Colors of Christmas: Red and Green

Photo (2015) by

Alex Wright

In recent years the Christmas holiday, at least as the world celebrates it, is becoming less and less about Christ and more about foolish fables (2 Timothy 4:4). Nativity scenes are replaced by Santa Claus, Rudolph and Frosty; Christmas pageants give way to Winter Festivals, and stores say Happy Holidays so as not to offend Muslims or those of other religions. 

 

The early Christians adopted a code so that they could identify with each other and communicate with each other even in times of persecution. The Jesus fish symbol originated from initials that spell “fish” in Greek, or “IXOYE” but stand for "Jesus, Christ, God's Son, Savior." This was a form of witness and also helped Christians distinguish between friend and foe. When traveling, if a Christian met another person, the Christian would draw half the fish (half a crescent) in the sand. If the other person completed the fish, he or she was also a Christian. 

 

Persecution of believers will increase as Christ’s second coming draws near (Matthew 5:11-12). Although Christians are not yet being openly persecuted in the United States, our right to display symbols and statements of Christianity is already being challenged, and even military chaplains are warned not to pray in Jesus’ name. The Ten Commandments are leaving courthouses; “One nation under God” is being questioned in the Pledge of Allegiance; Christian prayer is no longer allowed in public schools; and recently atheists were allowed to put up a sign ridiculing faith right next to a manger scene. 

 

It may become useful to have a symbolic code, so that when we see the bright colors of winter decorations, we can remind ourselves and each other of the true meaning of Christmas. In this season, born-again believers celebrate God so loving the world that He sent His only Son to us in human form (John 3:16, 1:14)  In that way, Jesus could know and suffer all that we do, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He died for all our sins as the perfect sacrifice, reconciling sinners with a holy and just God, so that all who ask for forgiveness of their sin and turn to Him can have eternal life  (2 Corinthians 5:4,18-19; Hebrews 2:17).  

 

We can use the colors of Christmas as a way to witness to unsaved people, so that if they admire a beautiful Christmas tree, we can explain the symbolism of the colors. This may open the door for us to talk about Christ and to share what He has done for us. 

 

For centuries, Christians have used many commonplace objects to witness to others and as a reminder of their faith. The five fingers can represent different types of people we should remember in prayer; and a deck of cards helps us remember the Word of God (One God, Two Testaments, Three for the Trinity, Four Gospels, etc.). A German choirmaster designed the candy cane to symbolize the story of Christ; and the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” represents different elements of the Christmas story. 

 

God Himself, the Master Designer (John 1:3; Genesis 1-2), liberally used symbols in His creation to tell salvation’s story. The sand dollar bears the image of the poinsettia, the Easter lily, and the Star of Bethlehem; has five piercings like those Christ received on the cross; and contains white doves symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Even the Abyssinian variety of donkey that tradition says carried Mary into Bethlehem bears the mark of the cross on its back. 

 

Similarly, the colors we traditionally associate with Christmas each have special meanings that reflect different aspects of Christ’s life and God’s plan of salvation. 

 

Green is the traditional color of the Christmas tree, with the evergreen representing eternal life because its needles are always green. If we trust in the promises of God’s Word, we too will never die, but will enjoy eternal life with Him in Heaven (John 3: 16; 1 Corinthians 15). Green gives the promise of new life that we see in the first green leaves of spring. Just as the tree in winter looks dead, we are dead in sin until we are born again (John 3:3-8) by repenting of our sins and asking Christ into our hearts as our personal Savior (John 3:3; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13). In Chirst, we are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

 

But Christ came not only to give us eternal life, but more abundant life here and now! (John 10:10). At least in the United States, green is also the color of money, and all people depend on the food energy of green plants for their physical sustenance (Genesis 9:3). Green therefore reminds us that God will always provide for our physical as well as our spiritual needs (Matthew 7:11; Psalm 23:2; 52:8). 

 

A green light is also a universal traffic signal that means Go! Jesus’ last words to His disciples before ascending into Heaven were to Go and fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) It encourages us to follow the Holy Spirit so that we will go forward on our Christian walk, growing more like Jesus every day, following God’s perfect will for our lives. 

 

At Christmas time, we enjoy the colors green and red together in the holly plant and its berries. Like the pine, the holly is evergreen, and the needle-sharp, prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns worn by Christ as He was crucified (John 19:5). The red berries symbolize each drop of precious blood Jesus shed for us on Calvary’s cross for the remission of our sins (Matt 26:28):. His blood washes us clean so that when God sees us, He sees not our sin, but the perfect sacrifice of His blameless Son (Hebrews 9: 11-13; John 1:7). 

 

Red and green also adorn the poinsettia, which is another Christmas symbol of how God meets the needs of believers in Him (Matthew 6:8,32). The legend of this plant tells of a poor boy from a Mexican village who wanted to give the Holy Child a gift but had no money. In desperation, he picked some weeds on his way to church to leave as his gift. He prayed to God to help him show his love, and God answered by turning the weeds into a beautiful star-shaped flower with bright red leaves. 

 

Just as “green” means go, “red” means stop – - our sinful ways, our wicked thoughts, our sinful lifestyle (1 Peter 4:1). And yet, red also symbolizes fire or passion. God wants us to be on fire for Him as He is a consuming fire (Heb.12:29; Revelation 19:12), our hearts burning with His Word (Jeremiah 20:9; Luke 24:32) and our lives burning brightly with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3). 

