvific activity of God in Jesus Christ which continues to manifests God’s intervention in human affairs. We are assured that God in Jesus Christ continues to act in the affairs of humans as long as humanity survives. God in Christ lives and thus offers us the promise to us and so we await the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the Good News for all.
Let us pass on the message of the Messiah who was born like us to redeem the humanity across the world from all kinds and forms of afflictions and thus offers us hope as Jesus Christ lives amongst us. Jesus Christ is the Light, Hope and the Saviour of the world. This hope and love shall endure for ever and ever. Jesus Christmas is all about the life and light. Coming of Jesus Christ into our world has brought abundant Life and Light in a world of darkness and hopelessness. Since then, humanity despite challenges and catastrophes moves on with such confidence and resolve.
As we enter into the year-2025, we are given the assurance that Jesus Christ lives in our midst and has given us the assurance that whatever may be the turmoil and torments. In our insecurity, we receive security; in chaos, we derive clarity; in callousness, we find meaning in life; and in boredom, we are enthused with fullness of life. In tune to it, in Romans 14: 5-6 it is written that “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers everyday alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord”—whether some observes a special day or others consider every day as special, it’s up to us how we decern and perceive.
What’s important is that each moment we should honour God in our words and deeds. Every day, each and every moment is a gift and grace from God, and so, let us be mindful of that and keep moving in our earthly journey. As we step into 2025, we are assured that the year to come shall be filled with God’s grace, mercy and abundance of blessings in all aspects of life. With this assurance, let us step into 2025.
Dr. John Mohan Razu