Garth George: Jesus liked to party too

In an  increasingly secular society, let alone one which is becoming more multicultural and therefore pluralistic by the year, it is not surprising that the true significance of Christmas has become more and more obscured.

What was once a principally sacred time of year has become more of a celebration of year's end - in these days, perhaps, rather of another year survived.

Nevertheless, Christmas is still Christmas, a time when Christians celebrate a central truth of their faith, the birth of Jesus Christ - Son of God and Son of Man.

If ever there were cause for celebration, the annual remembrance of that earth-shaking event - which split man's concept of history in two - this is it.

If the majority, unconcerned with or unaware of the true meaning of the festive season, choose to celebrate, why not? After all, the angel who announced the birth in the hills above Bethlehem on that first Christmas night proclaimed: "Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day ... a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."

Christians who publicly bemoan the secularisation and commercialisation of Christmas and who, it seems, would have us return to the days of rigid religious observance, do themselves no credit and, worse, demean their Saviour's gospel.

The Christmas message is about life - about love, about joy, about peace. It is about the incomprehensible love of God for all mankind; about the joy to be found in being reconciled through Christ to him ("hidden with Christ in God," as the Apostle Paul put it); about the peace that passes all understanding, which Jesus promised to all who believe.

In any case, Jesus himself enjoyed a party. He turned water into wine to keep a wedding feast going; he was perfectly at home at a rave-up of the ill-assorted mates of Matthew the tax-gatherer; he dined with the rich and powerful. And he would be the last to complain if anyone gatecrashed, as it were, the party to celebrate the anniversary of his birth.

He would have nothing to say about culture, about those of other faiths, or about those who had no faith at all. His message was (and still is) universal: "A new commandment I give to you," he said, "that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you have love for one another."

His is a message that transcends race, gender, creed or any other worldly thing which binds men and women to conform. It was an invitation, indeed, for all people and one which is even more desperately needed today than it was then.

As the Apostle Paul wrote: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." He who was born on that first Christmas Day, by his birth, his life, his death and his resurrection, offered new life to all people.

Thus, amid all the commotion of the Christmas season - the commercialism, the partying, the gift-giving, the eating and drinking, the stress, the road accidents, the family reunions and fights - the still, small voice of God whispers down the ages, patiently, lovingly, longingly: "Come unto me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ... " And: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you ... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Therein is the true revelation of Christmas.