 

As we admire the bright red and green of the season, may these colors ignite our passion for Christ, Who came in the flesh to save us! May we boldly proclaim His love to others gathered around the holiday décor! 

 

© 2013 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

 

God’s Signature: The Crucifix Fish

Photo by Laurie Collett 3/8/2019

When signing his paintings, Pablo Picasso typically underlined his name and placed the signature at a slight angle to the frame. Albrecht Dürer always identified his art, whether a sketch or detailed masterpiece, with his famed “AD” trademark that was part of the artistic composition.

Some artists use a signature to indicate that the work is complete, as a reminder to themselves not to return to it and “gild the lily.” Others sign their work on the back or on the side of the canvas that is stretched over the frame, so as not to distract from the subject of the painting.

Although art lovers can easily recognize the distinctive greatness of a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, this Renaissance master never signed his works, because they were commissioned by others. Rembrandt signed his paintings but very seldom his drawings, so most of these are attributed to him solely on the basis of style.

Regardless of whether or not they included their signature, the amazing creativity of all these artists and the beauty of their works can be explained by the fact that they, like all mankind, were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). He is not only the Creator but the Master Designer (Psalm 19:1). Anyone who draws, paints, sculpts, designs clothing, or even decorates and beautifies their home is reflecting God’s creative genius. The same is true for writers, composers, performing artists, and inventors.

As the supreme Artist, God takes pleasure in signing His work by leaving a subtle or gloriously replete reminder of Who He is and what He did. The sheer number of plant and animal species and variations within species attests to His greatness (Genesis 1:11-12; 20-26), and even those numbers are dwarfed by the number of grains of sand in the earth's deserts and beaches (Genesis 32:12).

Yet scientists estimate that there are 10 times more stars in the night sky than there are grains of sand on our planet. Astronomers currently believe that the number of galaxies in the observable universe exceeds 170 billion, occupying a sphere with a radius of 13.8 billion light-years. Multiplying the number of stars in our galaxy by the number of galaxies in the universe results in an estimate of 10²⁴ stars, or 1 followed by 24 zeros, and our God knows each one of them by name! (Psalm 147:4)

But God is great not only in His vastness, but in His attention to the most minute details that add meaning to His creation in ways that could not possibly be explained by any postulated evolutionary advantage. What advantage could there be to a sunflower or seashell having the Fibonacci sequence, or golden ratio, incorporated into its structure? Rather, it testifies to the mathematical precision and perfection of the One Who created them (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30).

Evolutionists might argue that the bright colors and patterns in various flowers attract birds and insects that aid in pollination. But only God would design flowers to look like dancing ladies or intricate animal faces, to bring pleasure to us as well as to Himself! Only God would design healthful fruits and vegetables to look like the human organ they benefit, as a prescription from the Great Physician. For example, eating pomegranates enhances breast health; walnuts boost brain function; and kidney beans not only resemble kidneys but promote renal health, just to name a few.

The number three, reflecting the Trinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17), is prevalent throughout nature. Matter exists in three states; space consists of three dimensions; and time is either past, present or future. Everything we see is either in the sky, on land, or in the sea, and can be describes as animal, vegetable, or mineral.

God’s story is told even in the lowly sand dollar, adorned with engravings of the Easter lily, the pointsettia, and the Star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2-10). It is pierced by five holes reminding us of the wounds in Jesus’ hands, feet and side as He suffered on the cross (Luke 24:39-40; John 19:34), and it contains dove-shaped fragments as a symbol of peace and the Spirit (Mark 1:10; John 1:32).

I have thought about these various ways in which God “signs” His creation for quite some time. But as my husband and I were beachcombing last week, an unusual find really brought this concept home for me. Sticking up and partially buried in a mound of sand was a sharp, bleached object I did not recognize. As I gently unearthed it and rinsed it in the sea, I was amazed to see an intricately detailed sculpture of what appeared to be Jesus on the cross on one side, and Christ ascending into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), seen from behind, on the reverse side!

Further research revealed that this was the skull of a sail catfish, also known as a “crucifix fish.” Urban (or should I say maritime) legend is that God’s blessings will come to one who finds a sail catfish skull, particularly to fishermen. When shaken, the skull makes a rattling sound because of calcified otoliths, or ear stones within it, which has been likened to the sound made by the dice thrown as the Roman soldiers gambled for Christ’s robe (John 19:23-24). On the reverse is said to be the imprint of a Roman shield, and the hilt of the sword is visible where it plunged into His side.  

Like other members of the catfish family, the sail catfish would be considered unclean in Mosaic law because it has no scales (Leviticus 11:10-12), and this designation is fitting as it is a bottom feeder that predominantly scavenges rather than capturing its prey.

How astounding that God would tell His story by sculpting it into the skull of an unclean animal, as if to emphasize that He came not for the righteous, but to save sinners (Matthew 9:11-13). Although we are born unclean because of the curse of sin Adam’s disobedience brought upon the world, Jesus Christ was the perfect, holy Sacrifice Who died on the cross to pay for all our sins (Romans 5:12-21), and to rise again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) so that all who trust in Him have eternal life (John 3:16).

Romans 1: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

God speaks to His children primarily through His Word, but may we be attuned to and blessed by the amazing messages He has carved into His creation!  

© 2019 Laurie Collett

 

Photo by Laurie Collett 3/8/2019