An Alternative Look To Christmas II

So now we come to part 2 in our journey through Psalm 8 and how this silent night of Christ’s birth was not so silent. We know from part 1 that it was a declaration to the enemy that they had lost. The infant’s cry was sudden defeat in the ears of the wicked, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have established strength because of your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease” Psalms 8:2. Yet we know that Christ displayed His plan and majesty in the sky, Psalm 8:1 states “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” To learn more about the opening, go back to last week’s post. This week we want to explain more of the significance of Christmas and how Psalm 8 is indeed breaking this down for us. 

  Starting at verse 3 we see another reflection of God’s power, ordaining the stars and moon to proclaim His workmanship. Psalms 8:3 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained.” The author is preparing for something incredible but stops to reflect on the truth of how small man is in this cosmic universe, this is especially true when you see how small man is in the big scheme of things. Psalms 8:4 states, “What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” Now the author pivots back to Christmas, we see ourselves standing back at the manger with the voice of an infant declaring that the Lord God of Heaven has come down to earth as a child. Don’t believe me? Just read Psalm 8:5-8. 

  “Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”

  Still don’t believe this is Jesus Christ? Let us look at Hebrews and examine,

Hebrews 2:5-10 “For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? 7 “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; 8 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”

  The author in Hebrews is talking about Jesus, and actually quotes part of Psalm 8! God, through His Son, has come down to live with Mankind, to save Mankind, and to renew a relationship with God for Mankind! Psalm 8 is a declaration of the Christmas story and most people wouldn’t even know it. We know from last week that the literal night of Jesus’s birth was not silent, yet even figuratively we know that this night would be proclaimed through the ages! Jesus Christ, God incarnate, born on earth to live a perfect life and die for us. He would then be raised from the dead, signifying His perfect life, and established on the throne. Christmas is a yearly declaration of a night not soon to be forgotten! Even our songs on the radio declare this, just look at this old Christmas classic and see how much it resembles the truth of what we have been learning this past two weeks. 

Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Har, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of peace
Hail! the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all he brings
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the some of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

The Psalm ends with the best way we can celebrate each Christmas. With us putting the season back to its original meaning, “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!” While Christmas is a joyous occasion, it is a time to respectfully bring the reason for the season back to where it belongs. Christmas is a yearly celebration of God’s master plan coming to fruition, His rescue operation to save Mankind being acted upon. For the enemy, a declaration of their time coming to a close. For those who would seek Christ, a moment of joy beckoning a season of lights, merry making, and festivities all around the amazing fact that Jesus Christ had come to earth to save you and I. I recently heard a pastor put it simply enough, there is one verse that ties Christmas to Easter the best and that is John 3:16. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Psalm 8 helps remind us that Christmas was never and should never be a silent night, but one of remembrance and celebration of what Christ did for you and I. 

Hold until relieved our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL