Celebrating the Real Reason. Christmas Jubilation, Part 4

Every family I know celebrates Christmas with a sumptuous meal-and most end up overeating!

In a parable from Jesus, He tells us about a beautiful wedding banquet where all the best foods were offered. Somehow, however, the people who were invited by the king refused to come. Some even killed the servants who were sent to invite them!

"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' "But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them." Matthew 22:2-6 (NIV)

Christmas is all about the event of Jesus' birth. He was willing to leave heaven to come in our neighborhood, and eventually He died-willingly!-on a cross. His purpose? To offer eternal salvation to anyone who accepts His gift. He did it all for love.

Sadly, many turn their backs on this offer. They prefer their own destiny.

The same is true about our sumptuous food this Christmas. If we don't invite Jesus to share in the bounty of Christmas, our meal will be missing the real reason of Christmas. How sad! Think about it: How would you like to be given a birthday party, but you were not invited? You are the one who has a birthday, but everyone ignores you. Is that fair? Aren't they missing someone?

If only we fully realized that for the "Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) Jesus gave the best gift ever to humanity. Without Jesus, we are truly poor, we have no real purpose. His death, however, led to everlasting living with the King of Kings. Have you ever been acknowledged by a King or President? The King of Kings does that for us, because He cares for us. Doesn't it make sense to invite this loving King to our table?

This past summer, we experienced a little bit of how Jesus feels when so many refuse to even acknowledge Him. We were in Boulogne-sur-Mer, a lovely French city near the North Sea. We had visited the old town and we wanted to visit the Casa San Martin, a house built to commemorate José de San Martin who liberated Argentina. It was indicated that this museum would be open until 6 P.M. We arrived there at 4:30 P.M. and the door was already locked. When we looked through the windows, no one was there! We decided to eat at a lovely creperie in the Old Town instead. We had found it on Tripadvisor, but once we arrived, the restaurant was closed-for good this time! Another patron had taken over the restaurant, and it would eventually offer Turkish food when it reopened; but this didn't help us much. We had been disappointed in this town two times, for both places had not come through.

Eventually we found another creperie, and they welcomed us with open arms. The owner was very friendly, and the food was delicious. We felt right at home.

May I encourage those who feel rejected to come to Jesus. This is what He promises to you: "Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will never reject." John 6:37 (MontgomeryNT)

May we not reject the real reason for Christmas. Christmas without Christ ends up in a celebration of nothingness.

How will we celebrate our Christmas this year?

"For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to see me." Matthew 25:35-36 (MontgomeryNT)

Rob Chaffart