The Real Meaning of Christmas

If I were to turn up to some one’s birthday party, eat and drink, enjoy the celebrations and give gifts to everyone but the birthday recipient, and then leave without even acknowledging the person, I would be rightly called ungrateful.

Many of you reading this will be celebrating a birthday this year, but asking the birthday recipient to remain quiet and out of the way whilst you have a good time.

To do such a thing is no small matter, but eternal in its ramifications.

Let me introduce you to the Christ of Christmas:

He was born – It was a humble birth - Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Some 2,000 years ago He was born in a small unknown town called Bethlehem (which means House of Bread). His humble birth split history as we know it, dividing the calendar into B.C. and A.D. It is the most unique event to have taken place in the history of humanity, yet it took place in the most humble of circumstances. There was no fancy hospital and medical staff on call. There was no palace, comfortable cot or cotton baby clothes. Instead, angels, stars, shepherds and all of creation came to pay homage to this new born Child.

His earthly parents, Joseph and the pregnant Mary were turned away by the already full inns and hotels. So instead, a humble manger was found for Mary to give birth to the One who would be called Emmanuel (God is with us). And there He was born, cradled in a crib besides cows, donkeys and sheep.

It was a prophesied birth - Thousands of years before, the Scriptures prophesied the coming of One who would be called the Messiah. Just before He was born, angels descended upon earth to proclaim the imminent arrival of the new born King and the fulfilment of the ancient prophecies. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14).

It was a virgin birth – His birth was unique and miraculous because it was a virgin birth. The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). His birth transcended every natural law and defied biology. It was supernatural and reveals something to us about His divine nature.

He is eternal - Whilst Jesus was born into the world 2,000 years ago, He has existed for all of eternity even before coming to this world. He was not created, nor was He born in heaven at a specific time. In fact, He is the eternal Creator of all things and all things were created through Him, by Him and for Him. He cannot cease to exist.

He is divine – At the age of 12, Jesus was teaching those who were meant to be teaching Him. As He grew in stature and entered public ministry, the world around Him began to experience and witness His divine nature.

Tell me how many people you know who can turn water into wine, walk on water, raise the dead, give sight to the blind, open the ears of the deaf, heal the sick, feed 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish and then raise Himself from the dead? Is He divine? There’s no question about it and there’s certainly no room to debate it. His attributes, behaviour, character, deeds and explanation of Himself reveal that He understood Himself as divine.

He is the Messiah – Jesus Christ simply translated means ‘Jesus the Messiah’. Christ is not His surname but His Messianic title. Jesus is the Messiah, the Deliverer, the Anointed One who was foretold thousands of years before His birth in the Old Testament. The Old Testament scriptures prophecy (foretell) the coming of the One who would be the Saviour of the world. Jesus Himself recognised and declared Himself as the Messiah.

He is the God-Man – He was fully human - When God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, He took upon Himself the veil of human flesh and all of the weaknesses of it. He felt pain, hunger, tired and thirsty. The Bible says “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

He was fully God - And yet, whilst fully human, He was also fully God. With His human flesh He had veiled His deity – not laid it aside. This is one of the most beautiful and powerful truths of the Bible. Either it was the greatest hoax or it is the greatest truth the world has ever known – that Jesus Christ really is God become man. John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) John 1:14 goes on to say “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

With an affirmative yes, the following questions give further evidence that Jesus was more than just a good man.

• Who has the power to forgive sins?
• Who has the power to give life and raise the dead?
• Who decides who goes to heaven or hell?
• Who will be the Judge on Judgement day?
• Who has the power to voluntarily lay down their life and then raise it up again?
• Who can wash away sins?

He came to die – Some people say He came to make people happy. Some say He came to teach ethical values and morals. Some say He came to show just ‘another’ way to God. The Bible says He came for a very specific reason. I think there are 7 reasons why He came to die:

1. To bring glory to God
2. To ransom sinners
3. To declare to the world the one true God
4. To give spiritual sight to the spiritually blind
5. To bring joy
6. To save from eternal condemnation and hell
7. To grant eternal life

He was crucified – The Messiah, the God-Man was crucified on a cross outside of Jerusalem’s city gates, at a place called Golgotha. He was hated, rejected and despised by those whom He came to save. The Roman Governor at that time, Pontius Pilate sent Him to the cross at the violent demand of the mobs. A mob full of ordinary people just like you and me.

