3 Christmas Messages for Us

In every event or particular moment, there are always messages and lessons we can take away. Agree? The same is true of one important event we celebrate every year, namely Christmas. This is a great moment for Christians around the world. Church-es are busy preparing Christmas events. Shopping centers begin to fill with Christmas ornaments. It seems that Christmas is like a beautiful season at the end of the year. 

But what actually happened behind Christmas? Yes, of course, Christmas is the day of the birth of the Lord Jesus, our Savior. In your opinion, what is the message of the Lord Jesus' birth? What message does God want to convey to us through Christmas? 

1. Every Time We Sin, There Is a Price to Be Paid

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

At first glance, when we read this verse, we may feel that it is less fitting to discuss on Christmas Day. It seems more suitable to talk about at Easter. Christmas should be filled with things full of joy and euphoria, not things that talk about sin or death like this. Is that really so?

When I was still in high school, I attended a Christmas celebration with the theme, “Black Christmas.” The theme was so interesting that it made me wonder, “Why is it called Black Christmas?” I was more familiar with the phrase “White Christmas,” like one of the Christmas songs. 

After listening to the sermon, I finally understood. The pastor explained that today Christmas would mean nothing if Jesus had never died on the cross. Would we still celebrate Christmas if Jesus did not die for mankind? Perhaps His birth would not be much different from the birth of other human beings. There would be nothing special. 

The Reason for Jesus' Birth

So, the reason Jesus was born into the world was to die in place of our sin. Why? Because the wages of sin is death. Death is the price we must pay every time we sin. Yet God, full of grace, that sinless Son of Man, took our place by dying on the cross. 

Christmas, the birth of Jesus that we celebrate, is the result of the sin we committed. If someone is willing to take the punishment for our sin, what would our lives be like? Would we still go on playing with sin? Would we forget the kindness that person has shown us? Today, every sin we commit still has its price and its consequences. We can lose the salvation we have already received. 

Christmas gives us a very precious message: the Father has given Something so precious that nothing could pay for it, namely Jesus. He is the King, the Owner of heaven and the whole universe, who humbled Himself to become human, even to die for His creation. This is proof that the Father has given the very best. 

Then how should we live? Let us also give our lives to God. That is the best offering and what God desires from us. 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God: this is your true worship. – Romans 12:1

2. We Are Very Precious and God Loves Us Deeply

For example, someone we love very much is sentenced to death. Would we be willing to die for that person? If we were faced with that situation, of course it would be a very difficult choice. We love that person, but surely we also love ourselves. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life – John 3:16

Of course this verse is already familiar to us. God loves us so much. Even, the Father was willing to let Jesus come into the world to die, so that we might have eternal life. 

Lately, have you felt as though God is not there? Do you feel unloved by God because of all the problems you are facing? Remember, God loves you deeply, even from thousands of years ago.

Christmas gives us a very clear affirmation and message, namely that we are very precious in His eyes. And He loves us. Then how should we live? We ought to live loving God and others with the love of Christ. 

Jesus answered him: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:37-39

3. Showing That We Can Live Holy and Obedient Lives

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every way has been tempted as we are, yet did not sin. – Hebrews 4:15

Jesus is 100% God. Yet He is also 100% human. In that verse it is said that He is God who can feel whatever we feel. Jesus was once sad, once wept, once was unrecognized, once was angry, once was afraid, and so on. He has felt what we feel as human beings. He also experienced temptation, but He did not sin. He triumphed over sin. 

Jesus gives an example and assurance that we can live holy and righteous lives. Christmas gives us a message that we too can live holy lives, righteously, obediently, and in accordance with God's will. Not because of our own greatness, but because God Himself enables us. 

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? – 1 John 5:4-5

The birth of the Lord Jesus, or Christmas, is a moment full of deep messages. Christmas is not merely a time for revelry. There is one person to whom we need to give our full attention, namely the Lord Jesus.

Christmas exists because Jesus took our place to pay the price for our sins. He knew that we were unable to save ourselves. This is also proof that God loves us deeply. His life example gives us confidence, that we can live holy, obedient, righteous lives, and in accordance with God's will. Let us become new people on this special day. Let us give our best to God, our Savior.

To God be the glory. 

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