Baby Jesus VII

As a Christmas gift, someone gave me a new DVD
set of Planet Earth, the
BBC series with David Attenborough. I've seen
some of his videos before. Except I don't buy
the evolutionary doctrine. When I look at the
planet, I see a unique creation. I see the work
of a Creator. That doesn't prevent me from
enjoying the videos. I just notice when the
presentation veers into the path of doctrine as
it swerves off the path of science. It is a
little irritating to me that they don't go into
the evidence for their doctrines, they just
state them as they are to be accepted on faith.
OK. I'm a skeptic.


Today is the traditional day of Jesus' birth.
We know that it's probably not the correct date
of his birth. But, if you stop a second and
think about it, What is correct?


When at first I realized that there was a huge
discrepancy between tradition and accuracy, it
sorta' bothered me. Nobody seems to be overly
concerned about it, though. And as time passes,
I try to ignore what goes on around me. People
believe whatever they want to believe, for
absolutely no reason at all. It's the lemming
instinct. But I'm still interested in knowing
at least a little bit about what's really gone
on, and where traditions originate. And as time
passes, I am more willing to accept that other's
are more inclined to ignorance is bliss. It's
always been that way. And in modern times, it's
even more so.


People want their religion to be entertaining.
But when I sit in a pew Sunday morning, I'm
asking myself, How can they expect to compete
with 200 channels of cable TV? If you are
looking for entertainment, cable TV has alot
more to offer than church. And Santa has a much
better commercial interest than Jesus ever did.
There is no competition.


So on the day that we traditionally celebrate
the birth of the baby Jesus, I just want to try
and point out the difference between the
authentic Jesus and the Jesus of modernity.
That's what the past few days have been about.
The authentic Jesus is the savior of the world.
Of course, that's the issue, now isn't it. If
you don't need a savior, you don't need an
authentic Jesus.


Jesus only appeals to the sinner. If you are
not a sinner, there's no need for a savior.
For us sinners, we need an authentic Jesus. We
need a savior. Santa is OK, but he can't deal
with the problem of sin. And that's the whole
reason that the baby Jesus was born, in a barn
in Bethlehem in Judea about 2000 years ago.


John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees

named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 The same came to him by night, and said to

him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come

from G-d, for no one can do these signs that you

do, unless G-d is with him."

3 Jesus answered him, "Most assuredly, I tell

you, unless one is born anew, he can`t see the

kingdom of G-d."

4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born

when he is old? Can he enter a second time into

his mother`s womb, and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you,

unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he

can`t enter into the kingdom of G-d!

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That

which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Don`t marvel that I said to you, `You must be

born anew.`

8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear

its sound, but don`t know where it comes from

and where it is going. So is everyone who is

born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things

be?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of

Israel, and don`t understand these things?

11 Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that

which we know, and testify of that which we have

seen, and you don`t receive our witness.

12 If I told you earthly things and you don`t

believe, how will you believe if I tell you

heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven, but he who

descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is

in heaven.

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the

wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be

lifted up,

15 that whoever believes in him should not

perish, but have eternal life.

16 For G-d so loved the world, that he gave his

one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

should not perish, but have eternal life.

17 For G-d didn`t send his Son into the world to

judge the world, but that the world should be

saved through him.

18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who

doesn`t believe has been judged already, because

he has not believed in the name of the only born

Son of G-d.

19 This is the judgment, that the light has come

into the world, and men loved the darkness

rather than the light; for their works were

evil.

20 For everyone who does evil hates the light,

and doesn`t come to the light, for fear that his

works would be reproved.

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light,

that his works may be revealed, that they have

been done with G-d."