The true meaning of Christmas
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Editor,
Christmas day approaches. Our thoughts linger over the true meaning of this staggering event, which brought a multitude of angels out of heaven; sleepy, frightened shepherds left their flocks in the field and astrologers, following a star, began their journey from the east. More astounding than angels, shepherds and wise men is the baby in the manger. “Though he was God, he did not think equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; and took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross,” Philippians 2:6-8, NLT. These and other Biblical words declare forever that God became a human baby in the manger at Bethlehem.
Think of it: the creator of all the universe comes to us out of his creative infinity and eternal invisibility, in human form in the manger, at the carpenter’s bench and at Calvary. Now he looks at us through human eyes; he welcomes us with outstretched human arms; he empathizes with us with human emotions. This is the good news to us this Christmas. God comes to us in Jesus. Before Bethlehem, God is totally distant, scarcely comprehensible in his majesty and infinity. But in Jesus I see Him; I recognize Him; I can understand Him; even though I still fear Him, I like him; I love Him; I can have Him in my life now and forever. “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become the children of God,” John 1:10-12 NLT. “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them,” 2 Corinthians 5:19a NLT.
This is the true meaning of Christmas. Let’s celebrate.
Harvey A. Town
Polson
