CHRISTMAS IS RUINED, Part I
"The theology of Jesus' incarnation has ruined 'cultural' Christmas for me. Now, I'm not saying here that trimming a tree isn't fun or that the Bing Crosby Christmas music playing in stores doesn't ever inspire warm & fuzzy feelings, but these things just don't seem as important or meaningful to me as they once did. Family & cultural traditions are enjoyable & worthwhile, sure, but once I began to wrap my head around the theology of the Incarnation, all the fluff surrounding our cultural celebration of Christmas simply took a back seat.
When we talk about 'the Incarnation,' we're talking about the birth of Jesus. We're talking about God taking on human flesh. (The Latin root word incarnare literally means 'to make flesh.') The Incarnation is discussed in each of the Gospels, but John opens his Gospel with what is perhaps the most jaw-dropping presentation of who Jesus is, from 'In the beginning was the Word' (John 1:1) to 'No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, He has made Him known' (John 1:18). If you've read the other Gospels & come away with any questions regarding the identity of Jesus of Nazareth or the purpose of Holy Scripture, read John. He clears things right up from the very start. Not only is Jesus a man from Nazareth, but He's also the Son of God. Remember when God created everything in the beginning? Jesus was there. He IS the very Word through which all things were & are created. And now, in the Incarnation, He comes to save His creation."
--Merritt Demski, "When Jesus Ruins Christmas," The Lutheran Witness Dec. 2018)
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