What Christmas Really Is

I wanted to be sure to take time this season to write a post about what Christmas really is.  I think everyone knows that it's not all about Christmas and presents and trees and tinsel and lights and silver and gold.  Or red and green.  But what is it about?

Now, that's a question that a lot of people have a lot of different answers to.  Some people say it's about generosity and doing good deeds towards others.  Other people think it's all about family togetherness.  Still others just like the way the happy holiday season makes them feel.  I know I have been prey to these mindsets sometimes.

For me, though, and for Christians around the world, Christmas isn't about the superficial, commercialized stuff, but it's also not about feeling good or even being nice to others.  For me, Christmas is about just one thing: Jesus Christ.

More than 2000 years ago, a baby was born in a stable in Bethlehem.  And he wasn't just a baby; He was the living Son of God.  And he came not only to be born, but to live a perfect life and to die for the sins of the world.

He came to die.


That's a big thought.  The reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago was because my sin, and yours, and the whole world's grieved God and caused us all to deserve His eternal wrath and judgment.  But that's not the end of the story!  God loved us so very much that He sent Jesus to be born as a baby and to grow up to die for us and appease God's wrath.  Because of the fact that Jesus died for our sins, we no longer have to bear God's wrath.  Jesus bore all of God's wrath in our place.  So instead of wrath, we get eternal life and blessing and love...and adoption into God's family as His children.  That's amazing, and that's why Christmas is so great.

Bethlehem points to Calvary.

Christmas is about Jesus, and not only about his birth, but about why He was born and what He did on the cross in our place.  Because of Jesus' sacrifice for us, we can have true and lasting satisfaction and peace.  As I was reading in Luke 2, I noticed this part specifically:

Glory to God in the highest,
        and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
- Luke 2:14

In my ESV Study Bible, the note said something about the fact that the peace on earth that the angels proclaim in this passage is the gospel: that Jesus came to bring peace through His blood.  Because of Jesus' death, we can have peace in this season and always, and we can glorify God just as the angels did for all that He has done for us.  I'm so glad that God revealed this to me, because before, I had always thought of "peace on earth" as a nice, happy phrase you say at Christmastime.  But it's so much more than that.

Peace on earth means the gospel.

And what's amazing is that when Jesus died on the cross, he didn't stay in the grave.  He rose from the dead, and now he is seated at the right hand of God in Heaven.  And he's interceding for us before the Father!  Isn't that amazing?

So, this Christmas, will you join me in remembering what it really is?  Let's not buy into the lie that Christmas is just about presents or good feelings.  It's about a perfect, crucified, and risen Savior - Jesus Christ!

I hope you all have a great holiday tomorrow celebrating the birth of our Savior!