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The Significance Jeshua’s Arrival
No one can live up to their name throughout their life without faltering even once except the Saviour of the world. Jesus Christ dedicated his entire life on earth to do the will of his Father, which was to "save his people from their sins."
Dec 19, 2023By Ishi Dass
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated religious festivals worldwide, with over 2.38 billion Christians participating yearly. It aligns with significant festivities like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year, which is why the season is termed the Holiday Season in the United States.
Over the years, several traditions and symbolism have come to be associated with Christmas. However, at the festival's core lies the Good News for the entire world: The birth of Jeshua (the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ). The name of the festival itself highlights this significant truth.
'Christmas' comes from two Latin words – Christ and Mass. The word Christ means 'the anointed one,' referring to the 'Messiah' described in the Old Testament prophecies. The title was ascribed to Jesus (Jeshua) in the New Testament since he fulfilled every messianic prophecy throughout his life on earth and even through his resurrection and ascension. On the other hand, the word Mass comes from Messa, a term used to dismiss someone or send them away. The English word 'mission' is also taken from the same root. Thus, in simple words, Christmas means sending the anointed one.
This definition of Christmas is the first part of the Good News shared with the world, first by the angels, then John the Baptist, followed by the disciples, and today by Christians worldwide. The second most intriguing part lies in the character of the person of Jesus Christ. The evangelists Matthew and Luke record in their Gospel narratives the naming of the child of prophecy born of the virgin Mary (Matt 1:21 and Luke 1:31). Matthew goes a step further and attaches a reason for calling the child 'Jeshua,' i.e., Yesus/Jesus – "…because he will save his people from their sins." The Hebrew name 'Jeshua' or 'Joshua' or 'Jehoshua' literally means 'Jehovah (YHWH) is salvation'.
No one can live up to their name throughout their life without faltering even once except the Saviour of the world. Jesus Christ dedicated his entire life on earth to do the will of his Father, which was to "save his people from their sins." Jesus had one integral message to relay through everything he did in the history of humankind, i.e., 'YHWH is salvation. Turn away from your sins and come to the Father, for His Kingdom is near.'
Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world if we go by the numbers. However, God is displeased by the numbers but the people's hearts. Jesus, in his high priestly prayer (John 17), envisioned the oneness of all the believers with God that they might know his love for them (John 17:21). He is the Good News from God to His people, affirming that he loves them, wants to save them, and desires to have an eternal loving relationship with them. Thus, the joy of Christmas is in being united in Jesus Christ with one another, celebrating God's revelation in him through His Spirit.
(Ishi Dass is from Delhi and works as a freelance Content Writer. He is a Bachelor of Divinity graduate from the Luther W New Jr. Theological College. He is zealous for the Scriptural truth, and his vision is to take this truth to as many people of God as possible through exegetical research).
