So, what is Christmas all about?

Christmas is a holiday with a questionable past, but it is rich with meaning for those who wish to find it.  While it is unlikely that Jesus was born on December 25, this is the day that was set aside many centuries ago to celebrate and remember His birth; and an amazing birth it was.

Yet to fully understand the birth of Christ, I think it’s important to begin the story after the resurrection, just before the ascension, in fact…

 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Luke 24:45-49

Understanding this amazing story begins with our minds being opened so that we can understand the Scriptures, for it is the Old Testament Scriptures that told of the coming of the Christ.  They tell of His arrival, and of His purpose.  They tell of the manner and reason for His death, the forgiveness of sin and reestablishment of fellowship between God and Man, and they tell of our mission on this earth which is to take the Good News to all men.

Christmas, then, is the beginning of the last chapter in a story that had been building since the very beginning of time; a story that began even before the earth was created, as we will see in the days ahead.

As we celebrate this season, as we make preparations and gather family together and enjoy ourselves, it is incumbent upon us to bear in mind that the season is not merely about the birth of a baby, but that it is about the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to His people from the very beginning of time, up to and including this very day. The truth of Christmas is all about the eternal purposes of God Himself.  Christmas, therefore, should be much more than celebrating and fun, it should be a time when we redouble our efforts to serve His purpose in our lives.