The True Meaning of Christmas

I think so often at times we tend to miss the real meaning of what Christmas is all about. Too often times Santa Clause take front and center stage and the true meaning of the season is pushed to the back burner. This is sad in a day an age when we need Christ more than ever.

Jesus came from humble beginnings to die on a cross at Calvary to save us from sin. Jesus was born to Mary who was chosen by God to be the mother of his son. I can't even begin to imagine what Mary felt when she found out that she was chosen to give birth to the son of God. What an awesome gift!

Then there was Joseph who was asked to raise a child that was not even his. I can't imagine how Joseph felt when given this task. Joseph raised Jesus like he was his own. That took great love to do that.

In the Christian Calendar, Advent begins the Christian year. Advent is the time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. It is a time to celebrate what Jesus has done in our lives. Christmas should be a time for remembering Jesus and why he came to earth.

Tonight at the Christmas Eve Service Dwight read from Luke 2. That is a beautiful version of the Christmas Story. I love to read it. I would recommend that you read it to. Start a tradition of reading it to your children.

Luke 2 (The Voice Bible) says:

Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census—the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. Each person had to go to his or her ancestral city to be counted.

 

Mary’s fiancé Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was Bethlehem, David’s birthplace. Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predicted, accompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor and gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no room for them.

 

Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!

Messenger: Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.

 

At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.

 

Heavenly Choir: To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!

And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!

 

As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.

 

Shepherds: Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!

 

So they ran into town, and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.

The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted.

 

What faith in God Mary had from the moment that the Angel spoke to her. She had more faith in God than I could ever hope to have. It reminds me again of the faith that Sara has had all throughout Baby Isaac's illness. She has had a greater faith in God than I will ever imagine.

 

When we have that kind of faith good things happen. Mary's faith in God changed the world for centuries. Sara's faith has moved a whole community to pray for one amazing little boy who got a miracle and will one day testify to the power of God's greatness.

 

If we have faith in the true meaning of Christmas we should not live Christmas just one day a year, but all year long. The power of Christmas and Christ is bigger than anything that we can ever imagine. We just have to have faith and believe.

 

 

As A Baby, Jesus Came

As a baby, Jesus came
From His home above
He left His throne, and who He was,
To teach us how to love

As a baby, Jesus came,
Wrapped in swaddling cloth;
Willingly took on humanity,
Though He was one with God

As a baby, Jesus came
To one day grow to be
The saviour of the human race,
People like you and me

As a baby, Jesus came
As God's eternal light
That will never be extinguished,
But forever shine out bright

As a baby, Jesus came
The hope of eternal life,
Reconciling us back to God,
Giving meaning to our lives

As a man, Jesus died,
His blood poured out for all,
Cleansing and forgiving us,
For to this, He was called

We thank Him that He came a babe
And grew to be a man
And for His sacrificial love,
His nailed scarred feet and hands

Through it all we can live on
With Jesus Christ our Lord
The babe that came that first Christmas
Is what we thank Him for.

© By M.S.Lowndes

 

What Christmas Is All About

Christmas will always be for us
A time to reflect on Christ,
The gift God gave to all the world
Was the gift of His life

 

 

We know Christmas is not about tinsel,
Nor fancy Christmas wreaths,
Nor is it about all the decorations
That adorns our Christmas trees

 

And it's not about Holly or Mistletoe
Hanging from our doors,
Nor is it about the gifts that are left
By the jolly Santa Claus

 

Christmas is more than all of this
And the only reason why
We celebrate Christ's birth together
And the wonder of His life

 

So remember as you celebrate,
Just what it's all about
And invite the Lord to join with you,
Instead of leaving Him out

 

For He will always be the reason
We celebrate this day,
No substitute the world may offer
Can take that meaning away.

© By M.S.Lowndes