Here it comes again! Unless you have been hibernating the past few weeks you must have noticed that Christmas is coming once again and yes it’s on December 25th as usual.
Do you ever stop to ask yourself the questions of who, what, when, how, why? If you enjoy quizzes or are just naturally curious, you will know that there are several explanations as to why Christmas has almost always been celebrated on December 25th.
The Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus, who lived around 200 AD, dated Jesus’ conception to March 25th, which, after nine months in his mother’s womb, would result in a December 25th birth. Right or wrong, that is the date which has been well established over many centuries and the commercial world would have a nightmare trying to alter this.
That resolves the ‘when’ question, but perhaps the most important question is ‘why?’ That is not the question of why do we give and receive presents, but the deeper question as to why did God send His only Son Jesus to the world just over 2000 years ago?
Over the next three weeks Wellspring Church will be Carol Singing on Condado de Alhama and around Camposol. The carols we sing and the readings we bring will tell the Christmas Story of how Jesus was born of Mary in a stable or similar in Bethlehem. Our advert on page 21 shows the dates for each event and across the bottom of the page are the words JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
Giving gifts to one another can be a wonderful way of confirming our love for one another. Our cards and newsletters remind friends of what we have done over the past year and we enjoy being updated by those people we haven’t seen in a long time, but the greatest reminder of love is to think that the Creator of this amazing universe in which we live is so concerned for each and every life on that little planet, seemingly lost in the Milky Way, that He would send His only Son to die for you and for me.
God gave the people of His creation free will – freedom to do right and wrong, freedom to worship or ignore and so, over the centuries before Jesus was born, people chose, more often that not, to go their own way and live a life which God looked on as sinful.
Christians believe that from the beginning, God knew that sin would corrupt the world and you can see the plan of salvation unfolding throughout the Old Testament of the Bible. Over 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke the words which have become very familiar to many of us
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
That is quite clear. God sent his Son to be our sacrifice before Him so that we would become acceptable in His sight.
Do you want to know more about this amazing God who so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life? Why not come along to one of our Carol Evenings and hear the true Christmas Story in word and song?
Our Church Carol Service is on December 24th at 5pm in the event room above Trevi Bar, Camposol B. All are welcome.
