Finding Christmas

Familiarity with something doesn’t necessarily mean we grasp its deeper meaning. Most of us have heard the Christmas story all our lives, but how many of us actually get it? Before I was saved, I had no notion of the meaning of Christmas. Year after year I sang about this little Lord Jesus who lay away in a manger, the Word of the Father now in flesh appearing, Savior of the world which was in sin and error pining. I loved these songs and sang them from memory, but the words had no meaning in my mind and heart. I treasured the season, but cared not to inquire about the main subject of those old Christmas hymns.

I never asked questions like, What child is this? Why is he so special to have Christmas centered around him? What’s the big deal anyway? If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say I’m not the only one who hasn’t asked these questions.

For most of my life, Christmas looked much the same. It was a season I came to both love and hate. Anticipation would build earlier and earlier each year, and with it, expectations rose higher and higher. By the time December 25th rolled around I was shopped out, baked out, overspent, and filled to the rim with rich fare and presents galore. I was celebration-weary and desperate for a normal routine. On top of all this, Christmas Day never seemed to measure up to the ever increasing expectations I placed on it. Every year I came up empty—worn-out, disappointed, stressed.

Have you felt this?

After the Lord saved me, I noticed for the first time that there were so many distractions around the season. Christmas is not what it has become known for—materialism, greed, gluttony, busy-ness, extravagance, a mixed bag of traditions and beliefs. If we could just clear the clutter and go back to the very first Christmas, we would find something so simple.

We would find a birth announcement:

“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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-11

What child is this? Why was his birth so special that angels were sent to announce his arrival? Jesus was born as a baby in a manger—a lowly, humble entrance into an indifferent world—but He was no ordinary baby. His conception was no ordinary conception. His Father, no ordinary father. Scripture tells us:

“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 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……” Luke 1:26-27, 30-32

‘Jesus’ means Savior. So this baby was to be a Savior, and also the Son of God. The Gospel of Matthew gives us, in one simple sentence, the divine purpose of this child:

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

But that was long ago, and we are doing just fine. We don’t need a Savior anymore, do we?

Actually we do. But the sad part is that sin has blinded us to our real condition. Maybe you, like I once did, think everything is ok.

Is it? Can you feel that weight which gnaws upon your conscience? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know it’s there. Do you feel that unending sense of apprehension? That fear of death? These all show us that we know deep down that we will one day be accountable for our lives to a higher being—our Creator, God.

We are at war with him. This divine battle removes peace from our hearts, minds and consciences. The Bible calls this problem separation from God. The tension we feel deep in our souls exists because, though we are at war, we were created to be in a peaceful relationship with God.

The good news is that God stepped into human history to end the war—a rescue mission to restore our relationship with him and bring us to himself (1 Peter 3:18). When he stepped into time, he came as a baby in a manger, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin. He walked among humanity for thirty years living a perfect, sinless life. Then the moment for which he was born arrived: the Son of the eternal God died unjustly upon a criminal’s cross. Because he was God, death could not hold him. He rose from the grave, then ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

This is the work the Savior came to do. His death on the cross and his rising from the dead accomplish this salvation for us—salvation the first Christmas brought. This is how Jesus saves us from our sins. He took what we deserve, and instead gives us everlasting life in glory with our Creator.

So then, everyone gets life in glory automatically? No, I’m afraid not. The Scripture says “he will save his people from their sins” not all people. Who then, are “his people”?

John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

‘Believe’ in this verse means more than acknowledging that God exists or that Jesus is his Son. True faith goes further and also includes complete trust in and reliance upon Jesus.

It’s kind of like this (though on an infinitely greater magnitude): I’m weary, oh, so weary, and I desperately need to sit down. Here is a chair in front of me that I’ve never sat in before. I know the chair is a chair and I acknowledge the fact that it will hold me up should I sit on it (intellectual ascent). I see the chair as my only relief so I sit on the chair trusting that it will hold me and give me rest.

When it comes to Jesus, many stop at intellectual ascent. Real, saving faith trusts and then acts from that trust as we surrender our lives to Jesus. This is the faith that John 3:16 is speaking about. This is the faith of ‘his people’.

Why does all of this matter?

Jesus is the promised One, sent from God. He is the only one to bring us back to God, for no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6).

He is the Savior of the World who came to save his people from their sin—to save you from your sin, and me from mine.

It matters because Jesus is coming again to take roll-call and hold each of us accountable for our lives. The first time he came, he came as a baby in a manger, meek and mild. Not so his next appearance. On that day Jesus will come on a great white stallion, with the armies of heaven and a double edged sword to conquer his enemies, and to bring his people home with him. It will be a glorious day for his people.

Don’t you want to be one of them?

Would you think about these things this Christmas? When the feasting, wrapping, unwrapping, and holiday cheer leave you not-so-cheery, empty and burdened, would you consider opening a Bible to Luke Chapter 1 and quiet your anxious soul before your Creator?

For when you remove the clutter and the trappings of our 21st century version of Christmas you can find the true meaning of the season: Jesus, Savior of the world. There you will finally find peace.

Take up and Read:

Luke 1:26-2:21
Matthew 1:18-2:12
John 1:1-18
Philippians 2:5-11