Other than the resurrection of Christ, no event is more incredible, more astonishing, or more wonderful than Jesus’ incarnation. The celebration of the Savior’s birth should cause unbelievers to become envious of the Christian’s exuberance surrounding the Christmas holiday.
Augustine of North Africa, one of the most brilliant minds of the first millennium, envied Christians because he saw they had something he didn’t. He was enslaved by lust, all the while he witnessed Christians who possessed control over their passions.
At Christmastime People Hear the Gospel
Jesus shines the brightest at Christmas time. The gospel is read in public, holiday songs announcing the birth of the Savior are played over the radio, red kettles ringing the bells of Christmas appear at shopping centers, trees are adorned, and homes are decorated with festive lights and manger scenes. It’s impossible to miss the meaning of the season.
Christmas was first celebrated as a birthday party. Today it’s still a birthday party that remembers the birth of Jesus. God incarnate in the form of a baby boy came to earth. That’s Christmas. Christmas is dear to our hearts because it reminds us that God the Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemned people but to redeem them (Jn 3:16-18).
False Reasons Not to Celebrate Christmas
However, some claim the origins of Christmas are pagan. They think Saturnalia, the Roman worship of the god Saturn, was transformed into a Christian holiday because they fall around the same time on the calendar. Yet, the Bible claims the first celebration of Jesus’ birth was in Bethlehem of Judah when shepherds, angels, and kings came to worship God’s Son.
Some Christians make little of December 25th because the exact date Jesus was born remains unknown. Others ignore the date altogether. How unfortunate. While the world looks and wonders about the significance of Jesus, some Christians put their lamp under a bush rather than on a stand so it gives light to everyone (Mt 5:15).
Still, others minimize the joy at Christmas claiming the holiday is too commercial, or because it coincides with the winter solstice. Does this make Christmas non-Christian? I don’t think so. Others become overstressed with all the preparations for the day. Does this mean we don’t celebrate the Savior’s birth? Again, the answer is no. We could say the same thing about weddings, but the union of a man and woman is too important to overlook or treat insignificantly. How much more important to celebrate the day God took on human flesh!
Don’t Miss an Opportunity to Talk About Jesus
For the redeemed people of God to miss an occasion, specifically Christmastime, where they can share the Good News about Jesus is a missed opportunity indeed. Don’t let worldly indulgences, misunderstandings, or demonic distractions rob you of the joy of proclaiming the meaning of Jesus’ birth.
But what if Jesus had never come? What if December 25th was just another day? What if the day only represented the winter solstice? If Jesus had never come the world would miss at least four very important things.
1) If Jesus had not come, we would never know the depth of God’s love.
Ancient Roman gods didn’t love their worshippers. These gods were figments of an over creative imagination. The gods were capricious, selfish, unjust, and sometimes cruel. Their own problems isolated them from their followers. Idol worship is impersonal and the gods they represent are distant.
The one true God is poles apart from humanly conceived gods. He is a being with a message. He planned to send Jesus into the world. Sending Jesus reveals something about God’s character. He is a sender. He sent his only Son into the world to reveal his deep love for us. He loved us enough that he didn’t want any of us to perish. The incarnation reveals the depth of God’s love. God loves us so deeply that he sent Jesus to earth to die on the cross for our sins.
2) If Jesus had not come, we would never know God’s desire to be personal.
God didn’t send an employee on the first Christmas. He didn’t send a hired hand or slave. The Father sent the owner of the sheep to be with the sheep. He sent the shepherd of his sheep (Jn 10:12-15). He sent the person closest to his heart. Family came to earth. Jesus is someone who won’t abandon the sheep even if a wolf threatens them. God sent his precious Son, Jesus.
Jesus came as the good shepherd to teach us about the Father’s heart. He knows his sheep well and wants them to personally know his Father just as the Father knows them. Jesus came and eventually died to bring us close to God. The Creator of your heart sent his Son so his Spirit could live in your heart.
How would you express love if you were God?
