The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the shadow of death, a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and given them great joy; they rejoice before you as those who rejoice at the harvest, as they exult when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of a warrior that tramped in battle and every garment soaked in blood, will be burned as fuel for the fire. For a Child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. Upon His shoulders dominion rests, and this is the name He has been given: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.–(Isaiah 9: 1-5).
Today is Christmas Day, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ, a celebration for which many of us have been preparing for the past four weeks. This day means a great experience of joy or many of us. For those who follow Jesus' teaching, the celebration arises because his birth was an act of love by God for mankind. For the believer Jesus is God made visible to us and the means of our salvation. Jesus is the light which shines in the darkness and shows us the way to peace and eternal bliss.
The above extract is known as the enthronement anthem , and was usually sung when a new king ascended he throne. According to Biblical scholars, "For a child has been born to us" refers to the notion that the enthronement of the king was seen as God's adoption of the king as his son. However, those who believe in Jesus and follow his teaching view these words as a prophetic reference to Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us.
This is the reason for the joy of believers on this day, and that is why we rejoice and make merry with our relatives and friends, and extend our hand in friendship to everyone. This is why we can welcome strangers as brothers and sisters. This is why we carry and spread the spirit of peace and goodwill to everyone. Jesus is the new light who dispels the darkness, and we, his followers have a mission to spread his message of peace and goodwill wherever we happen to be, and whatever we happen to be doing.