GN Commentary: December 23, 2009 - A Distant Family Member

Once you begin to understand the real story of Jesus Christ then you will understand how He is finding His family.

Related Resources

Jesus Christ: The Real Story
Who was Jesus? This booklet will help you understand the real story of Jesus Christ.

The Real Nativity Story: Surprising Truths You May Not Know!
The biblical accounts of Jesus Christ's birth present some surprising differences from popular ideas and traditions. Do you know the facts from the fiction?

Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
Many feel that Christmas marks Christ's birthday and that it honors Him. After all, can 2 billion professing Christians be wrong? At the same time, some few Christians don't observe Christmas, believing that Jesus didn't sanction it and that it dishonors Him. Who is right—and why?

Was Christ Born on Christmas Day?
Do you observe Christmas because you think it's Christ's birthday? Was He born on or anytime near Dec. 25? If Jesus lived on earth today, would He celebrate Christmas at all?

Christmas Before Christ? The Surprising Story
Most people know the Bible doesn't mention - much less sanctify - Christmas. Does it make any difference as long as it's intended to honor God and bring families together?

Video Transcript

Lately I've been watching a new TV show on ABC called "Find My Family". The show's intent is to reconnect family members, parents to children, siblings to siblings who have been separated for many years because of adoption or other circumstances. Every time I sit down to watch this show I find myself emotionally drawn to the individual's heartfelt desire to find a family member. I find myself many times holding back the tears as I watch the end of the show when family members embrace each other for the first time. There is no anger. There is no bitterness. There is forgiveness. There is crying and hugs and expressions of deep remorse…  "Please forgive me". "I have always loved you". "I had to do this so you can have a good life". The reunited family members are just glad to be connected again.

Watching these stories got me thinking about the importance of family and reconnecting to a missing relative. During this holiday season, many families will be getting together—reconnecting with parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members. Many will use this time to put forth an effort to connect to a distant family member. After the gifts are exchanged, the last morsel of food eaten and the good-byes said—you realize there was a distant family member who did not show up again. You know you sent him an invitation like every other year. This was the one individual you personally wanted to reconnect with, but he did not show up.

What about the guest of honor?  Most people assume that Jesus Christ is present at their celebration of His supposed birthday.

Lying on your end table, or maybe squeezed in a bookcase or hidden in a drawer is an explanation of why this one hoped for family member is not present during your Christmas celebrations. Maybe it's time to open His life story— the Bible—and find out why He has not come. Once you begin to understand the real story of Jesus Christ then you will understand how He is finding His family.  Then you can rejoice in connecting with a missing brother.

For GN Magazine, I'm Aaron Booth.