The Pure In Heart Shall See God

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Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

It will be Christmas soon.

Many friends often ask me whether I still celebrate Christmas after knowing and studying the Hebraic roots of our Christian faith.

I would tell them that I celebrate the birth of Christ throughout the year so as to avoid any date disputes and other theological arguments! We must never forget that God sent us His Son. Not a fully grown Adult, but a helpless Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. The Gift of God was given, but do we still have Him in our life? Have we come to revisit His manger and rejoice that He was born?

When we celebrate the birthdays of our friends and loved ones, we are not treating them as if they were babies. We are actually celebrating their life and how they have grown and lived through the years, connecting us not only to the past and the present but also to the future. Many good and happy years ahead. Yes, we are celebrating because they are alive and we are alive! We are celebrating life!

This is not the birthday of any ordinary person. It is the birthday of the Only Begotten Son of God! For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Yes, the wonderful name of Jesus!

Though we know that Christ was conceived in Hanukkah, and born during the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, the other Old Testament events sometimes are more prominent even though they are foreshadowing Him. The shadows have somehow become more important than the main Person! But He became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) with us!

Yet in our dark streets, the everlasting light shines. The hopes and fears of all the years are met when He was born. Peace on earth, and goodwill to mankind. How silently, the wondrous Gift of God is given. And God imparts the blessings of heaven to human hearts.

The angels sang, and brought great glad tidings as our Lord Emmanuel comes to dwell and abide with us. But no ear may hear and no heart will understand His coming in this world of sins. But meek souls will still receive Him, as the dear Christ enters in.

The richness and fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament cannot be forgotten and dismissed as we become arrogant and proud as the years go by! By disputing the dates and other factors, we forsake one of the most important events that happened in the history of mankind! Like salvation, anyone can receive Christ at any time of the year, and not just during Passover. We can celebrate the life of Christ throughout the year!

Today, we will not find the Baby in the manger because He was no longer a Baby! But when we come to His manger and remember His birth, we will also remember how He lived, died, resurrected and ascended to heaven. We will know without any shadows of doubt that He lives today! We celebrate His birthday because He is alive! And our eyes will be opened to see, and our hearts will be tender. The journey to the manger is necessary for us to remain humble before God. This journey is not dated, and can be any day of the year!

Many of us have been in the faith for many years. Some have left the faith. Some have become lukewarm. Some hearts have grown cold. Some have lots of religious programs, activities and events in their annual calendars. Some have become very sophisticated and at the same time becoming very superficial too. Many hearts are seeking for other things in life but not Christ. And many have not seen God!

I have some friends that are strictly celebrating the Sabbaths, and stringently observing the kosher diets. A few of them are learning the Hebrew language, and behaving like the Jews. Nothing wrong with all of these if they have Christ in them. But sadly, in most cases, not one ounce of mercy and grace is found when religiously doing this and that becomes the rule instead of seeking true Christlikeness. A few of them have fully embraced Judaism, and left the Christian faith.

Reading through the Biblical passages about the birth of Christ, I notice that only the meek and the pure in heart got to see Baby Jesus. Some shepherds, some wise men, Simeon and Anna.

The innkeeper did not know the significance and preciousness of the Baby that Mary was bearing. He was busy making money. There was no room in the inn for the Baby to be delivered. The innkeeper did not know the divine hours of the holy visitation.

Mary had no choice but to give birth in a manger. She wrapped the Baby with swaddling cloths and laid Him in a wooden box where animals were feeding.

That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. An angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and suddenly they became very frightened.

The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is Christ the Lord. This is how you will know Him: You will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding box.”

Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel. All the angels were praising God, saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Then the angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven.

The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing has happened. We will see this thing the Lord told us about.”

Without any hesitation, the shepherds left their sheep. They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph. And the shepherds saw the Baby lying in a feeding box. Then they told what the angels had said about this Child. Everyone was amazed when they heard what the shepherds said to them.

Mary hid these things in her heart. She continued to think about them.

Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking Him for everything that they had seen and heard. It was exactly what the angel had told them.

When the Baby was eight days old, He was circumcised. And He was named Jesus. This name had been given by the angel before the Baby was conceived inside the womb of Mary.

Then the time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure. They took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.

A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was a good man and very religious. He was waiting for the time when God would help and comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was in him.

The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple.

