The meaning of Christmas

In Italy, the Country I am from, when someone mentions Christmas the first image that comes to mind is a little baby in a manger, surrounded by Mary, Joseph, an ox, and a donkey. Then, you will start thinking of a man dressed in red with a white beard and you will immediately freak out because the list of presents you were supposed to buy is getting longer and longer and you haven’t started shopping!

But what is really Christmas all about?
Last week IFI partnered with Grace Polaris Church in order to promote “The Living Christmas Trees”. I have been there for three years in a row, and I think calling it just a Christmas play is reductive! The great presentation, the presence of live animals during the play, the high artistic level of the cast members made it the best evangelistic show I have ever seen.
The story develops in two parallel parts. The first tells the story of the crew members of a cruse sheep, while the second deals with the story of Jesus.

During the trip, they have to face a strong storm, which makes them wonder about the choices they have made, their priorities and the realization that life is like a ship: you can live on it, party and enjoy, but you are not really in total control of it, as you are not the one holding the rudder. But what should you do in the midst of a storm? How do you find directions? As well as when we drive and we get lost, even in our daily life we need a compass. That is why the protagonists start reading the Bible, that contains the information necessary to know who you are, where you are going and how to make sure your existence in the right hands.

In this way the characters begin reading the story of the first Christmas, the birth of the Messiah, his ministry and miracles. But it didn’t end here. Because the reason Jesus was born, the point of celebrating Christmas is that he was not only a lovely child, a great prophet, but he came to die, to pay the price for our sins, to make a way of reconciliation between us and God.
We had fallen short and walked away from God, there was nothing we could do to repair this damage. But Jesus took the initiative and came to Earth and he, the perfect Lamb, sacrificed himself, washing away our sins.

The Bible tells us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) and that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). But there is even more! In fact, three days after his death, Jesus rose from the death: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1Cor. 15:20, 22).

Now you see why I love this play? It wisely connects the dots! It does not focus on one part or the other, but tells you the complete meaning of Christmas! Make sure you see it this year, or write to me if you have questions!

Merry Christmas everyone!