Christmas is celebrated on 7th January, by many Eastern Orthodox Churches, instead of the more popular 25th December. The Western Church follows the Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1752, while the many Eastern Orthodox Churches follows the old Julian calendar. This is the reason for the difference in dates.
Whatever the date be, the intention is to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, who was born to redeem the human beings, from our sin, and its eternal consequences. God set in motion, a redemption plan, right in the Garden of Eden. He pursued it diligently by weaving through a ‘sacred’ line of faithful and obedient people, whom God made His representives, to bring to fruition, His eternal plan of salvation.
We see the “scarlet thread” running all through the Bible, from Genesis, till the spread of the gospel, and the evangelisation of the ‘gentiles’ – Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the 12 Tribes of Israel, the Promised Land, the Law, King David, Mary, Joseph, the Saviour, the 12 Disciples, the Redemption accomplished at the Calvary, the kingdom of God established, the Spread of the Gospel, Multitudes from all the nations come to the saving knowledge of the Redeemer, there is No Jew, Nor any Gentile, All are one…the Chosen children of God…redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world [Revelation 13:8] because God loved the world, and gave us a Saviour.
“15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
“1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family, And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you…2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3…And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
“6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given…” “10 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. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”
“9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” – Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; Luke 2:10-11; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 7:9-10.
Praise be to the LORD, who looked graciously upon the fallen human beings, and sent us a Saviour, to redeem us from our sins. Wishing you all A Very HAPPY CHRISTMAS once again.
"The great challenge left to us is to cut through all the glitz and glam of the season that has grown increasingly secular and commercial, and be reminded of the beauty of the One who is Christmas."