Christmas is a party. Specifically, it’s a birthday party — for Jesus Christ (we are not saying that he was born on the 25th of December). And as we can all concur birthdays are meant to be celebrated. It’s why we say “Merry Christmas!”
Ironically, at most Christmas parties the birthday man we’re supposed to be celebrating is completely ignored. He’s never even mentioned. Although Jesus is the reason for the season, he’s often overlooked or merely mentioned along with Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus.. and a long list of celebrated fictional and pagan characters.
If we ask people around us what they are celebrating this Christmas for, it’s highly probable that most of their answers will have nothing to do with Jesus himself. Some might say that I’m celebrating that I made it through another year, or I’m celebrating being home with my family. Others could funnily say I got a Christmas bonus at work, my children are home from the diaspora, and some can say I’m happy about the new government situation, and the list of this is infinite.
The first purpose of Christmas as a celebration! We learn this from the angel’s opening statement to the shepherds of Bethlehem. God had wonderful news for us that would cause us all to rejoice, celebrate, and throw a party:
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10
The good news of Christmas is worth celebrating for three reasons. It is personal: “I bring YOU.” It is positive: “GOOD news of great joy.” And it is universal: “for ALL the people.” It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or where you’re headed — this news is sorely for you.
Christmas is a time to celebrate that God loves you!
The most famous statement in the Bible is Jesus’ explanation of why God sent him to earth:
“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
The entire reason for Christmas is the love of God. God loves you so much that he came to earth as a human so you could get to know him and learn to trust him and love him back. Theologians call this the Incarnation. God became one of us, a human being, so we could understand what he is really like.
Until Jesus arrived, our understanding of God’s love was limited. So God invaded earth! It was the greatest invasion in history, and nothing has been the same since. God could have chosen thousands of ways to communicate with us, but since he designed us, he knew the best way to communicate with us would be face-to-face.
He didn’t send an angel or a prophet or a politician or an ambassador. He came himself. If you really want people to know how much you love them, you can’t send a representative to communicate it. You have to say it personally. That’s what God did at ‘Christmas.’
So we leave you with this question…what are you celebrating this Christmas?
Reference: The Purpose of Christmas © 2008
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