The Story of Christmas

The Story of Christmas Understanding the Advent of the Christ through Scriptures On a fine Sunday afternoon, a talk was given. To be exact, on 2 December 2012 from 230pm to 830pm. It was hosted by the ATC Penang Christian Fellowship, students from both A-Levels and LL. B courses, who profess the Christian faith listened intently to Andrew Khoo. It was a story told time and time again for the past two thousand years. But unlike many stories, this story is not fiction. It was real, it really happened. This is not a story, but the story. A story that split the recording of time into two; BC and AD. It is the story of Christmas, the birth of Christ the Lord. The God-Man whose hands formed the stars, was born as a human child to save mankind from his sins.

 The talk encompassed a variety of themes unified under the focal point of the advent of Jesus Christ. We embarked on a journey throughout Scriptures, from the Old Testament to the New, and from the New back to the Old; there and back again. We were brought back into time, back into the ancient past. We began with the Annunciation to Zechariah at the temple in Jerusalem, beamed then into an obscure room where we witness the Annunciation to Mary in Nazareth. We climbed the hill country of Judea in where Mary visited Elizabeth, then we are transported to Bethlehem, beside ox and cattle in a cave and underneath a bright star, where the Child King was born. With each step taken, we deepen our understanding on the coming of Jesus Christ and his role in the history of mankind. The world truly is a stage, we are all actors in it and God is the Divine Director, orchestrating all the events of history. Indeed, history is His-story. What a comfort indeed, to know that all is in His hands. Here's a snippet of what had happened: 'Angels and annunciations, prophets and prophecies.

 A Child long foretold and destined to be the one to bring balance to the Force (OK Maybe not that). The hopes and fears of all the years come together one quiet nigh two thousand years ago in the little town of Bethlehem. With a cast of thousands from the emperor of Rome himself to the prophets of Israel, priests, shepherds and animals of various kinds, and amazing props such as the ark of the covenant and with the temple of Herod in Jerusalem as the backdrop. This tale of God's fidelity unfolds. Come and discover what Child is this and the amazing story of God's love in the Birth of Jesus Christ.' - Andrew Khoo Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the many who made this possible. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew Khoo for his effort in preparing for a most interesting and surreal talk, Amy Cheah as the Chief Organiser (special note on her persistence and insistence on having the talk), David John Au for leading the praise and worship, all those who had helped out in some way or another, and not to forget the students who have attended the talk as well. 

Mark Tan Lecturer Teacher-Advisor of the ATC Penang Christian Fellowship