A Christmas Thought

“So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14 NKJ)

We are told that Christmas is a “magical” time of the year. It is a time of joy, a time of hope. It’s a time of forgiveness and reconciliation. Most of all, it is a time of giving. Christmas has become a symbol for all of these very noble and honorable attributes.  However, these attributes do not come naturally for man.  Since the Fall of his first parents, Adam and Eve, mankind is not capable of experiencing these attributes as God had created him to possess. Sin has corrupted these godly qualities and man can only know them from a corrupted view of them. Yet, by the grace of God these qualities can be experienced when we embrace Him who gives us the reason to rejoice, to have hope, to forgive and be reconciled, and to possess a spirit of giving that is truly unconditional and unmerited.

It is not “St. Nick” or “Santa Claus” as some would have us believe. In reality, Christmas has far deeper roots than these man-made symbols.

Christmas has its roots in the birth of a child, one that was and still is held in high esteem by many (and despised by many others).  He was born the King of Israel (Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 2:2). Yet, He wasn’t born in a palace of royalty, but rather in a stable as a servant. He was and still is the Savior of the world, the lamb slain for our sins, who also wraps all who belong to Him in His righteousness; yet, He was wrapped in swaddling cloths at His birth.

At His birth the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the long expected Messiah, was laid in a manger . . . and at His death the Savior and Great Shepherd of His sheep was laid in a grave only to rise again in three days victorious over death and is now the Giver of everlasting life to all who come to Him in true faith and in repentance of their sins.

So you see there is much to rejoice about; much to hope in; much to rest your restless soul on. For if God “did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)?

Is it any wonder that at the birth of the Incarnate God, our Savior, the Lord of Glory, “a multitude of the heavenly host” began to praise God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)!

Who else in history do you know whose birth was so momentous that it stirred up the heavenly hosts to praise God and rejoice at his birth? Jesus Christ, and Him only, did this!

Won’t you this Christmas let Jesus Christ be your song of praise, your rejoicing, and your hope and peace? Embrace Him, the greatest gift to man, with your whole heart, resting your soul in His one atoning work on the cross for your sins, and looking to Him alone who is your only hope for eternal life!