SpOL068 – THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
December 25th may not be the actual day of Jesus birth. Some say it is more likely to have occurred in September, which would make December the time of Jesus' conception in the womb of Mary.
But the Christian celebration on December 25th is not about whether it is the actual day of Jesus’ human birth. It is about the fact that God came in the flesh.
Matthew calls the child Jesus “God with us” (Matthew 1:23 NIV).
Mark calls him the Son of God (Mark 1:1 NIV).
Luke calls him a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for Glory to the people of Israel (Luke 2:32 NIV).
John calls him the life that was the light of men (John 1:4 NIV).
Christmas is about God’s love for us:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17NIV).
And Christmas is about hope:
“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God” (John 1:9-13NIV).
This Christmas season is a wonderful time for all of us to ask ourselves what the birth of Jesus Christ means to us.
Have a wonderfully meaningful Christmas!
I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of life.
Copyright 2007 Worldwide Church of God