Christmas Cooking and Feasting

Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. (Zechariah 14:21a NAS)

Some of us have just celebrated Thanksgiving with feasting, and it's that time of the year once again when all of us will soon come together to enjoy Christmas feasting as well. Not everyone in the world however has this same privilege. While some of us may complain about the preparation—the cooking and the baking—many who know next to nothing about such things often just sit around in expectancy to a grand feast in celebration of our Lord's birthday.

The Bible mentioned a great deal about feasting, but very little about cooking, except maybe for what is implied of Martha's distraction with her preparation when the Lord visited her home and of another occasion when she prepared a supper for the Lord (Luke 10:38-42; John 12:2). In the Old Testament, the Bible mentioned many feasts, such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of the Harvest, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), and Feast of the Passover. Some of these feasts are still being celebrated today by Jews and by Christians in various parts of the world.

The Feast of Booths, for example, according to an article at the web site of Wikipedia, is being observed by some 50,000 Christians. This Feast, in some places in the world, is even declared a Christian holiday, much like the Lord's birthday. The Book of Zechariah mentioned about this Feast as part of a prophecy of our Lord's return (Zechariah 14). Biblical feasts, such as this, are usually observed in honor of God to remember what He has done for His people. Likewise, when we celebrate Christmas with feasting, we should also remember the reason for our celebration—the birth of Christ, born to die for our sins and to set us free from spiritual death.

When we participate in the feasting, therefore, let us appreciate and be grateful to the ones who prepare the Christmas feast for us out of love, in suffering and hardship to cook and to bake. Above all else, however, we must always remember the purpose of our celebration. Christmas is an occasion deserving of a great celebration with feasting, cooking, and baking. Whoever prepares or feast on the food, therefore, should always do so out of love and appreciation to show gratitude to one another and especially to the Lord who is the reason we are celebrating the occasion. Let us when we eat of the food—the turkey and ginger bread, the delights of the stomach and appetites—remember that it is because of Jesus we are cooking and feasting on this joyous occasion.

Remind us dear Lord as we celebrate Your birthday with joy and feasting, to remember You and the reason for our celebration. Touch our hearts Lord that we may appreciate, love, and cherish the ones who, out of love and charity, work so hard that we may feast with joy and gaiety. We thank You Lord for Your birth to set us free and for this joyous occasion we can celebrate in honor of Your great love for us.