Opinion
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., 12-25-23
All over the world, people celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Christmas and Easter are the two most important Christian holidays. In Bethlehem, Israel, where Jesus was born, there is a major celebration. Even today, during the war, time will stop on December 25th. For this is the day that changed the world forever. The birth of Jesus literally split history: our calendars say B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anino Domini: the Year of our Lord). And Christianity became the largest religion in the history of the world, and still is today. Over 2 BILLION people in the world say they are Christians, more than any other religion.
Actually, Jesus was probably born in the Fall or September, on the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, because Jesus came to earth to tabernacle with us. But, December 25th is the day chosen by the church, and it is celebrated world wide.
So what do we know about the first Christmas?
In the book of Matthew we read the following account:
Mary was engaged to marry Joseph. But before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph thought about divorcing her quietly, but an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus (or Yeshua in Hebrew) because he will save his people from their sins.” And all this took place to fulfill what the prophets of old had said that the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’
And in the book of Luke we read that Joseph took Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a Census ordered by Rome. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to a son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, or a food trough for animals, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their sheep by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them: Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people! Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Anointed One – he is Christ the Lord! This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger or food trough. Suddenly thousands of angels appeared in the sky saying “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
I believe that this is truly the day that changed all human history. For I believe that this is the day that God sent a savior into the world for all people.
But why did Mary put Jesus in swaddling clothes? Why is that significant? In the Jewish tradition, every Passover lamb was wrapped in swaddling clothes when born. Passover lambs were used by the Jewish people as a sacrifice for sins of all the people. More than 700 sacrificial lambs were needed every year and they had to meet certain holy criteria. They had to be born in the hills of Judea around Bethlehem (where Jesus also was born). They had to be placed in a manger not a flock (like Jesus). And they had to be wrapped in swaddling clothes so they would not break a leg while being certified as pure in a manger (like Jesus). And we know that Jesus died on Passover to be the perfect and final sacrificial lamb for the whole world.
And in Matthew, we also read about the three wise men or Magi who came from the east, following a star to seek the birth of the Messiah. They followed the star until it stopped over the place where Jesus had been born. “When they saw the star they were overjoyed. They saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of Frankincense and myrrh. These were gifts of great value and gifts truly fit for a king. These gifts were also very symbolic and prophetic. Gold represented the Kingship of Jesus. Gold was very scarce and valuable and associated with royalty. And the walls of the temple holy of holies were covered in gold. Frankincense or incense represented prayer and worship. In that day, the beautiful aroma of incense was associated with a priest and ceremonial worship of God. And, burning incense at the altar was part of the sacrificial system of the day. The gift of Myrrh represented death and mourning. Myrrh was a fragrant spice that was used in that day to prepare bodies for burial. It was also used to anoint the priests and the Temple before sacrifices were made. So we can see that the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh stood for Christ’s kingship, divinity and priesthood and his sacrificial death.
And that is the story of the First Christmas!
This Christmas, I pray that all people in Nassau County will come to know the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who promises peace and salvation and eternal life to all who come to Him! Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR- JUDGE JOHN MARSHALL MEISBURG JR.
Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., was a U.S. Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration for 26 years in Jacksonville, Florida. He retired as a judge in 2021 and is now living in Fernandina Beach, Florida with his wife of 43 years, Dr. Denise Meisburg. They have six children and 11 grandchildren. Prior to being a judge, he was a lawyer with the Federal government for 23 years, serving in all three branches of the government, with the U.S. District Court, EEOC, Justice Department, Congress, FDIC and Office of Special Counsel (MSPB). He was in private law practice one year in Washington, D.C. and filed the lawsuit that became the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case on sexual harassment. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky, and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is a lifelong Christian, being raised in the Baptist faith in Louisville, Kentucky. He was an Elder at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville where he taught Sunday School, the Jewish Roots of the Faith and the Christian Heritage of America. He was a leader of both the National Day of Prayer and the House of Prayer in Jacksonville for over ten years. He has published ten books relating to Christian and legal ssues. He is now a member of Living Waters World Outreach Center in Fernandina Beach, where he serves in the prayer and home group ministry, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Faith Christian Academy.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
