When we want to find out what Christmas is all about, we go to the Bible, and read the opening pages of each of the Four Evangelists. Of course the most commonly read is the passage from Luke where we learn about shepherds, angels and a baby's birth in an animal stall - we understand that the author gleaned his information from a reliable source, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Matthew provides a different story, that of the Magi who traveled from the East to worship the King, the Messiah. John doesn't tell any stories, but does what he does best; he provides a theological explanation - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (tabernacled - KJV) among us."

However, Mark, the earliest (and shortest) of the Gospel books, and the one no doubt used by both Matthew and Luke in the writing of theirs, includes nothing at all about the birth of Jesus. The obvious conclusion we can make is that the earliest Christians were not very concerned about this part of Jesus' history. In fact, and it may come as a surprise to many; the first disciples never celebrated Christmas.

The way Mark opens his Gospel is with a simple, one liner, "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Mark 1:1) In fact, if you run your "grammar check," you'll find that this isn't even a complete sentence - it's just a fragment.

In Mark, there's no mention of Bethlehem, no Mary and Joseph, no donkey ride, no crowded inn, no angels or shepherds; no Wise Men, angry King Herod, or flight to Egypt - just: "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

John Mark completely ignores the first 30 years of Jesus' life, and begins his narrative with the announcement, made by another John, that the Messiah was coming and would baptize, not with water as he, John the Baptist, was doing, but with the Holy Spirit. At that point, we first hear of Jesus coming from Galilee to the Jordan River near Jericho to be baptized. The announcement by the man John, was followed by an announcement from heaven, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11)

Sometimes we hear people say, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have walked with Jesus while He was here among us?" Perhaps, but then we would have to give up one of our most prized celebrations, because His first disciples didn't have Christmas. Others may say, "We want to be His disciples." But again, if we were really like them, there would be no Christmas.

The earliest written records of Christianity had no Christmas.

Perhaps this is unsettling, and sounds much like a well known American home-made religion that doesn't allow its members to celebrate the birth of Jesus - or for that matter, any birth! It also may sound like Narnia under the rule of the White Witch - always winter, but never Christmas.

But if the message for today downplays Christmas, it's not for the same reason as given by contemporary cult leaders, but simply due to the ordering of our priorities the right way. We're not saying that the celebration of Christmas is wrong, or even unimportant, but that there's something much more important than Christmas.

Evidently there are many Christian churches that don't believe this. By now, everyone has noticed that December 25th, the day artificially designated "Christmas," happens to fall on a Sunday, the first time in eleven years. Believe it or not, many churches are canceling worship services that day - the message is clear: "Christmas, that is, partying, feasting, exchanging gifts, is more important than gathering together with other Christians for worship."

Of course some will counter with, "But you don't understand, Christmas is a family celebration - a time when we get together with members of our family who have become separated and scattered in our mobile society." Right, but don't you remember what Jesus said when members of his family came for a visit? "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then He looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:33-35)

This week a major news program released a story which bore the opening paragraph, "This Christmas, no prayers will be said in several mega churches around the country. Even though the holiday falls this year on a Sunday, when churches normally host thousands for worship, pastors are canceling services, anticipating low attendance on what they call a family day." A spokeswoman for one of these churches said at least 500 volunteers were needed, along with staff, to run Sunday services for the estimated 8,000 people who usually attend church. She said, "Many of the volunteers appreciate the chance to spend Christmas with their families instead of working." (http://www.foxnews.com/)

The web page of one large church in Baton Rouge, LA, had this opening message from the pastor's wife: "[The Pastor] and I have vowed that we won’t buy gifts for one another. I really want to enjoy my Jesus and all the blessings He has given me. What a beautiful time of year to reflect and absorb all the goodness, mercy, grace and supernatural strength that God has poured over us throughout the year. I don’t want to get caught up in all the pressure and stress this year like I normally do. I want to surrender into Jesus’ arms and thank Him for coming into this world and changing my world forever. I encourage you to do the same."

However, further down on this same web page was the notice, "Christmas Day, Sunday morning service will be cancelled so that you can spend this time at home with family."

Doesn't anybody see the contradiction? In the world around us there is this battle to at least keep the title "Christmas" instead of allowing it to be reduced to the title, "Holiday." And yet the very people who claim that same title by calling themselves "Christian" are planning to ignore the specific command, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" on the very day set aside to celebrate God's greatest gift!

You ask, "But what are we to do? Many others in our family are not Christians."

Let me tell you what you can do - if they're coming to your house, bring them with you to church on Christmas Sunday morning. On the other hand, if you're going to their house, let them know in advance that you plan on attending church, and they would be welcome to go with you. Find the nearest church, call to check on service times (if they are even going to have a service!) and show up. No, it's not going to be like being in your own church, but this isn't about getting to a "feel good" church, it's about making a statement of your priorities - Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Have you ever heard it said, "Blood is thicker than water"? Does that mean that family blood ties are more significant than the water of baptism? I'd rather say, blood is thicker than blood - the blood Jesus shed on the cross binds true believers together with an infinitely stronger bond than any family tie on earth.

