Editing 78-01-A2 (section)

= Christmas =

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=== Transcript ===
All the traditions associated with Christmas were observed as usual in the
past holiday season, including the chorus of complaints that "commercialization" is
robbing the day of its true meaning. I'll have to confess I can't join that chorus.
Somehow the ads offering helpful gift suggestions when we are all filled with the
spirit of giving; the decorations on the streets, in the stores; the familiar
carols--all add to the Christmas spirit for me and don't really strike me as crass.
I am disturbed, however, about something I read over the holidays which could
really rob Christmas of its meaning for millions of us who see it as more than just
the birthday of a great and good teacher. I realize there are those who, by
religious belief, consider Jesus a very human prophet whose teachings about love
for one another, treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves are
sound patterns for living; that he is to be respected by not worshipped.

But for many of us he is much more. He is the promised Messiah, the Son of
God come to earth to offer salvation for all mankind. It was disturbing therefore
to read that in many Christian seminaries there is an increasing tendency to
minimize his divinity, to reject the miracle of his birth and regard him as merely
human.

Meaning no disrespect to the religious convictions of others, I still can't
help wondering how we can explain away what to me is the greatest miracle of all
and which is recorded in history. No one denies there was such a man, that he
lived and that he was put to death by crucifixion.

Where then, you may ask, is the miracle I spoke of? Well consider this and
let your imagination translate the story into our own time--possibly to your own
home town. A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working his his
father's shop. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's shop.
He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby country side, walking from
place to place preaching all the while, even though he is not an ordained minister.
He never gets farther than an area perhaps 100 miles wide at the most.

He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted.
There is no court of appeal so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves.
Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing--the only
possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place so he is interred in a
borrowed tomb.

Er1d of story? No, this uneducated, property less young man who preached on
street corners for only three years and who left no written word has, for 2000 years,
had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, Kings and emperors; all the
conquerors, generals and admirals; all the scholars, scientists and philosophers
who ever lived--all of them put together.

How do we explain that--unless he really was what he said he was. 

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.
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=== Details ===
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<TR><TD WIDTH="150">Batch Number</TD><TD WIDTH="150">{{PAGENAME}}</TD></TR>
<TD>Production Date</TD><TD>01/09/[[Radio1978|1978]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Book/Page</TD><TD>[[Radio_Commentary_Books#Reagan.27s_Path_to_Victory|RPtV-247]], [[Radio_Commentary_Books#Reagan:_Stories_in_his_Own_Hand|SihoH-16]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Audio</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TD>Youtube?</TD><TD>No</TD></TR>
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===Added Notes===

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