I thought I’d put out a short blog (and podcast episode) about the true meaning of Christmas. This is a bit of an expansion from one of The Up Daily Devotionals that came out recently. So hey, if you don’t know what that is, or what to learn more or subscribe, head over to TheUpDevo.com and get my free one-minute devotional five days a week.
Okay, back to Christmas.
At this time of year, we often hear people talking about “the true meaning of Christmas.” I’m glad about that. We need to focus on what and Who matters most.
However, be careful. There are competing definitions of “the true meaning of Christmas.”
For example, I’ve heard it said that the true meaning of Christmas is that it’s a celebration of love. Well, God coming to us in Christ is certainly a loving act. But simply saying it’s “a celebration of love” without explaining the connection with the life and mission of Jesus is misleading.
I’ve also heard it said that the true meaning of Christmas is that it’s all about family. This person made this statement because they liked the picture of a family in nativity scenes. Plus, many families tend to gather at Christmas. So, isn’t that it? But again, this is misleading.
We need to be wise and discerning. The event we are celebrating is rooted in the biblical text and what it says about the reason Jesus came.
Here’s an example. In Matthew 1:20-21 an angel spoke to Joseph, saying: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
This states very clearly that one of the reasons Jesus came was to “save his people from their sins.”
This isn’t the only statement like this, of course. He came to give abundant life (John 10:10), to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), as Messiah, Saviour and Lord (Luke 2:11) and to bring everlasting peace (Luke 2:14). When you look at the wider work and mission of Jesus he is at the heart of the renewal and renovation of all things—not only people individually, but of the world generally.
The point is this. When we talk about—or simply ponder—the true meaning of Christmas, let’s ground ourselves in what the biblical text actually says.
Several years ago, there was an ad in the New York Times which said: “The meaning of Christmas is that love will triumph and that we will be able to put together a world of unity and peace.” Did you notice? It said that “we” can put a together a world of unity and peace. But nothing could be further from the truth. “We” keep messing up! We desperately need help from an outside source.
Again, when we talk about—or simply ponder—the true meaning of Christmas, let’s ground ourselves in what the biblical text actually says. God’s Word is always wiser than whatever people are peddling as second best.
Tony Campolo recalls a story about a time when someone stole the baby Jesus from a nativity scene outside city hall. They put an ad in the paper which said: “We have lost Jesus and would like him back where he belongs.”[i]
I wasn’t there so I can’t confirm it. But if true, it’s an extremely poignant observation about how we often celebrate (or mis-celebrate) Christmas. We have lost Jesus and would like him back where he belongs. It’s true for me. How about you?
Jesus is God come to us in human form. It is a divine rescue mission. Not only should this blow our socks off, but it should revolutionize our hearts. A church father named Methodius of Olympia prayed: “You who built the bridge between heaven and earth, do you come to me?”[ii]
The answer—surprisingly, amazingly, joyfully—is Yes.
The angel said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
[i] Tony Campolo, Stories That Feed Your Soul (California: Regal Light, 2010), 159.
[ii] Robert Elmer, ed., Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church (Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2022), 41.
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