Many people think of Christmas as only a time of family, Santa Claus, presents, Christmas trees, and lights.  These are not bad things, but Jesus-followers need to remember why we really celebrate this time of year.  It’s the coming of our Savior!

I know that many criticize Christians for celebrating on December 25th.  This is probably not the actual date of Jesus’ birth, and it was the date of a pagan holiday.  But does it really matter? The point is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, not that He was born on that specific day.  We could just as easily celebrate in the middle of summer.  It makes perfect sense to me to celebrate on the same date as an already established holiday.  If everyone else is celebrating something, why not have the Christian celebration at the same time?  It might have helped believers avoid pagan practices.

So, back on topic.  The reason believers celebrate Christmas is to commemorate Jesus’ birth.  But it really goes beyond that.  To know why we celebrate Christ’s coming, we need to understand why He had to come in the first place.  In order to understand that, we must go back to the beginning.  Romans 5.12 says:”Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”  Adam was the man by whom sin first came into the world.  If Adam hadn’t introduced sin and death to the world, we wouldn’t need a Savior. 

 “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” – Romans 5.17-19
 

Adam’s sin brought punishment to everyone because we all sin, too.  But Jesus came and was obedient to God’s will.  Through Jesus’ death and resurrection we all have the chance to be reconciled with God.

It is so important to not only know that Jesus came, but also WHY He came.  The Gospel is presented for the very first time in Genesis 3.15:  “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall [crush] you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”  This is God speaking to Satan after Adam and Eve sinned.  He told them that things were going to be difficult, but that there was hope in the future.  Just telling people that Jesus died for their sin isn’t enough if the person doesn’t know what sin is, or doesn’t see him or herself as a sinner.  We have to start at the beginning of the story.

Enjoy the presents, lights, decorations and even Santa Claus; but never forget the REAL reason we celebrate.  Jesus Christ, or Lord and Savior!

And don’t forget to tell the story from the beginning!



*All verses from NASB.