The message of Christmas

The Christmas season is a continuum. So, even though December 25, the formally designated day of Christmas, has come and gone, the ambience of the festival subsists.

The story-line appears to be simple enough. A child was born, so it seems, to simple parents – Joseph the carpenter and Mary the mother. As told in the Great Book, the circumstances of his birth were extraordinary and unprecedented. His was a virgin birth. And right from childhood, he displayed a lot of precociousness. At a point in time when Jesus Christ, the central figure in the story, went with his parents to Jerusalem and they somehow left him behind in Jerusalem, they sought him and, finding him, asked what he was doing in the temple; his riposte was that he was simply going about his father’s business.

One telling strain which runs through the life and times of Jesus Christ was that, even from birth, he was at odds with the status-quo forces. Recall that when he was born, a particular king sought to kill him before he was moved to safety.

As he matured and came into adulthood, Christ came into his own as regards his mission on earth. He preached peace, love and sacrifice. But even then, this pacific posture was not enough to save him. The status-quo forces, helped on by the rabble, did him in. But then, here comes the paradox: Christ had victory over death. Significantly enough, eternal life was the possibility which he offered to all his followers. And this, indeed, is the cornerstone of Christianity. All those who believe in him have this privilege of eternal life.

Predictably, Christ’s birth, which is said to fall on December 25, continues to be celebrated every year. The date itself has been a source of contention among theologians. But irrespective of the divergent perspectives, Christmas is a season that is celebrated every year.

Unfortunately, and over time, Christmas season has been transformed into a huge commercial venture. It is an enterprise in which gifts are exchanged. And as such matters go, a whole industry has grown up around the Christmas season.

In view of the foregoing, Christmas is a boom time for manufacturers and traders alike. The ensuing consequence is that they all smile to the banks. Indeed, such is the commercialisation of the Christmas season that it is possible for us all to lose sight of its essence.

Therefore, it is important to restate here that the reason for the season is Jesus Christ. His message to the world, if we may reiterate, is one of peace, love and sacrifice. One important instance of this was when he was arrested. At that high point of his ordeal, one of his disciples drew the sword and severed the ear of an assailant. Rather than applaud and commend this retaliatory move, Christ picked up the ear and stuck it back. Therefore, there is little wonder that one of his famous injunctions is “love your enemies”.

Thus, as we indulge in the revelry of Christmas and its aftermath, this is the time to take a step back and reflect on the fundamentals of the season, Jesus Christ and the unique lessons which he practiced and preached to mankind, especially as Nigeria and much of the world are torn apart by strife and terrorism.

But beyond terrorism, other brutalising realities continue to afflict a large portion of our national and global population. One such reality is the high level of lack in the land which has shut out a large majority of our population from the celebration of Christmas. This calls to mind a pointed and haunting question which was posed several years ago by a band of musicians: “Do they know it’s Christmas?”

Thus, as we all celebrate, we urge that more than a passing thought be spared for the message and virtues which Jesus Christ, the reason for the season, preached to all mankind.