Christmas is Emmanuel
A cheerful, roaring fire crackles at the hearth. Aunts, uncles, and cousins arrive in their Christmas sweaters, piling out of minivans with presents under their arms. Grandma stands at the kitchen counter putting the finishing touches on her world-famous yeast rolls and pies.
The children run to the basement, laughing and playing as if they haven’t seen each other for ages, while the adults catch up on the family news. The men watch football while the ladies set the table, none too hurried or worried on this special day.
Presents are exchanged. Dessert is enjoyed. Winter gear makes its appearance as hats, mittens, and coats are donned, and everyone goes down to the park for a few sled runs. The sky grows dark as the sun sets early. Back at Grandma’s house, it’s hot chocolate and cookies for everyone. Noses and toes may be frosty, but hearts are warm and happy.
These are the memories of Christmas for me. Perhaps they are quite similar to your memories. At least, they are more alike than those we have enjoyed reading from friends around the world this December. As a child, I looked forward to this day - a day like no other in the year. I loved having my family gathered together, playing with my cousins, and eating my grandma’s home-cooked meal. I loved feeling drowsy late in the afternoon with the abundance, the richness, and the blessings of another Christmas. Perhaps these type of memories are familiar to you, too.
Only one thing is missing - Jesus.
Jesus, the Baby in the manger.
Jesus, the One who came to bring peace on earth.
Jesus, the Reason for the Season.
Why wasn’t Jesus included in our celebration? I don’t really know. We all claimed to be Christians. We prayed before our meal. We went to church on Sunday - where we could wear our new Christmas outfits. But I’m afraid our focus truly wasn’t where it should have been - on Jesus.
Perhaps your family does better. Maybe you read the Christmas story aloud together, sing Christmas hymns, or give testimonies of God’s goodness from the previous year. But if you’re honest, you impatiently hurry through that part so you can get to the “good parts” - the food and the presents.
This “Christmas Around the World” theme has really struck a chord in my heart: It’s not about our traditions and celebrations. Christmas is really about Jesus.
It’s about our God, Who created us and loves us dearly. His love is so rich and so deep that He left heaven’s glories to come to this vile, sin-filled earth. He contained His deity in the form of a tiny human being, conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin. He endured birth, something so human and low.
And this was not the birth of a King, as we would expect. There were no trumpets to herald His coming. No edicts of celebration and joy. But the birth of a child whose parents were not at home. They, too, had travelled and left their comfort zone, arriving in Bethlehem just in time for the wondrous event. No Jewish mama with a pot of chicken soup at hand was there to welcome the Christ-child. Not even a Jewish midwife. Just the stable animals and the angels, the virgin girl and her wondering husband, both in awe of God’s choice to use them in bringing the Messiah to His world.
But God saw to it that announcements were made. He sent His angels to tell the shepherds in the fields, and He sent His star to signal the wise men of the East that the Wonderful Counselor’s appearance was imminent. Don’t you sometimes wonder how the magi knew to look for such a thing? Was it Daniel that taught them the prophecies? Or Esther’s influence on King Ahasuerus that prompted those of Babylon to search the Scriptures? Whatever it was, they knew the Messiah was coming. They watched for the star. And when it appeared, they too made their pilgrimage to honor the King.
Not everyone was so happy to learn of Christ’s appearance on earth. Herod despised the thought of another King taking his place. He committed atrocities that we can’t begin to fathom out of pure jealousy. And the Pharisees, those who should have recognized His coming and purpose, rejected Him from the beginning of His ministry.
But what about you and me? Do we watch for signs of Christ in our lives? He is still working, still just as miraculous, still just as important.
“Christmas is just the beginning!” said a wise, elderly friend once. And He was right. We often celebrate as if it’s the culmination of all Christian holidays, the highlight of the year. And while it is important, it is not the whole story!
We really have no right - and no reason - to celebrate Christmas if we don’t celebrate the rest of the story: the perfect life of Jesus, His miracles and teachings, His new commandment that we love one another, and especially His death, burial, and resurrection. That really is the pinnacle. For Jesus was not born to give us an emotional, feel-good holiday. His goal was not to give us more family time. His birth did not bring peace on earth, at least immediately. In fact, it brought a lot of difficulty and trouble to many people.
But He was born to die for our sins and to raise again in victory over that sin and death.
And that’s the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus gave us peace by making a way for us to be reconciled to God. A way to have our sins forgiven. A way to secure eternity in heaven with Him.
Those other things that we all look forward to at Christmas - the family visits, the special celebrations, the decorations, and the yummy treats? They are all nice. But they can distract us from the real Reason for the holiday.
Christmas is Emmanuel - God with us - not just on a special day in December, but all of our lives through. May we remember that this year.