Christmas... In Case No One Ever Told You
I don’t feel it’s necessary to run down the list of what everyone thinks or feels about Christmas but I’ll mention a few: I know that some people consider Christmas as a pagan holiday. I know that some people don’t celebrate it at all. I know that some people have researched St. Nick and other nifty facts surrounding the holiday. But I also know that some people do not know the meaning of Christmas. I don’t want to take the last fact for granted. So, I dedicate this blog post to sharing the meaning of Christmas.
Let’s begin here. God created everything that we see: nature, astronomy, animals, humans, etc (Genesis chapter 1). God created man and woman, Adam and Eve (Genesis chapter 2), to live in a sinless world with him. However, they decided to disobey God, introducing and establishing the fallen state of man. Their sin separated mankind from God. Generations became so much more sinful that God ultimately sent His son to die so that we could be redeemed and reunited with God (John 3:16). This is why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday (or Easter as some refer to it). Although Resurrection Sunday is celebrated before Christmas on the US Calendar, Christmas precedes Resurrection. Christmas is celebratory for us because it marks the birth of Jesus, God’s son, who would grow into a man and die for our sins. That’s Christmas. But this is a summary of what scripture tells us happened.
God favored Mary (“the Virgin Mary”) who was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. An angel informed Mary that she would birth the messiah and how it would happen (Luke 1:26-38). Joseph was going to break up with Mary after learning that she was pregnant with a baby who was obviously not his child. An angel appeared to him and explained so the engagement continued (Matthew 1:18-25). When it was time for Mary to birth Jesus, there was nowhere for her to deliver him so she had to deliver him in a stable. Hence, nativity scenes that depict baby Jesus in a manger or feeding trough for animals. You may also see that there are shepherds who surround Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. That was because angels appeared to shepherds (Luke chapter 2) and told them about Christ’s birth. The shepherds then went to visit Jesus.
The basis for joy at Christmas is far beyond gifts, food, and family. We celebrate the arrival of the savior, emphasizing the birth of Jesus who would later die for the sins of the world. Theoretically, it’s difficult to celebrate his birth without considering his death. Because it was his death that restored our relationship with God and the finished work of the cross that provides access to eternal life through all who are willing to accept him.
It’s not a fairy tale or legend. Jesus was indeed born to die for us. Christmas is our joyful reminder of how much God loved us long before we loved him.