It is Christmas in America. Decorations are everywhere, and people are buying and spending. Occasionally, someone will ask: “If an alien came to earth today what would he think of this?” That’s a fun question. A better might be: “How would you explain this to an alien?” An even better question would ask: “How do you explain Christmas to those who have never heard?”
Though we have Christmas everywhere, we live in a society that does not know the true message of Christmas.
How would you explain it to someone without the knowledge of Scripture?
Here is my answer.
First, Christmas is the result of God making Himself known to the people He created. Nothing tells us who God is like the person of Jesus. Jesus was completely God and completely man; He was both divine and human. By coming to earth, the second person of the trinity revealed God to us. It is God’s way of showing who He is and how we can understand Him.
Second, Christmas is God’s way of rescuing His people. We are sinners by nature and sinners by choice. God sent His Son to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He came to redeem a broken world.
Third, Christmas is God’s way of showing us we have hope. Of course, the hope is in Him not in ourselves.
Finally, I would explain Christmas by the words of Matthew. “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’–which means, ‘God with us'” (Matthew 1: 22-23).
I believe the most adequate way to describe Christmas is “God with us.” Christmas describes what God did to makes Himself known, redeem us, give us hope, and simply to be with us.
God is not “out there somewhere” He is here with us, and He will never forsake us. We can depend on Him.
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One Response
Christmas is a wonderful look at the many members of the Bride of Christ fulfilling their function. Consider the shepherds of the field who were messengers of the “Good News” by way of the Messengers of God. Consider the Wise Men bringing gifts also substantiating the announcement from the heavens to earth of the arrival as a human: the King of kings and Lord of lords. Consider the obedience of Joseph as a provider/protector, Mary as nurturer, Cousin Elizabeth’s words while both were pregnant, Jesus’ cousin John preparing the hearts of the people. It took a team effort to bring us the message. What has changed? Thus Romans 12: 5-6 etc, has always been in God’s Plan for His People. The Plan: get the message out, teach by example, support one another in the Body/Bride, for protection, for the Glory of God in Christ Jesus, Fully God who became fully man for a season. We call His arrival to that station of Wonderment: Christmas.
Lets not forget your instructions Dr. Bailey in telling others the reason for Christmas and lets not forget “Our Reasonable Service.”
Blessings!