Throughout our lives, we will celebrate many events. One of the first things we celebrate is our birthday. We all have one, and somewhere along life’s path, there is a party involved. It may be a group of kids or a few family members, but for most, there will be a celebration of some sort, at least once in your life. I’m amazed at the craze in America for babies’ 1st birthdays. It’s the going “thing” to make a huge deal out of a birthday the child will not remember. While I’m sure this was not the case for the first birthday of baby Jesus, I can’t help but wonder how Mary must have felt as she looked back on the past year. For a year now, she had held and nurtured the Messiah. This was a promise from God, the long-awaited one, the redeemer, the Savior of the world, sent from Heaven to earth. This is the reason for the season. Let’s look at a few of the things we do at Christmas that should remind us of what the season is all about.
First, one thing that is common to the season is the giving of gifts. We buy gifts for those we love, or we make something especially for them. We want to give gifts that people will use and remember for a long time. Some give gifts they refer to as “the gift that keeps on giving. Yet, they refuse the only gift that truly keeps on giving. This gift was given by our creator. God gave us the greatest gift of all by giving His Son to die for our sins. It was a love gift that was necessary for us to be in communion with Him. Sin broke man’s fellowship with God, and Jesus made a way for that to be restored. The season is about salvation through Jesus that came to earth that first Christmas day.
John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Second, when you look at the many wreaths hanging for Christmas decorations, think of the endless circle of God’s love for us. He is eternal, something we have a hard time comprehending, but our lack of understanding doesn’t change the truth that He is, always has been, and always will be. He is our eternal refuge that keeps us and sustains us. He is the only wise God, the immortal One, the King eternal. He declares He is the beginning and the end, the everlasting God. The season is about an eternal King who loved us enough to sacrifice His Son for our sins, so we could spend eternity with Him.
Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:”
I Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Another example Jesus gave us in His coming is the giving to those who were in need. He taught us to have compassion for others. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the brokenhearted, and brought the dead back to life! His coming brought life to all who will believe. He wants us to be His hands and feet and show the same care to others who are less fortunate than ourselves. A good example of this attitude at Christmas time is the organization that is worldwide called the Salvation Army. It was founded in 1865 in the east end of London, by William Booth. He was an evangelist who wanted to offer practical help to the poor while preaching to them about how they could have eternal life in Jesus Christ. All over towns and cities, you will see bell ringers and red buckets collecting for those who have needs. This organization gives hope to those in need. Jesus gives us hope. He has promised to meet all our needs and offers us a home in Heaven after this life is over. He turned no one away who was seeking Him.
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Christmas is all about Jesus! The gift, the eternal one, the sustainer, the provider, and the one who loves beyond our comprehension. That’s what Christmas is all about!
