In December 2005 the US president’s Christmas cards were fiercely discussed in the media. The cards, which were sent out to over a million people, no longer expressed wishes for a ‘Merry Christmas’ as in the past but simply wishes for ‘Happy Holidays.’ Increased efforts were also made in other nations to either eliminate Christian terms and symbols for Christmas, or to rename them, in order to avoid offending representatives of other religions. In contrast to this we were surprised when during our time in China, Christmas articles were sold and traditional Christmas songs were played over the loudspeakers in department stores. While people in nations with a Christian heritage were attempting to remove the Christian elements of this holiday, Christian songs were heard at Christmas in a Communist country! These observations gave rise to some personal considerations on my part.
Christmas is first of all simply a birthday celebration when we remember the birth of Jesus Christ. It is not likely that we would consider not mentioning the name of a woman named Lydia on her birthday, in order to avoid offending someone whose birthday happens not to be on that day! The person’s name is a vital part of any birthday celebration because, after all, the person is what it is all about!
However, it is correct, that one could also celebrate the birthdays of other famous men and founders of religions in a special manner. The year 2006 became known as the Mozart Year and featured many activities and events in commemoration of this gifted musician and composer. One could also celebrate Mohammed’s or Buddha’s birthday in a special way. Why should Jesus Christ’s birthday be celebrated so exceptionally?
One could reply that we live in the ‘Christian west’ and are therefore responsible to protect Christian traditions. This explanation is unlikely to be sufficient. Although it is a good thing to identify with one’s culture and hold on to one’s own values, the truth, it does not provide an adequate explanation either.
In order to find out more about the origin of this celebration we must take a closer look at the person whose birthday we are celebrating: Jesus Christ. What was so special about Him in comparison to other founders of religion?
He was born in humble surroundings like millions of humans before and after Him. He ate and drank and grew up as others do. He laughed, cried and also got tired.
When He began to teach as an itinerant preacher in Israel at 30 years of age, many people paid attention. They had never heard such teaching from their religious leaders. However, soon disputes arose, because this man claimed to be one with God Himself. No one should be allowed to boast like this! It would have been ridiculous had there not been the visible repercussions of His supernatural power. The blind were made to see, the paralised could suddenly get up, carrying their sleeping mat with them and people who had been oppressed by evil spirits all their life were set free. Nevertheless, because the claim to be God was so outrageous and unacceptable, Jesus was indicted and executed on the cross only a few years after He began His public ministry.
However even all this would not justify such a unique position and the keeping of a special holiday. Many famous men and women have developed and distributed doctrines which led to personal or external liberation. Ultimately these people all died either a natural or violent death. Some of their graves have become places of pilgrimage where followers hope to personally experience their power. Although initially His disciples did not understand this, Jesus had foretold that He would not remain in the grave. As the Risen One, He appeared on the third day after His crucifixion first to individual disciples, then to all of the disciples and later to over 500 people! A number of them were still alive when the first accounts were written.1 This event is also celebrated … Easter! The Christmas celebration is indeed reaffirmed when viewed from Easter. As Easter is unique, Christmas is likewise unique! If there had not been a resurrection, the Christian message and the Christian faith would be insignificant.2
Many famous people wanted to be immortal.
Last year we visited the Chinese city of Xi’An. There one can admire the Terracotta Warriors, which have been designated the 8th wonder of the world. The Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi was able to unite the entire Chinese territory under his government for the first time. Therefore he ordered that a mausoleum should be built, which would be guarded by thousands of terracotta warriors, in order to ensure that he would remain invincible after his death (210 B.C.). In spite of this impressive monument his rule did not continue eternally.
During the 80’s while we lived in Zaire, Africa, which today is called the Democratic Republic of Congo, a religious leader named Ebale Mbonge became famous there. He claimed to be the Messiah and a person of the Trinity.
He also claimed to have had conversations with the Father before the foundation of the world. His followers – among them a number of well known figures – worshipped him as God. One day he declared that he would soon die but that he would rise again after three days. Before long he died and was placed in a coffin. Some of his followers wanted to transport the coffin from the capital Kinshasa further inland, in order to bury Ebale in his home town. A friend of ours works at the airport as an inspector. He is a committed Christian and won’t be bribed. He insisted that the coffin must be opened for inspection. They discovered the coffin only contained a doll, while Ebale Mbonge himself had joined his followers in disguise! He had planned to travel with them without being recognised and then to appear as ‘the Risen One’ in his home town. President Mobutu was quickly informed. Mobutu’s statement and decree were clear: ‘Jesus is really risen but first He was really dead!’ Soon after this, Ebale Mbonge was committed to hospital. He had been shot several times in the stomach. He died. He never rose again!
It is because Jesus is the only one who has risen from the dead that we can celebrate Easter and also remember the birth of this unique person by celebrating Christmas.
In this sense we may continue to say: Merry Christmas!
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1 Corinthians 15:5-7
2 Corinthians 15:14-17
