Christmas is a special time of year for Christians. The holiday season is a time for spiritual reflection, growth, and celebration. As Christians, we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Like the bears hibernating for the winter, we take this special time of year to prepare for the next season by setting goals and building our spiritual strength. What is the meaning of Christmas? As Christians, how should we interpret the Christmas season?
Christmas in the western world is a hodgepodge of Christian and secular traditions. Interestingly, the term “Christmas” is shorthand for “Christian Mass.” The start of the Christmas season is recorded in the Bible in Luke 2:4-19…
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.”
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Jesus was born to be the sacrifice for our sins. As we inherited our original sin from Adam and Eve, God recognized the need for humankind to have a savior, or else we would perish in our sin for eternity. God sent His only son to take the burden of our sins from us on Christmas all those years ago. While being fully God and also fully man, Jesus was able to fulfill the prophecies to save us all.
The meaning of Christmas is the meaning of everlasting life: Jesus. He is the reason for the season. Christmas is a time to praise God for sending Jesus to us and take the burden of our sins so that we may have the gift of eternal life. The celebration of the Savior is the interpretation of Christmas for believers in Christ.
NuWell Christian Counseling is here to help Christians everywhere come to a deeper understanding of Christmas and their faith. The Christmas season is a time of spiritual tribulation as well as celebration, and NuWell is here to help you grow in yourself and your faith through counseling that is faithful and true.
