If we're to understand Christmas, who better to ask than Jesus, who came to Earth as a baby over 2,000 years ago?
When we study Scripture, we find many verses that Jesus said about His coming, His birth, which we celebrate at Christmas.
“The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37) What is the truth? That He is the Son of God, sent to save us, give us eternal life and reunite us with God by dying on the cross for our sins and then rising again.
Jesus also said He had come “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10) and to call “sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) Who are the lost? Those who don’t know God, who don’t believe in Him. God calls on us to love Him with our entire being and to love others as we love ourselves. To receive God’s grace, His gift of eternal life, we believe in His Son and repent of our sins, asking God to forgive us. Jesus intercedes for us with God. Jesus takes our prayers and presents them to God for us. Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, God forgives us.
Jesus referred to Himself as the light of the world. "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John12:46) And "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
That light is linked to life. John said of Jesus, “In him was life, and the life was the light of people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) Jesus brings eternal life to those who believe in Him. Without that light, we would suffer in eternal darkness. If human beings are to live as God intended, they do it by being in touch with the One who is life and light to them, Jesus Christ.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the light of the world. But Christmas has a solemn side. For many people, they shun the light of Jesus. Instead of running toward Him, they close their eyes and reject the light.
Where do you fit into the picture of Christmas? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior and asked him into your heart? Or do you say that you believe, but because you’re more concerned about what people think about you than what God says, you’ve never turned to Christ? Or maybe you’ve seen and heard it all and refuse to believe.
God tells us in the Bible that if people reject Jesus, one day He will reject them—for eternity.
Jesus first came to the world as a baby, and we celebrate His arrival at Christmas. But when He comes again it will be to bring all of those who believe in Him to heaven. He will shine brightly in almighty glory and every man, woman, and child in every nation will see His marvelous light.
The messages and articles below dive deeper into the meaning of Christmas.