Since Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, it’s more than fitting that we should celebrate his birth, and it’s certainly appropriate to show our love for friends and family with visits and the exchanging of gifts!
But Christmas means much more than the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. As with all biblical topics, it goes much deeper than that. Christmas shows the love of God for the world, and more specifically, for YOU. If you have ever felt worthless, neglected, ignored, powerless, helpless, hopeless; if you have ever felt depressed, despairing and discouraged—keep reading to see the reasons why you do have worth, you can have hope, and you can have the greatest power that a human is capable of having.
Let’s look at the story, the gifts, and the meaning of Christmas, and my Christmas wish for you.
THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS
From the perspectives of two of the Bible writers, Luke and Matthew, here are the events that comprise the Christmas story.
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’
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“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
As we give to others this Christmas, let’s do so in remembrance of—and appreciation for—all that God has given us.
- Hope: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
- Comfort: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (II Corinthians 1:3-4)
- Power: “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (II Timothy 1:7)
- Provision: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” (I Timothy 6:17 ESV) SEE ALSO MATTHEW 6:25-34
- Love: “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.” (I John 4:9 NLT)
- A Place in the Family of God: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12 ESV)
- SEE ALSO I JOHN 3:1
THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Most of us have heard the saying: “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
The manger led to the cross, and the cross to the empty tomb. Jesus died for us, was raised from the dead and ascended to Heaven as our Savior and Intercessor.
God loves you and has a plan for your life. The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9), so if you had been the only sinner in the world—Jesus would have come just for you. You are special to God!
God wants your companionship. His plan from the beginning was to have fellowship with man in a perfect world. Satan thwarted that plan but God already had a solution in place, and because of Jesus we can now experience all the gifts of Christmas, and someday—a perfect world.
A CHRISTMAS WISH
My hope for you this Christmas, and always, is peace for your soul, an ever-growing understanding of what Jesus has done and is doing for you, strength and comfort in times of trouble, and the boldness to be a witness for him in the days to come. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to stand up for Jesus Christ—He stood up for you.
THE LOVE OF GOD (John 1:1-5, 9-14 NLT)
“In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In the beginning the Word already existed.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
