It’s the Christmas Season! Lights on the houses. Trees are going up. Manger scenes, cookies, gingerbread houses, families, fun… And Christmas songs are playing everywhere: the malls, the markets, and throughout our homes! Whether people notice it or not, Christmas proves that God was in control of human history. Christmas makes us realize that history is HIS STORY. God interrupted the flow of events with a birth, the birth of a child, and not a normal birth, not an ordinary birth, but a miraculous birth of a baby. In the days of so many “why” questions, I wanted to look at three important ones.
Why did Jesus Christ come to earth? Why is a celebration of His birth so important?
The first answer is that Jesus was born to seek & save the lost! Luke 19:10 says, “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.”
Sin leaves us hopeless and destroys us from the inside out. But everything changes when we invite Jesus into our lives. If you want a merry Christmas this year, make more about giving than receiving. Help someone. Reach out! Make it more about His presence in your life than the presents sitting around the tree! Often, the most significant moments of the holidays aren’t the ones we build up in our minds but rather the in-between moments!
The second reason Jesus came to earth is to secure our friendship with our heavenly father. Everyone living apart from God today is an enemy of God! Imagine that, being an enemy of God! At war with Him. The birth of Jesus was ultimately for the death of Jesus! Jesus was born to die so that we might live! And so that we would enjoy friendship with God. You may respect and revere God, and you should! But He wants to enter into a friendship with you. He is a true friend… Think of true friendship… One you are truthful with, one you open your heart to, one who tells you the truth and is there for you through thick and thin… God is that perfect friend to you and me! God wants to be at peace with you! But before you enjoy the peace of God, you must surrender to the God of peace.
Isaiah 9:6–7 states, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace. There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this!”
Finally, the third reason why we celebrate Jesus and why His birth is so important. Jesus was born to settle our worried lives. What is the meaning of life? How do we experience life to the fullest? Why does science try to add years to our lives? Many have attempted to answer these questions, but the answer is simple – Jesus! Only Jesus can add years to your life, and the fullness of life is found through a relationship with Him. Jesus is the savior, our savior! A savior is one who rescues, redeems, preserves and protects. God wants to rescue all of us from a meaningless existence! He wants to rescue us from mediocrity and misery. That’s why Jesus came into the world, to save us from our sins, and with that, we begin to savor life and understand its value. We can enjoy the virtues of life. We can begin to value relationships. Soon, you will open many wonderful gifts and goods, but today, God has gifted you the best gift: His Son, the Savior.
There is something great, something extraordinary about the Christmas season: a tendency toward peace, joy, and happiness. It’s a time of fun, a lifting of our spirits! There is a thrill of hope in the air! Just like the song…And for good reason! Jesus is born, and with that, we have a savior! Jesus is the reason for the season.
