Why Christmas?

Traditionally, Christmas Day is the 25th of December. Christians around the world celebrate this day as the birth of Jesus Christ. The Bible gives us the conception and birth of Jesus as follows:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, 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” (Matthew 1:18-21).  

Jesus did not have a human father. He was conceived in a miraculous manner. “for that which was conceived in [Mary] is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).  The name Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation” or “Jehovah the Savior.” And as noted in the text: “for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The birth of Jesus was predicted by the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before it occurred, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).  Note: “a child is born,” speaks of Jesus’ humanity. “A son is given,” speaks of His deity.

“Joy to the world the Lord has come

Let earth receive her King”

The advent of the Lord Jesus Christ which we celebrate at Christmas reveals that God the Father can only be known through Christ who is the true God and eternal life. We must therefore understand that Jesus is God and only in Him we can have eternal life.

First John 5:20 tells us, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

To know that the Son of God has come, points us back to the birth of Jesus, and the fact that He is eternal life. He declared himself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Life here means eternal life.

Christians celebrate Christmas, and rejoice that Christ was God’s greatest Gift to mankind. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus is the only Redeemer of mankind. 

By angelic announcement Jesus’ birth was told to shepherds as they watched over their flock during the night. The Scripture says, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Fort unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:9-11).

“An angel of the Lord came to the shepherds, and a bright, glorious light shone all around  them.” Writes William MacDonald. “As they recoiled in terror, the angel comforted them and broke the news. It was good tidings of great joy for all the people. That very day, in nearby Bethlehem, a Baby was born. This Baby was a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! Here we have a theology in miniature. First, He is a Savior, which is expressed in His name, Jesus. Then He is Christ, the Anointed of God, the Messiah of Israel. Finally, He is the Lord. God manifest in the flesh.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, p.1374). 

Why Christmas? The Baby whose birth we celebrate is “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).This manifestation is in the Person of God’s Son who came into the world as a newborn Baby named Jesus.

After Jesus was born, wise men from the east went to visit Him. “And behold the star that they had seen when it rose in the east went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9,11).

Gold symbolizes Jesus was born a King. Frankincense means Jesus’ sinless deity. And myrrh is a symbol of His going to the Cross to die for the sins of mankind.

Celebrating Christmas only as a time of fun, eating, drinking, and exchanging gifts, means missing the real true meaning of this holy season. Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is a call for Christians to worship the only true and living God who Christ represented at His birth.