Luke-the true Nativity

Now I hate Christmas. It's a sad fact of life, but it's something I'm known for. When I first became a Christian, Christmas, with all of it's commercialisation-the xmas generation, really, really gets on my nerves. Even to a point where this year, I exlaimed aloud how early decorations were being sold (SEPTEMBER-CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!).
The fact that my parents split up on Christmas day 2006 kinda puts a damper on things as well, I'll be honest.
Moorlands puts on a Carol service every year, which I do love, but I'll admit, it's the first time I'll hear carols in a year, and I do get very emotional to a point.
This year, I think I'm starting to love Christmas, what it's actually about at least.
In my daily Bible reading at the moment, I've just started reading Luke's gospel, a gospel I have not read in depth for a long time, and of course, the first two chapters concern the birth of Jesus, which we traditionally celebrate around Christmas time.
It's awesome going into a story I have known since a young age, a story that I have taken part in re-enacting for many years (my last nativity play was when I was 17!), but a story that is more than just kids in tea towels getting stage fright.

For it concerns the God of the Universe reversing the effects of our own rebellion against Him, by stepping into history as a human, Jesus Christ. A boy born of a virgin, therefore most likely classed as illigitimate by those around Him, a boy born in a manger, not in a room. A boy born to die.
Jesus is described, before He is even born, by the angel Gabriel as "the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33).
To explain where we are in the Bible at this point. Since Genesis, the beginning, God has promised to send someone to sort out our rebellious mess (Genesis 3), which He has expanded upon by making three promises to a man called Abraham, promises of land, for a people of God, who will live under God's blessing (Genesis 12). God's people grew out of Abraham's family, called the house of Jacob, or Israel, who after being rescued by God from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-15, particularly looking at chapter 12) settled in a land. They were given God's Law to live by, as a way of standing out as God's people (Exodus-Deuteronomy) and a way to live under God's blessing.
They still rebel, again and again, and we see judges and kings established by God. (Judges-2 Chronicles) Some obey God, and others do not.
One of these kings was David, who did listen to God, and God promised that David's line would continue as kings forever. People thought that this promised one God would send would be like David.
Israel as a nation would become split in two, conquered and exiled from their promised land as part of God's judgement, but God would bring them back as the Old Testament closes.
Now God has been silent for many years, Israel has been conquered again, by the Roman Empire, and they still await the sending of God's promised one, who will be from David's line, and will be king forever.
Jesus is born, from the line of David. Jesus is described in Luke 2:29-32, by a man called Simeon, one who was promised to see God's Christ (Messiah, Saviour, the title that Jesus has always been associated with). This man sees Jesus the child, and proclaims thus: "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

To explain. Jesus is the one whom God has sent, whom the world has waited for, the one whom God will use to reverse the effects of our rebellion against God; to die on a cross for us. This for all, not just Jews, for Gentiles are anyone who is not of Jewish blood.

This is what Jesus came for, to die for us. And here we see the origins, the beginning of the end. When I appeared on songs of praise, I described Christmas as "not about the presents...it's the beginning of our salvation [through Jesus' death], and that is what we should be celebrating."

This is the story of the Bible, the culmination of God's salvation plan for His people, a plan made before the world, the sacrifice of Jesus. Christmas is the beginning of the end of that glorious plan. THAT is why it is awesome.