Fireside Studies

For those of you who missed our last get together, we began our study of the Bible in the fourth book of the New Testament, the Book of John, written by the apostle John, son of Zebedee--also Jesus's cousin, though not to be confused with his Aunt Elizabeth's son, John the Baptist.

In verses 1-3 last month, we learned how the author John intended us to see (1) that Jesus Christ was the Word, (2) that the Word was both with God AND was God, and (3) that He has been, that is, has existed, since the beginning. We used our Strong's Concordance to help us understand some of those Greek and Hebrew words found in our Bibles, as well as a Webster's Dictionary. And we learned that "from the beginning" meant before the origin of things.

I can therefore assure you that this very holiday that we celebrate each December--the very reason many of us have our homes decorated and and are driving ourselves crazy trying to get our lists of things done, the very reason most of us here tonight believe this month is special--has to do with a certain specific event and none other, one very special event--one that occurred in the tiny Judaean town of Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago.

Christians around the world will tell you they believe that this is when their Messiah was born; the time of the first Christmas. But I can assure you that the apostle John of Zebedee tells us in the first two verses of his book, that Christmas wasn't just an event that began 2000 years ago, but was actually one that began "from the beginning" of time itself.

And as we tonight continue to read together beginning at John 1:3, we learn how, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." If true, that certainly gives "Him"--the Word--a little more significance than just being some cuddly little baby whose image we now find annually plastered on Christmas cards. John further writes to us in verse 3 that "Him" who was with God and who was God, was also Creator of everything that was ever created. If true, that would elevate this seemingly harmless baby boy, born in a manger, to a higher position than even prophet or teacher, or merely God's only Son--such words imply that this LOGOS could well be the One and only Author and Architect of our entire universe.

Moses records in Genesis how God Himself created everything that exists. Now John tells us that this Word, a single man--Jesus Christ--was God, and Creator of everything that has ever been created. If this is true, the most important thing we can do is read this book. Because in such words are contain the truly Good News--in fact, the Best news--a message which should give us true comfort and relief and peace--and yet one too often obscured in holiday tinsel, and our political machinery and financial bottom lines of organized religion today.

In fact, as we bravely begin reading together this remarkable book, we will soon enough find evidence that Jesus Christ didn't just wait to appear in history until that day in Bethlehem, but instead appears from the beginning, just like the apostle John tells us. Ffor now, however, let us focus on what scripture reveals to us, leading up to and surrounding, that first Christmas, what some claim to be the beginning of the greatest story ever told.

This past week, Gene and I gathered together some of our favorite verses from the Bible; Old and New Testament verse alike--some prophetic, some historic--collated together to form an astonishing story. One which has inspired many great songs and hymns--some of the most beautiful of these we still sing today. We begin in the book of Isaiah, written some 700+ years before the Romans devised "crucifixion." The words in Isaiah's book are called prophecy because they foretold of a future event which God revealed to Isaiah...

(At this point in the evening, everyone who attended drew pieces of paper from a bowl. The numbers on them corresponded to the following verses, and we began to take turns reading. I have included some familiar songs, below, with corresponding verses, fyi:)

And my friends, The Lord did indeed chose "the foolish things" of this world--the downcast, despised and lowliest of society --shepherds--through whom He revealed His Truth to all mankind, His miracle in Bethlehem, some 2000+ years ago. And He continues to use the ordinary--folks just like you and me--to proclaim His good News, to announce His love for all mankind throughout this entire world, at Christmas, and always-- Good News, sent NOT through kings, not through princes, not in bold print in newspapers--but through the least likely of these.

Now may the Author of all creation, the God who still loves us, give you His own peace which surpasses understanding, comforting and reassuring you of His love, on His birthday--both now and forevermore. Amen.

Now let's go over to our campsite and roast some marshmallows....don't forget your coats and gloves!

(Special feature linked here in 2005 - our family's Christmas trip to "Bethlehem in Burnet", Texas)