Sunday, December 25, 2016

Santa Claus vs. Jesus Christ, 2



~ Counterfeit Santa Claus – What An Imitation! ~  

Consider what the Word of God says about Jesus Christ.  In each case consider the image of Santa Claus and how it parallels (masquerades as) the truth of Jesus Christ!  

HIS APPEARANCE

Bearded ~ Jesus Christ: “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).  santa claus: Santa always wears a beard. 

White Hair  ~  Jesus Christ: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14).  santa claus: Santa always has white hair.

Red Apparel ~ Jesus Christ: “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with His garments stained crimson?  Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength?  ‘It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.’  Why are Your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?” (Isaiah 63:1-2).  santa claus: Santa is always dressed in red.

HIS OCCUPATION & WORK

Carpenter ~ Jesus Christ: “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3a).  santa claus: Santa is the master toy carpenter as he directs his elves. 

Sits On a Throne ~ Jesus Christ: “But to the Son He says:Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom’” (Hebrews 1:8).  santa claus: Santa sits on a throne as he communicates with children. 

Giver of Gifts ~ Jesus Christ: To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:8).  santa claus: Santa is the source of magical appearing gifts for everyone. 

Desires Children to Come to Him ~ Jesus Christ: “But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God’” (Mark 10:14).  santa claus: Come sit on Santa’s lap. 

Commands Children to Obey Their Parents ~ Jesus Christ: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).  santa claus: Santa will withhold the best presents if you do not obey your parents. 

Judges People ~ Jesus Christ: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ(Romans 14:10b).  santa claus: Santa judges your annual performance. 

HIS ARRIVAL

Comes From the North Where He Lives ~ Jesus Christ: “Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2).  santa claus: Santa comes from the North Pole. 

Hour of His coming is a Mystery ~ Jesus Christ said: Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect(Luke 12:40).  santa claus: The actual time of his coming is never disclosed.

Comes As a Thief in the Night ~ Jesus Christ said: “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into” (Matthew 24:43).  santa claus: Santa gains entrance even though your home is secured. 

HIS CHARACTERISTICS

All Powerful ~ Jesus Christ: “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia!  For the Lord God Omnipotent [all powerful] reigns!” (Revelation 19:6).  santa claus: Santa can deliver all toys to all the world in one night.

All Knowing ~ Jesus Christ: For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things(1 John 3:20).  santa claus: Santa claims to know if you’ve been good or bad throughout the entire year.

Present Everywhere ~ Jesus Christ:  “Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7-10).  santa claus: Santa must be able to be everywhere to deliver toys around the world in one night.

Ageless / Eternal ~ Jesus Christ said: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8).  santa claus: The legend of Santa lives on from generation to generation. 

HIS UNIQUENESS

Lives inside Men ~ Jesus Christ: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).  santa claus: Santa lives in the hearts of children everywhere. 

Absolute Truth ~ Jesus Christ: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  santa claus: Whatever Santa judges is the final verdict. 

Fulfills Every Need ~ Jesus Christ: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  santa claus: Just behave and ask Santa and it will be given you.

Worthy of Our Prayers and Our Worship ~ Jesus Christ: “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him’” (Hebrews 1:6).  
santa claus: Prayers and adoration are regularly offered to “St. Nick” in many parts of the world.

SPEECH

"Ho, ho, ho…”  ~ Jesus Christ:  “And one cried to another and said:Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’” (Isaiah 6:3).  santa claus: Santa is known by his familiar, “Ho, Ho, Ho.”

TITLES

Everlasting Father ~ Jesus Christ: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). (Hebrews 12:2).  santa claus: Santa is known in many areas of the world as “Father Christmas.” 

Christ Child ~ Jesus Christ: “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ (Matthew 1:23).  santa claus: “Kris Kringle” in the German and Austrian tradition is literally Christ Child (or Christ-like). 

Lord of Hosts ~ Jesus Christ: “‘And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien — because they do not fear Me,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:5).  santa claus:  Santa reigns over a host of elves. 

Prince of Peace ~ Jesus Christ: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  santa claus: To many Santa is a symbol of world peace. 

The Image of God ~ Jesus Christ: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).  santa claus: Some see Santa as a God image. 

additional notes  ~  [1] Satan not only moves around as a “roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8) but also uses many deceitful tactics—including appearing as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).  Only Jesus Christ is the true light of the world (John 8:12). 
[2] If you appreciated this post you might like the original post entitled “Santa Claus vs. Jesus Christ” (December 24, 2015).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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