The Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is your day in a sense. I've been propagating the notion that it's not about you but Jesus. Of course, the commercialization of Christmas seems to make it all about you if you are a person who asks for gifts, manipulates to get what you want, or insist that things be done your way. Narcissistic people create a milieu where Christmas becomes all about them! That's why I dread Christmas. I prefer to worship Christ, and be with family at Christmas time without the pressure of buying or even receiving things. Personally, I don't like to get because others out there need more than I do. I get my blessings all the year around, and at Christmas, all I want is love!

However, Christmas is partially about us!  It is the day set aside to celebrate the birth of our Savior, if he is indeed our Savior. Because Jesus was born, his death is what is redeeming. The birth of Jesus is a celebration of our hope for without Jesus there is no hope. "Hope" was born that day a couple of thousand years ago! Christ's birth was the presentation of our gift!

Actually, "hope" was the wrapping on the gift. Faith was the actual gift! 

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...

Ironically, I have said that it is selfish to ask for gifts. However, faith is held in the hands of the Savio; it is yours but you must ask for, and then accept it. He stands there and knocks, but you must answer:

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

The gift arrives at your door by a special Delivery Man. He doesn't leave the gift at the door and hope that you find it. He knocks, you open, then he bestows the gift upon you. This time "selfish you" either grabs the gift of faith, or rejects it, not recognizing the value of it. Oddly enough, the gift Jesus gives to you is to save your own "god of self" from eternal destruction!  In this one case, it is okay to be selfish; take the gift and run, or actually walk the path.

It turns out that Christmas is the birthday of God Himself, but it is also your day. As we celebrate God's birth as a Man, we celebrate a wedding. When the "bridegroom" was born, the Church became betrothed. We are the bride of Jesus and he the groom! His life was the engagement period, preparing the wedding to the Church. Jesus's death on the cross was the actual wedding night, then at his ascension, the wedding party began as he was raised high. The marriage continued on when those who accepted the gift of faith, live with fidelity as his bride. Jesus is still with us in marriage as his Ghost remains with us.

Hence, Jesus's birthday is honoring our marriage to him. His birthday presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were our joint wedding gifts: the gold represents his kingdom - the marriage institution, the incense is us living with him, and the myrrh is our comfort from suffering and being with him unto death.

Thus, let's celebrate appropriately. Let's celebrate his birth as the time we were born-again - betrothed on that day to Jesus. That way Christmas is about Jesus and us - together!