Its that time of year! We are in the thick of the holiday season and December 25 is right around the corner. So get your ornaments ready and turn on your favorite Christmas movie! Or perhaps you were one of the zealots who turned on Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” whilst decorating your tree around 8:30pm on October 31. Although, however you prepare, we all have our holiday routines, and we all have certain expectations – an annual rhythm that we live by.
Every year the lights come out. Every year the stores are packed. Every year the calendars are filled to the brim. Starbucks reveals the new decorative cup. The Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes hit the shelves. Cards are prepared. Amazon boxes daily hit the front porch. Presents are wrapped. The list could go on! But, every December, the grind of the holiday season reaches its culmination around the planning and pageantry of Christmas. It can all be head-spinning and, sadly, it can all feel as if we’re forgetting something important.
We need reminders that Jesus is the reason for the season. And this is not cliché, for without Christ, there would be no Christ-mas. We celebrate what God has done.
God had his own plans and design for the first Christmas. Needless to say, it looked very different than what we regularly experience. There were no lights, no malls, and no grandeur – only a young, and very pregnant, couple looking for rest and shelter in a bustling Bethlehem. And while the virgin Mary was inching closer and closer to a lowly manger, in God’s good timing, the world was finally prepared for the main attraction to be unveiled. The Lord was arriving! The Creator of the heavens and the earth was making His way to dwell among us – born in the likeness of men. Yet, Christ’s birth, while glorious and miraculous, was not the finish line. The Messiah had an agenda to keep.
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, ESV)
However, Jesus didn’t arrive to inspire a holiday. Christ came as the Light of the World…to save a people groaning in darkness. Jesus Christ came to do what no one else in the universe could accomplish – to reconcile sinful men with a holy and righteous God. Only a sinless Savior could complete such a noble task, and this worthy One came to bring sight where there was blindness, peace where there was enmity, and life where there was death. Jesus came to redeem a people for Himself and bear the sins of the world upon His perfect back (Isaiah 53:4-5). And it all happened according to plan – by design.
Charles Wesley and George Whitefield say it well in the timeless hymn:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
The anthem goes on to proclaim:
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
King Jesus’ main objective was to glorify the Father by sacrificially laying His glory aside (Philippians 2:7). There were no trumpets or gilded thrones in light of the Son’s arrival – no parades or crowds – only a modest manger. No news coverage. No viral social media posts. In fact, in the world’s eyes the birth of Christ was remarkably unremarkable. However, while many on earth took no notice of the spectacular arrival of the Messiah, make no mistake: the heavens were shining, and the angels were singing.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:14-15, ESV)
What a sight that must have been! Although, no one sat complacent in light of the beauty of the angels. Their beauty wasn’t the main attraction. No one left satisfied because of the incredible worship music. The music wasn’t the star of the show. The heavenly hosts were actually playing the role of worship leaders – leading people not to themselves, but to the worthy One who would singlehandedly change the world.
Do we follow suit? During the Christmas season, do our attitudes and actions lead others to go and see the main attraction? Does your life point those in darkness to the Light?
You see, the reason we celebrate Christmas is because we were rotting in sin, but God did something about it. The Lord didn’t let us drown but He acted as our ultimate lifeguard. Jesus was provided as a refuge from the judgment of God. By His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, Christ – who knew no sin – willingly became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God.
So, when you see the beautiful lights during the Christmas season: praise the name of Jesus. When you gather with friends and family: point others to the face of Jesus. And when you sit before the Christmas tree to exchange gifts with the ones we love, remember the ultimate gift of God in Christ and glorify the name of Jesus.
“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:49)