THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Jesus, the Reason for the Season
By Glenda Ward
McDowell County
Jesus – The True Meaning of Christmas – The Gift of God.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus came into this world as a tiny infant born over 2000 years ago. The purpose of Jesus’ birth was to enter into the world and become one of us to deliver us from our sins (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus’ birth was unlike any other. Jesus was born of a virgin woman – He was in human form and born as a Jew. He was subject to God’s law and fulfilled it perfectly. Mary was a young teenager, living in the village of Nazareth and engaged to be married to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. God’s angel Gabriel was sent to Mary to deliver the news of God’s plan. Mary would become the mother of the coming Messiah. The angel told Mary she would deliver a Son by the power of the Holy Spirit and would name Him JESUS.
The birth of Jesus was a historical event. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small village about 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Jesus’ birth came under the law (Galatians 4:4). Jesus is the second person of the trinity. He was born of a virgin in a lowly stable. He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger (a trough used for feeding cattle and livestock). The Baby Jesus was visited by humble shepherds keeping watch over their flock. Later Jesus was visited by the wise men who rejoiced with great joy, and when they saw the young child with his mother, they fell down and worshipped Him. They presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Jesus is not just any person. He is God in the Flesh. As Jesus grew and taught, and what He did for us is tied inseparably to who He is. Jesus is fully human and fully God. Jesus took upon Himself full humanity. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice because, although He was fully human, yet He never sinned. Jesus was subjected to the same temptations and limitations that we are. God’s Son entered into our world so He could display the perfection and holiness through His Work of living a perfectly sinless life and dying on the cross for us who are not perfect and living in a sinful corrupt body so that all who trust in Him would be saved from the righteous judgment of God. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world could be saved through Him (John3:16-17). Jesus’ birthplace, Bethlehem Ephratah, was prophesied in the Old Testament (Micah 5:1-2). Jesus is preceded by a great prophet who was prophesied in the Old Testament. Esaias told people to prepare to see God work (Isaiah 40:3). John the Baptist used these words as he challenged people to prepare for the coming Messiah (Matthew 3:3).
Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The meaning of Christmas is and should be the recognition, appreciation, and honor of the Birth of Jesus, God’s only Son who took possession of our sins upon Himself suffering the punishment we deserve that we could be saved by His saving grace through our faith in Him. Jesus suffered on that cross on Calvary’s Hill, dying in our place for our sins which we chose to commit.
Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Jesus gives meaning to Christmas. Jesus was God in the flesh, perfect, pure, and Holy. He died on the cross and rose from the dead. The True Meaning to Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ incredible act of love (John 3:16-17). The True meaning of Christmas is the Real Story of God becoming a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. Christmas was necessary because we needed a Savior. Christmas is celebrated each year and the reason we celebrate should be out of gratitude for what God did for us. We remember Jesus’ birth by worshipping Him, being conscious of the poor, and giving to those less fortunate by remembering the gift of Jesus as Jesus gave of Himself.
God loved His own and provided a way “the only way” for us to spend eternity with Him. God reached down His hand and gave His only Son to stand for our sins that we might go free. Jesus took our punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. He paid the price in FULL!!! We are free from God’s condemnation when we accept God’s free gift of love – Jesus Christ. Read Romans 5:8. Through God’s unfolding plan we should be in Thankful appreciation for the Grace and Forgiveness that God has made available to us through His Son “Jesus Christ”, our Lord and Savior. The real meaning of Christmas is rooted in the lives of God’s people.
Who today would know of Mary, Joseph, or Bethlehem if it were not for Jesus?
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Glenda Ward is a member of Grand View Baptist Church in McDowell County. She is the mother of five grown children. Glenda is a Christian writer/author of “Something to Think About” – weekly Christian Articles. She writes Church Programs & Bulletins, VBS Material, Christmas and Easter Programs; all material based on the KJV of the Bible. Also testing the field in tributes, individual memorial writings, etc. You can read more good Christian news from Glenda HERE.
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