World War 3 is at Hand
While we wait for Iran's annihilation and its regime change to start World War 3, let's check our own Christian faith, doctrine and knowledge of Him and His words.
Jesus, the Messiah
John 11:47-48, 53 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.
If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation... Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death._
The Jews were expecting their Messiah to establish the Israeli Kingdom again.
However, the faithless Jewish leadership could not trust their Messiah to defeat the almost invincible Roman army, so they planned to kill Him to prevent the Romans incriminating them of rebellion.
At the death of Jesus on the cross, God left the temple thereby ending the Old Covenant and replacing it with the New Covenant of Jesus' blood.
Heb 8:13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Winter in Bethlehem
Luke 2:10-11 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Bethlehem enjoys the Mediterranean climate of the hot and dry summers and the mild and wet winters. Snow is a rarity. Winter enjoys an average temperature of 5°C - 12°C (just like springtime in Europe).
In winter, good and caring shepherds will take their flocks out in the night to feed on the dewy fresh grass, this was the time when suddenly the angels announced the birth of the Saviour Jesus.
Since the Jewish Priesthood rejected the birth of their Messiah and Christianity was illegal, there was no public celebration of Christmas for almost 300 years until the reign of Constantine, the first Christian emperor.
Celebration of Jesus' Birth
Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
The good and caring shepherds were blessed to be able to celebrate the first Christmas with the multitudes of angels hosts.
JOY to the World the Lord has Come
Word Made Flesh
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, " This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
When Christians partake of the bread (His body or Word) during the Holy Communion, our Lord Jesus reminded us to remember that He was the Word made flesh at His birth (Christmas).
Thank God that not only Christians but the whole world accepts Christmas as the Christian festival in remembrance of the birth of Jesus.
But unfortunately, unlearned and misled Christians think that winters in Bethlehem are very cold and blanketed with snow (shown on Christmas cards).
Just like the faithless and fearful Jewish leadership who denied their Messiah (Jesus) had come as the Word made flesh, Christians who refuse to celebrate Christmas also deny Jesus was the Word made flesh. This may lead them to lose their salvation.
Thank God that He has provided the whole month of December (Christmas-tide) as opportunities for blessed Christians to celebrate and evangelise non Christians.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Why was Christmas held on December 25?
The Councils of bishops, who were imprisoned and tortured for their faith in Jesus, formulated the Nicene (Apostles) Creed in 325AD and later canonised the 27 New Testament books of the Holy bible.
At their advice, Emperor Constantine adopted December 25 as the day of birth of Jesus for Christians to celebrate Christmas in unity and in harmony.