11 December 2020

The Meaning of Christmas

Most people can tell you the origin of Christmas—that it’s a remembrance of the birth of Christ. Why do we celebrate this occasion—what is its true meaning?

The true meaning of Christmas is love.

John 3:16–17 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved …

Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Saviour! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love itself.

1 John 4:8 (ESV) “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

The true meaning of Christmas is love. God loved His own and provided a way—the Way—for us to spend eternity with Him.

Romans 5:8 (ESV) “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Galatians 4:4 (NASB95) “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law”

When we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating the moment in history when prophecy was fulfilled. God came to be with us.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” -

When Jesus came, he left us with the gift of salvation. His birth is significant because of His death. It was the beginning of God’s redemptive plan for us.

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus gives meaning to Christmas. Jesus who was God in flesh, perfect, pure, holy, and who died on the cross and rose from the dead, is the one who gives the true meaning to Christmas