The Birth of Christmas
The spoils of Christmas morning lay at the feet of a shining tree as family and friends fervently chat. Hot apple pie, roasted ham, and more adorn the top of the worn, oak table. Snow softly swishes and swoops on its way to the ground as the soft melodies of Bing Crosby echo in the background. Later, everyone will gather on the couch with a hot cup of cocoa to watch Miracle on 34th Street as the fireplace snaps and crackles.
Ah, the perfect post-card Christmas.
While there is nothing wrong with presents, family, traditions, food, and décor—is that what truly makes the Christmas season special?
The obvious answer for any good Christian is no. We know that you can’t have Christmas without the birth of Christ.
But sometimes in the midst of Black Friday deals, Amazon packages, those favorite in-laws, multiple Christmas parties, holiday recitals, and more—it’s easy to lose focus.
In the coming weeks, we’ll focus in on the birth of Jesus, and all that we’ve been blessed with via that very first Christmas gift.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6
This week we’ll start with…
The Birth of a Savior
The star shone over the manger as little baby Jesus let out a muffled cry from beneath his swaddle cloth. As Mary and Joseph looked down admiringly upon their son, an angel appeared on a not-so-distant hillside with a monumental announcement for all of mankind.
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The long-awaited Messiah and Savior of the world had come to set things right between man and his Creator. Since sin entered the world with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind had cut itself off from the fullness of the presence of God.
In simple words, man had messed up. And no self-help book, no good-deed checklist could help him attain the righteousness and relationship with his Father that he’d lost. Because with a perfect God, living life “good enough” wasn’t good enough.
But thankfully, in an extravagant outpouring of love, God made a way for man to be redeemed, made pure, holy and righteous once more. As it says in John 3:16-17:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Take time today to ponder what your salvation means to you. Where were you headed before Jesus? How did life look differently?
Maybe you were saved as a young kid, but how has a relationship with God impacted and changed your life? How has he guided and blessed you?
What does the birth of a Savior mean to you?