On Celebrating Jesus' Birthday

(Picture of the hillsides around Bethlehem in March)

Holidays in our culture often seem to miss the point. Why do we celebrate our thanks by eating a lot of turkey and watching football? Why do we celebrate romantic love with chocolate? Why do we celebrate the joy of working by taking a day off? Most importantly in this current season why do we celebrate a homeless preacher's birthday who spent his life declaring "good news to the poor" by giving those close to us expensive gifts. If any holiday should not be materialistic Christmas should be that holiday. It seems as if the holiday has been captured by marketing experts.

Indeed, Jesus probably was not born in the month of December at all. To the frustration of my brother who was born on December 25th, I always remind him that my birthday April 2 was probably closer to Jesus' actual date of birth. This is based on what we find the shepherds doing in the account of the Nativity recorded in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Early Christians preempted this date to help their recent converts not revert back to paganism in celebrating the holidays around the winter solstice. Indeed, a good work of missiology, but not terribly historically accurate.

Perhaps now that the marketing experts have taken the "holidays" back from us it would be a good time for us as followers of Jesus to pick a new date (sometime in late March or early April) to celebrate Jesus' birthday that would be closer to the historical reality, and further from the consumerist pollution of the date. Better yet, perhaps it would be important for us to find new more meaningful ways to celebrate Christmas and seize the holiday back from the marketing experts. Let me suggest this as one idea: Jesus, the "Bread of Life" was born in "the House of Bread" Bethlehem in a feeding trough. Perhaps we could celebrate his birthday best by giving a gift to him on his birthday (fancy that thought) and helping feed someone who is hungry. After all he says: (NIV Matthew 25:40) 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Here are some organizations you could donate towards or volunteer at to help those in need as a birthday gift for Jesus: Salvation Army, Chicagoland Community Church (my church), Feed the Children, World Hunger and Relief Funds, etc. Obviously, there are many other options. The important thing is to find an organization you trust and give generously towards those who are in need. Better yet, get to know someone in need yourself and find ways to directly bless them. Either way, make sure to add Jesus to your Christmas giving list, after all, it is his birthday.

Returning Home

Luke 15: 11 - 32

This extremely popular story of Jesus’ is set in the daily life of Palestinian Jews in the first century. Generations of Christian artists have produce works depicting this story in music (check out "Growing Young" in Rich Mullins website)or on canvas. Younger sons could expect to inherit half of what the eldest son would inherit from the father. More often than not, however, those interpreting this passage miss including one of the major characters in their explanation. We will look at them each, and study the passage in its context, to best understand how to apply the principles Jesus is teaching in these stories to our lives. Please join the conversation through comments.

When is a time in your life you most felt like you were heading home? Develop for me the character of the younger son in the story. Why does the younger son leave his home in the first place? What causes him to go through such a radical personal transformation? What transformation do you need in your life? What circumstances, memories, and experiences in your life are being used to guide you towards repentance?

What do we discover about the father throughout this story? What phrases or scenes in particular reveal the father’s worldview? Why is the father so generous with the younger son when he returns? What is Jesus saying about his Father in this description? Spend some time thanking God for the mercy he demonstrates to those who have made bad choices in their lives.

How would you describe the older son in the story? Why is he so concerned about the mercy his father is showing to the younger son? What evidence demonstrates his concerns are either legitimate or ill-conceived? How well do his arguments resonate with your own attitudes and perspectives? Describe the answer his father gives him. Do you think he finally goes into the party, Why? How can we as Christians become less judgmental of those who are coming to God for mercy?

Compare and contrast this story with the stories from last week. How do the characters in the story parallel those involved in Jesus’ ministry? How can we be sure we respond to God more in a spirit of humble repentance than with an attitude of haughty superiority?

What Causes Heaven to Party

Luke 15:1-10

When is a time that you lost something that was very important to you? What did you do?

Describe the attitude the religious are having towards Jesus’ relationships with those who are undesirable? Why are they so put off by Jesus’ relationships with that type of people? How can we make sure we don’t become spiritually jealous?

In the first story Jesus tells, how would it feel to have been a shepherd missing a sheep? What risks are inherent in leaving the 99 alone in open country? Why would the shepherd be willing to accept those risks in order to help and individual sheep?

In the second story, imagine you are the woman missing an important coin. Describe the process you would take to try to find the coin in your home. Why might it be so important for this woman to find this coin?

Compare the responses the people have in the two stories when they find what is lost. Why such levity? Why is it so vital for them to include others in on the celebration?

What connection does Jesus draw between the celebrations in his story and celebrations in heaven? What really makes heaven party? Why does heaven celebrate the repentance of a sinner? How does this answer the criticism them religious leaders are leveling against him?

What efforts are you taking to seek those who need God in their lives?

What could we do more as a group to bring the gospel to those folks who people would not expect to believe?

How do you celebrate the deliverance Jesus has given you in your life? What should we do as a group to celebrate when people come to know Jesus? Why should we celebrate salvation?

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