Evidently, the story of the birth of Jesus was something that Mark thought so unimportant as to leave it totally out of his Gospel account. He simply reported, "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

For a moment, let's reflect on what was this "gospel".

We don't have to look very far to find out what is meant by this now familiar word. In Mark 1:15 we learn that "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying 'The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye and believe the gospel.'" (KJV) "Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!'" (NIV)

Just to be sure we understand, the word "gospel" is fundamentally from two words, "god" and "spel" - Old English for "story." The "gospel" is God's Story. One early 18th century writer (Addison) called it "gospel-gossip."

What is this "god-story"? It is Jesus - but not His birth, but rather His death and resurrection.

One of my daughters had done some research on a particular church, and sent me an article to read. A visitor to this church had paid special attention to the doctrinal statement included in the material handed to him when he came into the church. He then quoted the entire statement concerning salvation: "Salvation is a gift from God to mankind. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith." The author of the article then went on to comment, "Note that the gospel is not actually given in this statement. There is nothing about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, nothing about His shed blood and atonement. Sinners are exhorted to trust Christ, but that is not explained in any sense whatsoever." (David Cloud - http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/warren/visit.htm)

Just in case you're wondering, our own publication, the "Pentecostal Evangel," includes these statements relative to Jesus and salvation, "[We believe] in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father. . . . The only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ - regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation."

When the great Apostle Paul opened his letter to the Corinthian church, he reflected on his own preaching. He wrote, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (I Corinthians 2:1, 2)

That's the "god-story," the "gospel." No, it's not the romantic account of a new-born baby, of doting patents and adoring visitors, of singing angels on a peaceful starlit night. No, the story of God is the ugly story of the crucifixion of Jesus.

So if you want to talk about Christmas, that's fine, but I want to talk about the cross.

If you want to talk about the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem, I'll talk about the donkey that carried Jesus into the city of His fateful death.

If you want to talk about the shepherds who watched their flocks by night, I'll talk about Jesus our Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.

If you want to talk about the good kings from the East, and Herod the jealous king, I'll talk about Him who had over his bleeding head a sign which said, "Jesus, King of the Jews."

If you want to talk about the sheep grazing on the hillside when the angel choir sang their heavenly announcement, I’ll talk about what Isaiah said, "All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6)

If you want to talk about the angels who sang, "Glory to God in the Highest," I'll talk about the angel that ministered to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as He agonized over what was about to happen, His pending crucifixion and death. (Luke 22:43)

If you want to talk about adoring shepherd boys and pompous kings kneeling humbly in worship, I'll talk about the jeering crowds and mocking religious leaders who pridefully paraded their success in silencing their enemy, a simple teacher from Galilee.

If you want to talk about the glorious light that shone down on a quaint stable-turned-nativity-scene, I'll talk about the darkness that stole the noonday sun, and the heart wrenching cries, "My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?" and "It is finished!"

If you want to talk about a beautiful young mother softly singing a sweet lullaby, I'll talk about a bereft mother weeping at the foot of the cross as her firstborn son delegates her care to a non-family member.

If you want to talk about the baby comfortably wrapped in swaddling clothes, I'll talk about the man stripped of His one earthly possession, a seamless garment, gambled away by calloused military executioners.

If you want to talk about the soft pink baby flesh, I'll talk about the torn, bruised and bleeding back, head, hands, feet, and side of a man dying a most agonizing death.

If you want to talk about the miraculous escape from an evil king's slaughtering sword, I'll talk about the sword that pierced the side of the Son of God, releasing blood and water signaling a broken heart.

This is the Gospel, this is God's story.

Going back to the first chapter of Mark, let's also be clear that it's still not good enough just to correct the priority, and properly promote the truth that Jesus was born to die. It's not just about rehearsing the story. According to Jesus, it's also about repenting and believing. Jesus Himself said it, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

"Repent" and "believe" represents a two step process that can be called emptying and filling.

Occasionally, on Monday mornings, my wife and I go out to breakfast. You know the drill - the waitress comes first to take drink orders, and we ask for coffee (often required to enable lettering on the menu to come into focus!) After her first cup and refill, my wife asks to change over to decaf. (Certainly an oxymoron - if you take the caffeine out of coffee, how can you legitimately still call it "coffee"?) However, if there is still some cooled off coffee in her cup, my wife asks that it be poured out, and replaced with the new liquid. Repentance is like that - getting rid of the old before pouring in the new. Using a different metaphor, Paul instructs us to put off the old man, and put on the new. (Ephesians 4:22, 23)