The Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is America’s favorite holiday, loved by children of every age … and the Chamber of Commerce. For weeks there is a flurry of activity as masses of people try desperately to have a good time. Sound depressing? It is for many people. In fact, mental health professionals indicate that the holiday season is one of the most difficult times of year for many people who are struggling with loneliness, depression or interpersonal conflict.
 
Advertisers bombard us with images of other people having a great time; happy families gathered around tables laden with homecooked delicacies, carols sung around a piano with a warm fire nearby, hot chocolate and eggnog offered to rosy-cheeked carolers, a thoughtful child who gives a thoughtful card to Santa (or a neighbor). These are the images that spell Christmas to many modern Americans.
 
Other people focus at this season on acts of good will toward those less fortunate. Money drops into a kettle as a uniformed saint smiles and rings a small bell. Food baskets are distributed. Nursing homes are visited. Various agencies thank people for their kindness and gently remind us that the needs will not go away in January.
 
But what is the meaning of Christmas? Books have been written on the subject. Beloved songs remind us of the Christmas story. The experiences of life add new dimensions of personal meaning with the passage of years. But the Bible reminds us that Christmas was God’s idea.
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it … The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-5, 14).
 
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned . . . For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2,6).
 
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6). You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly … God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6,8).
 
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).
 
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
 
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).
 
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)