The True Meaning of Christmas

The True Meaning of Christmas

Artwork by artist Carol Moore
https://mooresartgallery.blogspot.com/

A Christian thought to ponder ...

As people flock to the stores this Christmas season, pushing, shoving, grabbing, and filling up their carts full of worldly things, I wonder how many of them stop to think about what Christmas truly means. 

Understandably, each person celebrates Christmas in their own way and for their own reasons, but for Christians, it is a day when all mankind received a gift – a gift of salvation. It is the day a Savior was born in the most humbling unadorned place - a manger in a stable. Jesus was brought into this world to fulfill God’s promise as stated in KJV Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Thus this verse testifies that God promises to redeem mankind from its fallen state, and the world's Redeemer, Jesus, will bruise the head of the serpent whose name is Satan. Although no one knows the exact birth date of Jesus, Christians began to celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25th back in the 4th century. The hope was to reform and stop the Roman pagan celebration, traditions, and worshipping of their pagan gods (The History of Christmas).

Many of the Roman traditions are still celebrated around the world, such as the Christmas tree. Not only are these traditions still celebrated, but Christmas has now turned into a secular commercial frenzy. It has become about “I want” and “I need.” We have forgotten what the true meaning of Christmas is - Love (What is the true meaning of Christmas?). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (KJV John 3:16-17). God sent his Son to save us all because He loves us all. No matter what sins we have committed, He loves us all.

Furthermore, Christmas is a day we should be thanking God for giving us such a glorious gift. We should celebrate Christmas with great joy and reverence.  It was the day that the Word became flesh. Christmas is a time of loving one another, giving to one another, and showing goodwill toward one another. All of these are characteristics that Jesus portrayed while He walked upon this earth.

Despite the many pagan origins behind many Christmas traditions and the commercialism that has enveloped the true meaning of Christmas, for many Christians, Christmas is the time to be still, stop and reflect, and thank God for His precious gift. It is a time to remember that over 2000 years ago, one night, in a little town called Bethlehem, a Savior was born in a manger within a stable, fulfilling the promise, the prophecy, and the ordained plan of God to save mankind from its fallen state. And as it states in Isaiah 9: 6, “his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Resources

Got Questions Ministries. “What is the true meaning of Christmas?” http://www.gotquestions.org/Christmas-true-meaning.html#ixzz2nF09SPjL. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.

McGowan, Andrew. “How December 25 Became Christmas.” http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/how-december-25-became-christmas/. 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.

SimpleToRemember.com - Judaism Online. “The History of Christmas.” http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.