If you were God and wanted people to know your love, how would you communicate that? Would you shake the earth with an earthquake? Maybe you would amaze people by writing on the clouds with lightning? Or maybe you would direct them to some ancient dusty books? Or, would you come personally? Being personal is risky. You could be rejected or misunderstood. You could be taken advantage of. Being personal could cost you your life.
The host of a party is honored by your attendance. You give respect and shown intentions of friendship by your appearance. There’s nothing more satisfying than your presence. This is also true when you hand-deliver a gift. It means so much more than when delivered through the mail. Winners of the Clearing House Sweepstake receive personally hand-delivered flowers and an oversized check because it’s such an important event.
Christmas is so much more important than winning a sweepstake. It’s the day we remember God delivered his gift of salvation to us—personally. Wrapped in strips of linen and lying in a stone trough was found the most valuable gift we will ever receive. God gave his only Son that we might have eternal life. Jesus’ birth was the best way God could have communicated his desire to personally know us.
3) If Jesus had not come, we would never know forgiveness.
At Christmastime guilt can be overwhelming. There’s last-minute guilt shopping, guilt feelings when appreciation is not reciprocated, guilt for things left undone, and even guilt for feeling guilty. If Jesus had not come, guilt would rule our lives. Kind and thoughtful acts would be lost to remorse. Heavy drinking is associated with Christmas as a means to soothe guilt. People drink too much to drown out or forget those bad feelings.
If Jesus had not come, there would be no victory over the guilt of sin (Jn 16:8). Guilt is produced when we know we are not righteous before God. Or, when we have not treated people as we ought. They come when we chose not to obey God’s commandments. Had Jesus not come, we would remain powerless to overcome our guilt.
Forgiveness removes feelings of guilt
“I want to be forgiven.”
Knowing God forgives sin removes the feelings that we must work harder to be acceptable before him. Jesus offers forgiveness freely and often. That’s why he came. And forgiven people are joyful. It’s amazing how many people secretly wish at Christmastime for the gift of forgiveness.
The greatest prophet, John the Baptist, came as a “pre-Christmas” messenger. His message was that the God of tender mercies was about to begin his ministry of offering forgiveness for sins (Lk 1:76-78). As you write your Christmas wish-list place at the top “I want to be forgiven.” One of God’s greatest gifts at Christmastime is the offer of forgiveness.
4) If Jesus had not come, we would never know that there’s hope in the future.
Every time a baby is born, we are reminded that God is not through with the world. There is hope in the future. God’s patience toward sinners continues. His final judgment is yet to come. We have time to repent, trust him, and know him.
If Jesus had not come, there would be no future hope. If Jesus had not come, we would not know that after death a resurrection to eternal life is possible. But Jesus did come. He grew into a man. He had a healing ministry. Jesus taught his followers who recorded what he said in the New Testament. He died on the cross and rose from the grave to give us hope in the future. His resurrection means those who believe in him will also rise after they die. If we believe him to be the resurrection and the life, which he is, then his promise of a future belongs to us (Jn 11:25-26).
So, Christmas is a holiday filled with hope. No matter what happens in this life, God offers hope through faith in his Son Jesus. We have a reason to live, a reason to believe, a reason to hope, a reason to trust in Jesus as the Savior. Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection are the foundations for a sure hope that eternal life can be ours.
Jesus Came Because it Mattered
When you hear the songs of Christ in shopping centers, or on the radio as you drive; when you hear the story of Christmas and redemption read; and as the Salvation Army bells ring, remember the humble manger scene in Bethlehem where God came in the flesh. Jesus came because it mattered. It mattered to God and it matters to us. Our salvation depends on it.
We know God loves us, wants to be personal with us, offers freedom from guilt and gives us hope in the future because he came on that first Christmas night. What more could you ask for at Christmas?
Picture attributions: Red candle by Nubia Navarro @Pexel.com, Nativity by Jessica Lewis @ Pexel.com, Red gift boxes by Acharaporn Kamornboonyaruch @ Pexel.com, Blue gift boxes by Amy Texter @ Pexel.com, Red Wreath by Toni Cuenca @ Pexel.com.
