The Reason for Christmas

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” Matthew 1:21

The Message of Christmas has for centuries been told and salvation ever been linked to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Good News of Christmas, the hope, the giving, the care, and great love started not with Santa but actually… with Almighty God himself!

I know, when I mention ‘Almighty God’ people fear… folks shrink back… the reason is He is absolutely Holy, and Righteous! Yet, on the first Christmas it was “God who so loved the world that he gave” (John 3:16). God did not give condemnation, He did not pour out wrath, He did not give more law of do this and don’t do that… What did God give? God gave his Son, Jesus for the sake of the world… the greatest gift ever!

You see, because of Almighty God’s pure holiness and mankind’s sheer sinfulness there was this huge gulf between the two. God, in his heart wanted a loving, caring and complete relationship with mankind. Because of God’s very pure nature it was impossible for Him to show himself personally to mankind and mankind, well, let’s admit it we, on our own, are sinful.

Jesus, the babe in a manager mentioned on occasions this Christmas grew to be a man and taught a loving Good News that He was sent from his Heavenly Father so that others could believe in Him and therefore have a relationship with Almighty God.

There’s something about the sinful nature of mankind that can’t stand the light of righteousness and because of this the world crucified the loving, gentle, giving Son, Jesus. Yet, Jesus was not just a man, He was also the Son of God and on the third day he rose from the grave. This event we now call Easter.

Now, some 2,000 years + we celebrate a variety of Christmas’s. Some celebrate Santa. Some celebrate the winter holiday. But as for me and my house we celebrate the giving that God gave us… Christ, his Son, Christ the King on a throne in heaven and on the hearts of those who believe in Him!

Who is on the throne of your heart? Yourself or Christ this Christmas?

May you and yours know the peace and joy of Christmas!