Nicholas

I am always amazed that Santa Claus can cause so much controversy.
You will often hear of solidly Christian families rejecting Santa.
They choose instead to focus on the birth of Jesus.
That is in fact what Christmas is all about.

Some solidly Christian families choose to focus on Jesus’ birth and enjoy Santa at Christmas.
The lines between the two sides can be very divisive.
They need not be.
As with anything else, it is a matter of the heart.

Our family celebrates Jesus and even made Him a birthday cake when the children were little.
However, we enjoyed the Santa traditions and embraced them.
Enjoying Santa by no means took away from Christ.
In fact in a way, enjoying Santa helped us focus our hearts even more.

I wanted the children to know that there really was a man named Nicholas.
I read about him so that I could tell my children his story.
Knowing the story of Nicholas helped us tie everything together with Jesus.
It never became a question of which side we were on.

Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara.
Patara is now on the southern coast of Turkey.
He parents were quite wealthy.
They raised Nicholas to be a devout Christian.

His parents died in an epidemic when Nicholas was young
Nicholas believed God’s Word and took it to heart.
Jesus’ words to sell what you have and give it to the poor convicted Nicholas.
He used his inheritance to care for people who were sick, needy, and suffering.

Nicholas’ entire life was dedicated to serving God.
He was made Bishop of Myra when he was still a young man.
Even as a Bishop, Nicolas was known for his generosity.
Nicholas suffered for his faith under the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Diocletian persecuted Christians ruthlessly and threw many of them into prison.
Nicholas was one of those who was exiled and imprisoned.
When he was released from prison, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicea.
The Council wanted to eliminate confusion, controversy, and contention within the church.

At the time, a priest named Arius argued that Jesus Christ was not an eternal being.
Jesus’ Deity was coming into question.
Others believed that Jesus is eternal, just like God the Father.
Jesus is fully God and fully man.

It is said that Nicholas, as he walked down a corridor, had to pass Arius.
It is said that Nicholas, who believed that Jesus is fully God, slapped Arius as he passed.
So strong was Nicholas’ desire to stand on the doctrines of his faith.
Propriety aside, Nicholas knew that Jesus is first and foremost God and also man.

The Council of Nicea affirmed the deity and eternality of Jesus Christ.
The Council defined the relationship between the Father and the Son as “of one substance.”
The Council of Nicea also affirmed the Trinity.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were listed as three co-equal and co-eternal Persons.

That same Nicholas, the giver of gifts, the lover of the poor and needy, really existed.
Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, Twas The Night Before Christmas, gave us a picture of Santa.
However, the true story of Nicholas is helpful to know and pass on to our children.
Giving gifts and caring for the poor and needy is an act of worship to God.

Years ago, I ordered an item in a catalog.
It has been a part of our Christmas decorations ever since.
It is an old-fashioned Father Christmas, that looked the way I imagined Nicholas to look.
He is kneeling over a baby, swaddled in a crude feed box.

Stores will sell a similar figure and call it, Santa and the Christ child.
However the item I found is quite different.
To me and my children, it is Nicholas, worshiping the One he lived to serve.
It is Nicholas who defended his faith even to the point of persecution and imprisonment.

It is in the same spirit of Nicholas that we give our gifts.
It is in the same spirit of Nicholas that we worship the Christ Child.
It is Nicholas kneeling before the One who was born for us.
It is Nicholas, not taking over the holiday but enhancing it with the story of his life.

When our family visited Ireland, we saw the tomb of Nicholas.
His remains were secretly removed by crusader knights and brought to Newtown Jerpoint.
Nicholas’ remains are buried in the graveyard of a church that bears his name.
His grave is marked by a slab that is carved with his tall figure.

Somehow, seeing Nicholas’ grave brought closure to our Christmas celebration.
The One that Nicholas defended at the Council of Nicea is indeed eternal.
Nicholas died and is buried.
Jesus died, was buried, but His tomb is empty as He sits at the right hand of the Father.

We can remember Nicholas without ever lessening our devotion to Jesus.
We can give gifts and have Christmas trees and not betray our Lord.
The true story of Nicholas enhances the Christmas season.
We give gifts because we have been given the greatest gift of all.

Jesus.

2 responses to “Nicholas”

1. Lovely things to think about at Christmas time. Merry Christmas to you and your family and blessings in the coming year!

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   • Thank you, Sue!
     Have a Blessed Christmas with your family as well!
     Gina

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