Christmas 2022- Who is Jesus?

The headlines concerning just Who is Jesus were wild this year. Some news stories suggested that if Jesus were here today, he would march in a gay pride parade. Some professor tried to prove that Jesus was transgender and it made international headlines. Other stories suggest that some World Economic Forum participants have openly discussed Jesus with much derision, even suggesting that Jesus is fake news. In the cancel culture that we live in, why would any of us be surprised if that were true?

As we arrive at Christmas 2022, we even find the President of the United States giving a Christmas message without mentioning the name of Jesus. He seemed to do everything to avoid making a clear and affirming  Christian message. It seems Santa Claus has replaced Jesus as the center of Christmas. The popular culture has successfully replaced the message of the Savior of the world being born in Bethlehem with a message centered on gift-giving, entertainment and general peace, love and other feel good stuff.

🎶 “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” not because a Savior was born who could save us from our sins.  What about the ever popular , 🎶🎶 “all I want for Christmas is you”,  and by “you” I don’t mean Jesus. It is official, we have cancelled the real Christmas! The Bible predicted as much when it said in 2 Thessalonians 2:3a Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless there be a falling away first. Meaning the time of the Antichrist will not come until many have rejected God. It makes sense too. 

We need God Almighty to make sense of our lives and our world. If we reject the message of the Bible and instead turn inward to our own thoughts and directives we would be easy prey for the Antichrist. If history has taught us anything it is that people look for leadership in all the wrong places.

Who is Jesus? I could think of no better thoughts for Christmas 2022 than to contemplate and reaffirm the truth about what we celebrate on Christmas. Jesus had an interesting conversation with his disciples in the gospel of Luke 9:18-22 which mirrors the ideas that we are exploring today. In the context of Luke we find that Jesus had given authority to his disciples to preach and heal in his name. As they ministered to the crowd they were beginning to understand many things that Jesus had taught them. 

There was more equipping yet to come as Jesus prepared them and us for a greater understanding. And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias, and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; saying, the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. - Luke 9:18-22. 

The crowds, then and now. have a lot to say about just Who is Jesus? Some people thought Jesus was a prophet. What has changed? Today there are whole religions who believe Jesus is merely a prophet. Some people thought that he was a popular reformer such as John the Baptist, many today believe Jesus is a sort of Che Guevara or a gender equity activist. 

The power of this central historical figure has never been lost on many movers and shakers so, they seek to co-opt his power and message to propel their agenda to the forefront. Political movements have done it and the Antichrist will do it too. Jesus explored this topic with his closest disciples. He wanted them and us, to know that there will be controversy around just Who is Jesus. 

Jesus asked his disciples and us the second question, which is who do you say that I am? If you have any doubt I want you to again hear what Peter said, The Christ of God. The whole bible was written from Genesis to Revelation to point to, direct to and describe the Savior of the world and his mission. As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us not lose sight of this. Let us affirm the truth amid a world scrambling to understand just Who is Jesus. Let us proclaim and acknowledge him as we open our presents by the tree, as we meet and greet family and friends and eat a celebratory meal. Merry Christmas in the name of Lord Jesus we celebrate!

As is my custom every year, I review blog statistics and attempt to say Merry Christmas to all my readers in their native language. I can’t get accent marks working when on blogger but, here goes anyway: 

Merry Christmas, Feliz Natal, з Різдвом, Veseloho Vam Rizdva, Boas Festas, Joyeux Noel, с РождествомHristos, Razdajetsja, Zalig Kerstfeest, Frohliche Weihnachten, Buon Natalie, عيدميلادمجيدmerry Milad Mubarak, Natal Mubarak, Sretan Bozic, メリークリスマス,merry merry Merii Kirisumasu, Happy Christmas, Selamat Hari Natal, Feliz Navidad, Sheng Tan Kuai Loh, Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal, wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia, Wesolych Swiat, and کریسمس مبارک