Colors of Christmas point to Messiah

Black was the night when Mary and Joseph arrived. Throngs of people lined the streets of Bethlehem.

Who would have thought the darkness of the world would soon be penetrated with a light so bright? The “Light” would forever change the course of human events. (Luke 2:7)

The Light still shines today. ”Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NCV).

Silver was the star in the east. Sparkling silver streaks of “Light” led the Wise Men to the Christ Child. Radiance and reflection brought amazement to the people. “A Savior is born.” The promise of the Messiah prophesied by Isaiah centuries before Jesus came has been fulfilled.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, Old Testament). Centuries later in the New Testament is: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

It was Micah (5:2) who specified Bethlehem as the place of Jesus’ birth. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Yellow was the straw that made the bed for the baby Jesus. Centuries before, Pharaoh so enslaved the Israelites that he took straw away and demanded they find their own straw to make bricks. (Exodus 5:7). Yet, here lays the Son of God, who forever frees mankind from slavery, lying on a bed of straw. That is eternal “Joy to the World.”

Brown was the color of the animals in the stable. Brown is the color of the earth, the seed time and harvest in its time. Until Jesus returns, the promise of seed time and harvest will remain. Our lives have times of seed time and harvest, too. What is planted will be harvested, good or evil. (Matthew 13:41 NCV).

I think the donkey carrying Mary to Bethlehem had to have been the same color of the donkey Jesus rode in the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, amidst the waving palms and the ringing of “Hosanna.” {Matthew 21:9).

White is the color of the horse on which sat the rider whose name is “Conqueror.” In Revelation, Jesus is the Rider on the White Horse.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11).

White is also symbolic of having been cleansed from sin. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, our sins are washed whiter than snow.

The color green reminds me of Luke 2:8-9: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.”

I am reminded of Psalm 23:2: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” Sheep are in grave danger without a shepherd. Without the “Good Shepherd,” so am I.

Of all the colors of Christmas, red means the most to me. It symbolizes Jesus’ precious blood, spilled out for you and me. Life is in the blood, and Jesus is the life. He gave his life, his pure, holy, innocent life for our tainted, broken, sinful lives.

Our youngest son portrayed Jesus in the Amarillo Civic Center Pageant for many years. Each time I watched Lane stumbling while trying to carry that heavy wooden cross down the aisle … I just lost it! The soldiers jeered and beat him without mercy. By the time they put Lane on the cross, I was a basket case.

The whole scenario filled me with the reality of the pain Jesus went through out of love for every one of us.

I will always remember the color of love … the precious blood of Jesus!