The Story of Christmas

As soon as Thanksgiving is over, we will jump right into the Christmas season. Indeed, I have already heard Christmas songs on the radio and in stores. Down in Florida, people have already put up theu- decorations. And sometimes I get a little upset that people are so eager to get to Christmas that they just seem to want to get Thanksgiving out of the way.

But in reality, Christmas does begin a lot sooner than December 25, a lot sooner. In fact, it begins centuries before, in the Garden of Eden. You’ve heard this. God had created a paradise for Adam and Eve to enjoy. And then the tempter entered the picture, a duplicitous serpent, and he deceived them, fast-talked them into eating the one fruit of the garden they were not to eat.

And thus, began the fall of humankind. From there it was a short journey before the world became filled with hatred, violence, greed, and corruption. Their world was just like the world we see today. Our current troubles are nothing new. It’s been this way throughout history.

In his anger, God spoke to the serpent and said, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And / will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

These words were a prophecy — a promise from God — that someday One would come into the world to undo the damage that the serpent had set in motion. He had skewered history, but before it was all over. God would make it right. The final phrase of this prophecy, “he will crush your head and you will strike his heel,” is a poetic way of saying: “Satan, you may hurt him a little, but he will ultimately take you out.”

Throughout Israel’s history, they continued to talk about this Messiah, and prophecy about him, and look forward to his coming. The Old Testament contains hundreds of such prophecies that were … here’s a spoiler alert …. ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Some of the prophecies of Christ were very specific, and some were more general in nature, but all of them offered hope, such as that spoken by the prophet Jeremiah…’T/ie days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a king who will do wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” (Jeremiah 23:5)

So, let’s be thankful, (see what I did there?) that even though people push through Thanksgiving into Christmas, that this is the season we can be than thankful that God saw us in our need and sent his Son that Satan would be defeated and for at least a month people’s thoughts turn to kindness, peace, and giving.