What does Christmas mean to you and how do you share that message?

As we enter into this time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, it is easy to get caught up in all the activities and tasks that come with the Christmas holidays. While many of us hope for a wonderful time of the year, others may ask, if we do not know when Jesus was born why even celebrate it? Yet others see it as a time to spend with friends and family to celebrate the birth of our Lord. No matter what one’s perspective may be, the important thing is that we take time to reflect on what His birth really means to all of us.

Does anyone know exactly when Jesus was born?

Yes and no. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s chosen people awaited His birth with great anticipation. However, they were told when the time would be when He would be born. It was revealed to them that it would be 483 years after the command went out from Artaxerxes to rebuild the Temple as follows: 

Nehemiah 2:5-8. “And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.”

Daniel 9:24–27. (483 year calc) “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

The day when Jesus was born, the angels filled the heavens, proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:8-20). Upon hearing the good news of the birth, they had long awaited, shepherds left their flocks to go see the perfect Lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world. Likewise, others rejoiced when they learned of His birth and saw Him with their own eyes (Luke 2:25-38). 

When the secular authorities knew the time was near and heard of His birth, they took action to kill Him. They even ordered the slaughter of innocent babies, hoping that He was one of them because they knew the importance of His birth (Matthew 2:1-18). Yet, God made provision for His escape so that His mission on this earth would not be cut short (Matthew 2:11-14). 

Matthew 2:11-14. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”

After Jesus had grown to be a man, it was His cousin, John the Baptist, that fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, to proclaim His coming as the Lord (Mark 1:1-8; Luke 2:30-80; John 1:15-34). Yet, the world rejected and despised the Lord, and crucified Him on a cross, thinking they had won (Isaiah 53). However, it was just the beginning of a 1st century message that would go viral, in today’s terms, and continues to this day (Matthew 28:16-20; Colossians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:20-23). 

He is coming again

Because of His birth and what He did upon the earth, like those who have gone before us, we too wait for His arrival when He comes back. We know by the signs that the time is near. Secular authorities do not want the story of His birth and second coming to be told, especially to children. This, despite their desire to allow innocent children to be slaughtered by the millions as happened at the time of Christ’s first arrival by Herod. They have rejected the Lord’s admonition against those who would offend these little ones (Matthew 18:1-14). 

Even so, the Lord is coming again. He is coming to establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; Revelation 19:1-20:15). His birth should remind us that we must share with the world how they may be born again into His family and have everlasting life (Galatians 3:26). It should also remind us that today is the day of salvation and now, more than ever, we must take this message to a lost and dying world (2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Titus 2:11-15).

Final Thoughts

We must share how this Babe in a manger was born so that He could later die, taking upon Himself the penalty of our sins and imperfections and nailing them to the cross (Romans 6:23; Colossians 2:6-15). At His birth, He came as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. When He comes again, it will be as the Lion of Judah to put down the evil infecting the world by those whom have rejected His love. 

I pray that as you celebrate this day, you take time to pray over the following week after Christmas about how you can begin a new year, determined and devoted to sharing the greatest message of love that has ever been told. The time is short. His coming is near. Let’s make sure that all that will hear this message are pricked in their hearts to trust in the promise that God has given us through His Son in these last days. May God bless you and keep you until we meet Him together. Merry Christmas to you all. Amen. 

All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, King James Version.