The Meaning of Christmas
I was driving behind a car the other day with a bumper sticker that said, “Keep Christ in Christmas” written underneath a simple sketch of a manger scene. Although I think the intent behind the sticker was genuine in its plea that too many forget it is Christ’s birth we celebrate this season– not Santa, or presents, or holiday parties, or even traditions. But it got me thinking–it’s not just the baby we celebrate either.
The manger scene is only the beginning of the Christmas story. God did not send His Son to us just so we could have a baby to remember. He sent His Son to us so we could have a Savior! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The baby grew. He loved, He ministered, He challenged, He called, He saved. He changed lives. And he continues to save and change lives today. Christmas brings hope! Christmas is hope!
We have hope because the story doesn’t stop in a manger scene, no matter how idyllic. We have hope because of Good Friday. Jesus repaired the broken path to a right relationship with God. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) By His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) But the story doesn’t stop here either.
We have hope because of Easter. Because of God’s great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope that cannot be extinguished. It is shielded by God’s power. And because of this great hope, we can have joy inexpressible, even in the midst of difficult times. (1 Peter 1:3 – 9) He is our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Hope changes hearts. It brings light into darkness, healing to brokenness, and beauty from ashes. Hope springs within us a desire to see God’s work in each new day. Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not see it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18 – 19) Hope looks toward what God will do in our hearts and lives. Hope is filled with promise.
So, Christmas is more than the manger scene. Christmas reminds us that Christ came to save a lost world. He came so that we can have confident hope and security in His love. He came in order to live, die, and rise again. He came to ascend as King of kings. And Christmas reminds us that He will come again. There is an advent yet to come. Instead of saying Merry Christmas, I often feel compelled to shout Merry Easter!
