Slideshow image

What is the meaning of Christmas? Is it found in giving? Is it in helping others? What about time with family? These are all good things, but are not what Christmas is all about. Even a birthday celebration for Jesus falls far short of the true reason for Christmas. For that manger 2000 years ago did not just hold a special baby; it held the Lord of Heaven and earth, who is alive today, and who is in complete control of everything that happens in this universe and beyond.

Yet even more incredible then the fact that Jesus was born a tiny baby, full human, yet fully God, is the fact Jesus was born as the sacrificial lamb. As lambs were slaughtered in old testament times to make atonement for the sins of the people, Jesus was born with one main purpose; to die in payment for your sin and mine. He did this so that we might have our relationship with God reconciled after we had shattered the relationship by sinning against God.

This is what Christmas is all about- that God loved us so much that he came down to earth to die in our place so that we could experience eternity with him as our loving Father. Not a far off father, but a father we can call Daddy (that is what is meant by the Hebrew term Abba, father).

I encourage all of you this Christmas to take time to be alone with Jesus, to worship him for who he is; Lord and savior, to bask in his love and the truth of his word. The song below helps me to do this each year.