Sometimes Christmas can become too familiar to us. Each year we sing the carols announcing the birth of Christ. We attend the nativity plays at church and light the Advent candles. In the annual celebration, it can be easy for us to lose the wonder that characterized the people’s response to Jesus’ first coming.
If you find yourself numb to the season, you need to pause and consider the relevancy of Christmas. The news that God dwelt among humanity to go to the cross and die for our sins affects our lives today.
Not only are we reminded of the salvation we receive in Him, but we also receive hope in knowing that Jesus, the promised and prophesied Ruler of David’s throne, will return to establish His kingdom.
Just as God was working in the past, He is active in the world today, accomplishing His perfect will. Reflecting on these truths of Christmas, our perspective about our lives will begin to change.
Christmas Points Us to the Gift of Salvation
The Gospel of John tells us that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Jesus, who is God, entered the world as a baby and lived a human life. He chose to identify with humanity to save us (Hebrews 2:14).
When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to a son, he told her to name the baby “Jesus” since “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21b).
His purpose in coming was to free us from slavery to sin (Romans 6:18; 8:2). His death paid for the sins of the world so that whoever believes in His death and resurrection will receive salvation.
Anyone can receive this gift because salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you find yourself pondering the meaning of Christmas or why Christians celebrate it every year, then consider the wonderful news of the gospel message.
He died for our sins and rose to life, defeating death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). In Him, we receive eternal life (John 3:16). This is the good news that believers in Jesus celebrate on Christmas, for Jesus is the promised Messiah, “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Even believers need reminders of the great gift we received when Jesus came to earth to save us. Before knowing Jesus, we lived in darkness, dead in our sins (Matthew 4:16; Ephesians 2:1; 5:8). We were slaves to wrong desires and deeds, blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).
However, God brought us to Himself and made us alive with Christ (Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:3). Remembering our testimony of how God saved us can help us recapture the hope and wonder of Christmas.
The Message of Christmas Gives Hope to a Hurting World
Many of us can identify with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Christmas Bells,” when he wrote, “And in despair I bowed my head;/‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;/‘For hate is strong,/And mocks the song/Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’”
While Longfellow faced the difficulties of the Civil War, we can relate to his despair because of suffering in the world. We wait and long for the day when pain and sorrow will end.
The message of Christmas, though, shines light into the darkness of suffering. Jesus’ coming included saving us from our sins, which was the start of His work in redeeming all creation (Romans 8:21).
We have the promise that He will return and restore all things. As the promised King and Messiah, He will establish His kingdom and rule with righteousness and justice (Luke 1:32; Isaiah 11:3-5).
During His earthly ministry, He gave sight to the blind, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and cared for the poor (Luke 4:18; 7:22; Matthew 14:13-21). These were glimpses of His kingdom. In the future, when He returns and rules in His millennial kingdom, there will be peace and joy (Micah 4:2-4; Isaiah 61:7).
We can have hope now, knowing that the suffering, pain, and injustice we see in the world will one day cease. Like Longfellow, we can affirm, “The Wrong shall fail,/The Right prevail,/With peace on earth, good-will to men.” God will bring justice, peace, and hope.
Until we reach that day, we can take heart in Christ. He has given us new and good things for us to do now to impact the world around us (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).
Believers have the job of shining the light of Christ into the dark places around them (Matthew 5:16). Also, He can use the comfort that He gives us in our pain and suffering to bring comfort to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Christmas Reminds Us That God Is at Work
Another way that Christmas affects our life is that just as God was working in His perfect timing when He chose to send His Son into the world nearly 2,000 years ago, He is at work today.
Jesus continues to transform the world as people place their faith in Him and receive new lives. He longs for all people to come to Him and is actively drawing individuals to Himself, even though they can resist Him (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
Christ also chooses to use His followers to accomplish His will, which is why He commanded us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). We can take part in God’s mission by telling others about Jesus’ redeeming work.
When we obey the Lord’s command, we can know that He will use our testimony and gospel-centered conversations in His work of bringing more people into His kingdom.
In addition to knowing that God is at work, we can trust that His purpose will be fulfilled in His timing. Scripture tells us that “this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1:10, NLT).
Other versions use the phrase “the fullness of time” (ESV). This indicates that the Lord’s plan will be completed at the perfect moment when everything is in the right place. Since nothing can thwart His purpose, we have the assurance that God’s plan will prevail.
The Promises of Christmas and a Changed Perspective
In Luke’s gospel, he mentions how Mary treasured the events of the first Christmas in her heart (Luke 2:19). She reflected on the significance of these events and wondered what they all meant. Although she did not fully understand what God was doing, she trusted Him in awe and wonder.
Like Mary, we can treasure the promises of Christmas in our hearts. The lowly manger led to the cross and the empty tomb, which is why salvation is central to the message of Christmas.
Similarly, the prophecies about His return and kingdom are relevant, considering His identity as the Messiah and King. We can treasure these truths and promises in our hearts, looking forward to the day when all things will be restored.
The act of reflecting on the truth of God’s Word changes our perspective. Instead of getting caught up in the frantic race of life, we gain an eternal focus.
With eyes set on Christ and His promises, we begin to understand that our everyday life has meaning and affects eternity. Hopeful, productive living results from focusing on the promises of Scripture (Matthew 24:46; 2 Peter 3:11).
Why Does This Matter?
Sometimes, we may find ourselves numb to the season of Christmas. The events of the first Christmas may seem too familiar to us, resulting in a loss of hope and wonder.
When this happens, we need to remind ourselves of the significance of Jesus’ first coming to save us from our sins. The gift of grace we receive in Christ transforms our life.
Likewise, the message of Christmas gives us hope knowing that Jesus will soon return to set up His kingdom. He will reign in justice and righteousness, bringing joy and peace to all the earth. Amid the pain and suffering of the world, we can be encouraged that one day all hardship will end.
Furthermore, God is at work now in the world, transforming lives and using His followers to shine His light in a dark world.
By meditating on our salvation, Jesus’ return, and His current work in the world, our perspective changes. Treasuring the promises of Christmas, we can see that our lives have meaning and purpose in Christ.
For further reading:
What Is the Meaning of Christmas?
What Does it Mean That Jesus Is the Reason for the Season?
3 Ways to Keep Jesus at the Center of Your Christmas This Year
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Anna Ostanina
