Nena Arias | December 13, 2021
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.”
(John 3:16)
The real meaning of Christmas is that God, in the person of Jesus, came to earth to redeem humanity and all that was lost with the introduction of sin, just like he promised and announced that he would send our Deliverer (Genesis 3:15).
So, for the world to merely celebrated the season of Christmas by focusing on the commercialization of musical spectaculars, gift-giving, parties, lights, decorations, music and fun, fun, fun is a travesty of the highest order. It is a disastrous mistake because the advent of Christmas is not only glorious but transcendent for all eternity. It is the essence of true life. The difference between life or death. Whoever misses out on this truth, is lost forever!
But if you ask people what Christmas means to them or what they like about it, for the most part you will hear about all the trivialities—and even if they are good and fun traditions, they are not the essence of Christmas.
Many of those traditions even contradict themselves. For instance, as it turns out, Santa Claus doesn’t visit the entire world. Many houses don’t even have chimneys. Besides, a three-hundred-pound man cannot fit in a chimney. Every culture celebrates in different ways. For sure there are foods that only appear on people’s tables once a year. There are parties, festivals and parades and gifts with special meaning. There are fairy tale stories read to the children about Santa Claus and others, many times leaving out the real story of the birth of Jesus and what it means to us. Without these things and traditions, people feel that Christmas was just not Christmas.
Because of all that has happened due to the pandemic, lockdowns and financial losses, this year’s holiday season may look quite different for many people, and they will feel sad and miss a lot of the trimmings and activities they are used to all because they are missing the true meaning of Christmas that doesn’t change from year to year. God is still the same; he hasn’t died. The awesome gift of the Savior he gave us is still perfect and changes not. We can totally enjoy the blessing of his presence with us daily if we want to. Why? Because through the essence of Christmas, God, through Jesus came to dwell in us, through us and amongst us. He hasn’t left earth, on the contrary, he is IMMANUEL, which means God with us. Matthew 1:23 “‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”
There is no greater event in history than the coming of Immanuel, God with us. Jesus came to fulfill Father God’s promise of salvation to give us for the opportunity to return to him in perfect fellowship with the removal of sin offered to “whosoever will” for a glorious “spoil proof” future in eternity with him. No other human experience can top that.
Christmas is a day of remembrance that God gave us the greatest gift of love in all the universe—his precious Son just like he promised.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)