Christmas is the most wonderful times of the year. For many, there are parties, decorated homes, fond traditions to celebrate, family dinners and carefully selected gifts to exchange. However, sometimes we get lost in the season and forget the reason we celebrate.“The true meaning of Christmas is love. God so loved us that He provided to us the only Way—for us to spend eternity with Him.
“Barbara Jacoby
Most people can tell you the origins of Christmas—that it a remembrance of the birth of Christ. As written in the scriptures:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” –Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
The Old Testament is full of prophecies, including this one from Isaiah 9. When Isaiah described His coming, he described His coming as an infant. There are many other verses in the Bible about the coming of the Messiah as shared here:
- For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6
- For 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
- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14
- Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ~ James 1:17 The real Christmas story is the story of God’s becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love itself (1 John 4:8). Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshiping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.
The true meaning of Christmas is love. God so loved us that He provided to us the only Way—for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
So as we once again celebrate Christmas, it is my greatest hope that we will all take the time to stop and reflect on its true meaning and share that message with each other throughout the year.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.