Don’t press eject on me yet. This is not going to be a dry, scholarly piece because I simply don’t know how to write like a scholar. I won’t bore you with the etymology of the word "Christmas" which reads,
"Christmas" is a shortened form of "Christ's mass.” It is derived from the Middle English Cristemasse, which is from Old English Crīstesmæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038 followed by the word Cristes-messe in 1131. Crīst (genitive Crīstes) is from Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of Hebrew Māšîaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), "Messiah", meaning "anointed"; and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist. The form Christenmas was also historically used, but is now considered archaic and dialectal."
If you wanted that crap, you could just as easily copy and paste it from Wikipedia, as I just did. Technically, I didn't bore you with that etymology, it was Wikipedia's responsibility following modern logic. While you consider your misdirected anger, I was reflecting on Christ, the demystified, "commonized" son of the Galilee He would have appeared at first glance.
What was He like during an "average day" for an off duty Messiah? Perhaps, sitting around a campfire and drinking from wine skins with the Disciples He knew more as friends than the revered apostles we are familiar with. What did He do in his downtime when there were no demons to drive out, Pharisees to school, or crowds in need of ministering? Did they sit under a shady palm near the Sea of Galilee and joke with one another? They must have.
Did Jesus have a dry wit, or was he more of a Soupy Sales kind of Savior? Did he ever annoy the Disciples with a “made you look” variety of inside joke? He would have been the best at this kind of humor.
Look Elijah! Made you look!
Come forth Abraham! Made you look!
Get behind me Satan! Made you look!
You can see my point.
All humor aside, what did Jesus see when He looked into His friend’s eyes? Did he see them in the present they shared or the road He was putting them on which would lead directly to their deaths? Probably both and everything else, as well. Try to get your head around that one. Relationships are hard enough for us, and we only have our own biased views of the past to contend with.
What games did they play together, or did they? What were the Disciples aspirations for the future? How did Jesus demonstrate love for His friends who, by outside appearance, were peers? Did Jesus cook? What were his hobbies? What of His silent childhood years ?
The Bible gives us no clues regarding the answers to my questions. The private friendships between the Disciples and the Master, like Jesus’ childhood years, will remain secret. It belongs to them alone, but I wish I could have shared in this experience. Don't you?
As I contemplated these things, it occurred to me, in the way traffic accidents occur with screeching breaks and whiplash impact:
Christians are supposed to be in that very kind of friendship relationship with Christ and each other.
1. We are connected to one another by Christ.
2. He is our most trusted friend
3. We are His disciples and He is our Master
4. As we travel through life, we are to spread the Gospel.
5. We can even sit under a shady palm near the Sea of Galilee and talk to Him, providing you can cover the airfare.
Yet, Christians do not share this relationship with one another. We quibble and fight over one minuscule point or another. We are ready to kill over the placement of a comma. Isn’t our God bigger than these things and everything else? Isn't true Faith trusting God to do the heavy lifting? It was called GOOD NEWS for a reason, wasn't it?
Instead, shouldn’t we be emulating our God by trying to become as forgiving as He is?
As loving as He?
As tender as He?
As trustworthy as He?
and everything else we consider Holy and Righteous?
Shouldn’t we?
Look at me, I am...
Made you look!
Have a very Merry Christmas to all and know that I Love you,
Michael
