Is there going to be a Christmas this year?

Is there really going to be a Christmas this year? Will the real spirit of Christ be present this December 25th or will many celebrate a commercialized holiday "of the world"?

Will you celebrate the birth of our savior or will many continue to celebrate a false god of worldy things--materialistic goods that bring short-term happiness?

Remember what Christ said in John 6:48:

"I am the bread of life."

We are all hungry. We all hunger for love, peace and happiness in our lives. Christ feeds this hunger and he truly is the bread of life.

Christ was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem in Hebrew means "House of Bread."

In John 6:51 Christ says: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Is there any coincidence that the Christ child was first laid in a manger, a feeding trough?

In John 6:53-58, Christ goes on to say:

"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

But many did not believe Christ then or today...

John 6:60: On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

John 6:61: Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them: "Does this offend you?

Knowing that he was still alive and in the flesh, Jesus sets the table for Holy Communion later and "Do This In Remembrance of Me" on the night of the Last Supper when he says:

John 6:62:

"What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!"

In John 6:643-65, Christ goes on to say: "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

Sadly,

John 6:66: From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

John 6:67:

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

Have you turned your back on Christ or strayed away from him?

The Humble King

Christ was born in the humble setting of a stable, not a royal, lush palace of your typical king. He said came to serve--not to be served.

• Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
  

He taught us to put others first and ourselves last.

• Mark 9:35 Christ said: "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and a servant of all"

He taught us not to value material possessions.

• Luke 12:15: Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
  

Will the real spirit of Christ be in you this Christmas?

Will your heart be filled with Christ's love, humility and forgiveness?

That is how you can truly celebrate Christmas. For Christ to be alive in your heart so that he was not born and did not die in vain.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Lets remember the greatest gift of all.

A recommended video to watch, click HERE

Peace be with you,

© Michael J. Cox