However, through this horrible crucifixion on the cross, God accomplished something which was beyond us:

1. On the cross God was demonstrating His holy hatred for sin
2. On the cross God was displaying His righteousness
3. On the cross God was demonstrating His love for sinners
4. On the cross God’s demand for justice was satisfied
5. On the cross God’s wrath and anger was appeased
6. On the cross God was making a way for sinners to be reconciled to Himself

He rose from the dead – He was crucified as a common criminal and His dead body was placed inside a tomb. On the third day He rose bodily from the dead (resurrection) and left His tomb empty. Over 500 witnesses including the disciples of Jesus witnessed the resurrection appearance of Jesus. But what does this mean?

This means Jesus was who He said He was - Throughout His ministry Jesus had told His disciples that He would be crucified and that He would rise again. This would be proof of who He claimed to be. Through His resurrection, Jesus would prove that everything He said was true.

This means death is no longer to be feared – His lifeless dead body physically came back to life. He had defeated death and triumphed over the grave. The very powers of death could not hold Jesus back. The Good News (Gospel) is that Jesus rose from the dead. This gives you and me hope of life. This means whilst we may physically die here on earth, we have the promise of eternal life with Him who overcame death. Death is no longer to be feared because Jesus overcame it.

He is ascended - After rising from the dead on the third day, Jesus remained with His disciples on earth for another 40 days. During this time, He taught and spoke many things to His disciples and commissioned them to go to all the world and share this good news. After this, He ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of His heavenly Father until He comes back again. From there He now rules and reigns forevermore.

After He ascended, the Holy Spirit of God came down to continue the work on earth which Jesus had begun. The Holy Spirit would fill, assure, empower, enable followers of Christ that God was in them and with them. Whilst on earth, Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me…” (John 16:7-9)

He loves you – You are so loved by God that He came for you whilst you were a sinner. John 3:16 in the Bible is perhaps the greatest description of God’s passionate love for you. He really loves you. He loves you more than your parents, family, friends or even pets could ever love you. He doesn’t need you to be clever, rich, famous or beautiful before He can love you. He loves you whether you are rich or poor, beautiful or not so beautiful, clever or simple, loud or quiet, white or black. He loves you because He is love and gives Himself to you for your good.

His command – Having considered who Jesus was and what His mission on earth was, we can now hear what He says to all people, including you. Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). This is God’s command to all men everywhere. He is not asking you, but commanding that you lay down your hostility and rebellion and do as He says.

His promise to you – Upon obedience to the command of Jesus Christ to repent and believe in the Gospel, this is His promise to you:

Forgiveness of all your sins - Those who see the sight of their sinful, wretched and miserable condition are promised free pardon and forgiveness. He promises to forgive you of all your sins, past, present and future – no matter how wicked or evil they may be.

Eternal life with Him – His promise of eternal life is true, faithful and steadfast. He will save you from the darkness and torment of hell and grant you everlasting life and perfect joy in Him for an eternity of eternities. What greater promise is there than that? The promises of men will fail but the promises that God makes, He keeps because of who He is.

A life of the cross - However, He never promises a life of ease and comfort. It will be full of trials, troubles and tribulation. You will be misunderstood, hated and rejected for being a follower of Jesus. If the most holy and loving man to walk the earth was crucified on a cross, don’t expect to be loved.

He is coming back again – When Jesus first came to the earth 2,000 years ago, He came as the Lamb of God and suffering servant. However, when He comes back again, He will come as the Lion of Judah and the conquering King.

Jesus promised that He would come back again soon. He is coming back for His bride, the Church which is made up of all those who have truly repented of their sins and placed their faith trust in Him for salvation. He will one day return in full glory with His angels to bring mercy to those who loved Him and judgement to those who hated and rejected Him. If you are found with sin on your record, God will deal with you as a judge.

What will you do? Jesus is and was more than ordinary. In fact He was radical in every way. His preaching, His teaching, His stories, His miracles, His birth, His death, His promises, His claims, His unconditional love all cry out that we hear Him, and that we hear Him very carefully. What ever your opinion is of Him, no one can deny that a verdict must me made about Him. You cannot live your life without making a decision about Him. Every religion, philosophy or system of thought is forced to make some form of opinion about Him. His figure stands tall as the most controversial person to have walked this earth. Even now, His name stirs up emotion and debate. Articles, books, documentaries and more books continue to be produced about this one person. Where do you stand with this Jesus?

How do you celebrate Christmas? Do you celebrate Christmas with Jesus as your precious Saviour or have you like the world rejected Him? The Bible warns that if you deny Jesus, He too will deny you on the day of Judgement. Run to Him, come to Him, flee to Him. Only when you come to Christ can you truly celebrate and enjoy the real meaning of Christmas.

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