Every year, as Dec. 25 approaches, the world seems to transform. Cities light up with twinkling decorations, neighborhoods hum with anticipation, and families plan their traditions with joy and warmth.
For many, it’s a season of giving, of togetherness, and of celebration. But as we wrap the presents, string the lights and prepare the feast, it’s essential to take a moment to pause and ask ourselves a simple but profound question: Why? Why do we celebrate Christmas? What lies at the heart of this beloved holiday?
————-
Christmas — the celebration of a love so divine that it broke
into our world to offer eternal life to all who believe.
————-
Christmas, of course, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet, in the flurry of festivities, it is easy to forget the sheer magnitude of that story. Over 2,000 years ago, in a small, insignificant corner of the world, a child was born in the humblest of circumstances. There was no royal fanfare, no grand procession.
His birth took place in a stable, surrounded not by kings and dignitaries, but by animals and shepherds. To an outsider, it would have seemed an ordinary – even tragic – beginning. And yet, this seemingly inconsequential event would go on to change the very course of human history.
How unlikely all of this was. The world into which Jesus was born was one of hardship and oppression. The Roman Empire ruled with an iron fist, and Bethlehem was far from the center of power. A child born in such conditions, to a young couple of no great importance, could hardly have been expected to make waves. And yet, He did.
Why? What is it about this historical figure – about Jesus – that has resonated across centuries and continents? Why do billions of people today celebrate His birth, to remember His teachings, and to seek to follow His example?
————-
The heart of Christmas lies in a simple, world-altering truth: the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to humanity.
————-
The answer lies not just in His message, but in His purpose. Christ did not come to redefine life on earth, although He did fundamentally change life for those who put their faith in Him. Christ’s coming was foretold in many places in the Old Testament, centuries before His birth. He came to take our sins onto Himself, to cleanse and justify us in order that we could spend eternity in Heaven with God. We cannot earn this through hard work or good deeds.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” His birth was the beginning of God’s greatest gift – His sacrifice of Himself to cleanse each of us of our sins, offered freely to those who believe.
In a world where might makes right, Jesus preached love, humility and mercy. In an era of division and exclusion, He called people to embrace the outcast, care for the poor and forgive their enemies. He spoke of a kingdom not built on power and wealth, but on compassion, sacrifice and faith.
The story of Christmas is a story of hope triumphing over despair, it is the story of God meeting humanity where we are.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we would make this the Christmas when we review our thinking, and our priorities, and look at our lives with an eternal perspective? In doing so we could ask ourselves, am I good enough to go to Heaven? If we do this we’d know that the answer for everybody is “No, of course not,” because the requirement for entering heaven is perfection. But as followers of Christ, we are viewed as though we are perfect, and St. Peter throws the gate wide open for us.
In celebrating Christmas, we celebrate far more than a day on the calendar. We are celebrating the hope of eternity with God and the faith that Christ alone makes it possible. And perhaps, as we carry that hope forward, we can do our part to reflect His light to a world in need of it.
This is why we celebrate Christmas, the day Christ came to earth to reveal God’s plan for our redemption.
Quotes from the Bible
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16