Mary and Joseph brought the Baby to the Temple to do what the law said they must do. Then Simeon took the Baby in his arms and thanked God: “Now, Lord, You can let me, Your servant, die in peace as You said. I have seen Your salvation with my own eyes. You prepared Him before all people. He is a light for the Gentiles to see. He will bring honor to Your people, the Israelites.”

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what Simeon had said about Jesus.

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “Many in Israel will fall and many will rise because of this Child. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept. The things they think in secret will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too.”

There was a prophetess named Anna at the Temple. She was from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years. Then her husband died and she lived alone.

Anna was now 84 years old. She never left the Temple. She worshipped God by going without food and praying day and night. She was standing there at that time, thanking God. She saw the Baby. And she shared about Jesus to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

But many priests and religious leaders were too engrossed in their programs and activities, probably too busy rushing here and there, and doing this and that during the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot.

They might have observed the feast according to the Bible, but they failed to come to the manger and visit the Anointed One or Messiah that God had promised them. They missed God’s appointed time!

I believe that they saw the Star of Bethlehem too but they did not get to rejoice with great joy like the shepherds! They continued to do their own businesses, thinking that they were serving God! In fact, these religious people were the shepherds of Israel but they failed to do what they were called to do. They missed the birth of their Messiah!

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king.

After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked Herod, “Where is the Baby who was born to be the King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east. We came to worship Him.”

When King Herod heard about this newborn King of the Jews, he was troubled. And all the people in Jerusalem were worried too.

Herod called a meeting of all the leading priests and teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah would be born. They answered, “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this in Micah 5:2.”

Then Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men from the east. He learned from them the exact time they first saw the star.

Then Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem. He said to them, “Go and look carefully to find the Child. When you find Him, come tell me. Then I can go worship Him too.”

The wise men heard the king and then left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east. It went before them until it stopped above the place where the Child was.

When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with great joy. They went to the house where the Child was and saw Him with His mother, Mary. They bowed down and worshipped the Child. They opened the gifts they brought for Him. They gave Him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

After that, God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country by a different way.

When Herod knew that the wise men had deceived him, he was very angry. He gave an order to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem and in all the area around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger.

King Herod had his own political agendas, lusting for money, power and prestige! He had no room for Jesus. He could have followed the wise men and worshipped the Messiah too. But he would not.

Christmas is too commercialized today. For many people, the Christmas season means hanging ornaments on trees, lining stockings along fireplaces, decorating the homes with dazzling lights and beautiful displays, filling the air with joyful music and carols, having parties, feasting wonderful food, and exchanging gifts and presents.

Billions of people, both Christians and non-Christians, are busy throughout the month of December to send seasonal greetings and messages. Millions of people are willing to spend money to buy and send gifts to their loved ones, children, friends, relatives and business partners during this time of the year!

But the true reason of God giving us His Son is lost in the midst of all the busy celebrations and merry-making. Most Christians have no time to come to the manger, and adore Him! Having lots of activities and events but in the end, the empty vacuum remains in their hearts!

Someone told me that we should be more militant as our King is coming in a white horse. He is coming in righteousness to judge and to war. We should worship the Conquering King and not a helpless Baby!

Truly, the King is righteous. But He was first a Baby. He condescended from the form of God to become a Human Being! And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus began His ministry at about thirty years of age. He ministered to the poor and needy, healing the sick and casting out demons. He was loving and kind. Even when He was at the cross, He was not impatient or rude or angry with the people who mocked Him and those who injured and tortured Him. He was willing to do the will of the Father.

Thus, when He comes, I know that He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

In contrast, many of these militant Christians lack grace and mercy. They are not interested in Baby Jesus! They are only interested to be part of the army of God! Thankfully, the Lord selects and chooses His own army. We may want to be mighty warriors, and do great things for God, but it is entirely up to His own calling and will.

If we are unwilling to bow our knees, worship and adore Him while He was a Baby, we probably would not be able to do so when He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! And the holy fear of God may also not be found in our life.

Do we have room for Jesus in our hearts? Have we decreased, and Christ increased in our lives? Is the fruit of the Spirit, namely love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, increasingly evident in our lives? Have we become more Christlike since last year?

If we have rooms for other things, we probably might not have any room for Christ! And we might have life but not the abundant one.

Hopefully, we will choose to be faithful to God and seek Him again. Come to the manger, all faithful ones!

Truly, the pure in heart shall see God.

If interested, please view this song: O Holy Night

Written on:
13 December 2023