*Santa explains the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas.
*The Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately
evergreen, with its unchanging color, represents the hope of eternal life in
Jesus. Its needles point heavenward as a reminder that mankind's thoughts
should turn heavenward as well.”
*"The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior
for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on
the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always
fulfills His promises, and that wise men still seek Him."
*"Red, is the first color of Christmas." A red
ornament for the tiny tree. "Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color
of the life-giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of
God's greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave His life and shed His
blood for them that they might have eternal life.
*A silver bell: "Just as lost
sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today
for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to listen for the bell and
follow the true Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep."
*A lit candle on the mantle: The soft glow from its one tiny flame
brightened the room. “The glow of the candle represents how Jesus is the light
of the world. People can show their
thanks for the gift of God's Son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the
children to follow in Christ's foot steps... to live by faith and to go about
doing good.”
*Let the light of Jesus so shine before all men that they will see it and
glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the
tree, like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one
of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see.”
*A red and white
striped cane. As I hung it on the tree, I spoke softly. “The candy cane is a
stick of hard white candy. Hard to
symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, Jesus, and the firmness
of God's promises.”
“The original
candy cane is white to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. It also has three small red stripes, which
are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a
large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus, so that we can have
the promise of eternal life.”
And it is in the
shape of a ‘J’ to represent the Good Shepherd's crook, which He uses to reach
down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all
sheep, have gone astray.” In English,
‘J’ is also the first letter of Jesus’s name.
*a beautiful wreath
made of fresh, fragrant greenery tied with a bright red bow. “The wreath
embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and
hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the
heaven-turned needles of the evergreen.”
Even its very
shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's
love. It is a circle, without beginning and without end.
“The bow reminds
us of the bond of perfection, which is love. The bow tells the story of good
will towards all men and its color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice..”
*These are the
things you must teach the children.”
*A smile broke over
Santa's face. “I'm only a symbol
myself. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and
receiving. If the children are taught
these things about Jesus, that is the important message.”
*All of these
symbols and elements of Christmas truly point to the true spirit of Christmas, Jesus
Christ. He is the true gift of
Christmas, God, the Father’s gift to all men that they will turn their lives
and follow Him.
*God's love for the
world, and everyone in it is so awesomely great and incomprehensible that we
cannot know it except by His great gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. God gave His only begotten Son!!
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good
man someone would even dare to die." Romans 5:7
Yet Jesus came to
earth and died for sinners, people who by their actions and hearts were
estranged from God, you and me.
*Christmas happens at the darkest time of the year. We live in a dark
world.
*John 3: “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil.”
*The birth of Jesus,
God’s Son at the darkest time of the year is entirely fitting and proper in a
dark world of men, women and children given to sin.
*We are given to
sin in our attitudes and actions. In the
way we treat others with contempt or hatred.
And in our pride, prejudices, greed and lust. One doesn’t have to actually commit the
action to harbor hatred and lust and pride.
*God tells us in
Hebrews 9:
22 And according to the law almost all things are
purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. [of
sin] Hebrews 9: 22
*You and I are
deserving of death for our attitudes and actions simply because we have ignored
God’s righteousness and seek after our own desires and pleasures.
*God gave His only begotten Son to redeem us, to cover us with His blood
for the sin we commit.
*For those who
believe in Him, we are called righteous by Him!
Sin brings death. Jesus gives us
life, here, and promises us eternal life. Jesus is alive!
*These are the lessons we must be teaching our children.
*The truth of John
3: 16 & 17 resounds through the ages when men’s worldly philosophies run in
opposite directions. People cling to it's truth because they came to know that He who
spoke those words IS alive. In Jesus is
truth! They walk with Him everyday, and
see His hand guiding them.
*This is a time for our faith to become real! Trust Him. Hear Him!
