Don’t worry. I’m not suggesting we leave up our Christmas decorations all year long. (Although, let’s face it. It’d make my life easier if I didn’t have to keep hauling things up and down the basement stairs. Anybody else feel that way?) But I do think that we should celebrate the reason for Christmas all year long.
Because I think we relegate Christ’s birth to November and December and don’t give it too much thought the rest of year. Now that could just be me. If so, I’ll see myself to a corner. But maybe, possibly, could others be guilty of this too?
I’ll continue just in case.
Christ’s birth carries incredible significance, which is why I think we should celebrate year-round. Because Christ came to Earth specifically to die on the cross.
Let me say this again.
Christ left heaven to come to Earth so He could die for us on the cross.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. – Matthew 1:21
Pretty significant, isn’t it?
Now I’ve heard some argue that Easter is the most important holiday because it celebrates when Jesus defeated death.
Yeah, I can buy that.
But why does that make Christmas less important? We celebrate His resurrection 365 days a year, so why not the day He was born?
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:11
Yes, I know about the Trinity and that the Lord was always there. I’m referring to when He came as man. When Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Because He did that for a very specific reason.
To save us from our sins. To make a way for us to be in heaven with Him.
He was born as a baby in a manger because He loves us. He humbled Himself because He loves us.
And He still loves us today.
I wonder what that was like, growing up knowing what He had come to do? So many of us grapple with our day-to-day lives wondering where we should be or what we should do? But Christ knew from the beginning.
I wonder what that was like, knowing He was going to die. That though He preached over and over, there would still be people who rejected Him.
I wonder what that was like, knowing their names.
And that’s why I think Christmas is so important. Because God so loved the world that He sent His Son to Earth. Because Jesus came to Earth to die on the cross for our sins. Everything He did while He was here was for us.
How easy that is to forget.
How easy it is to ignore the fact that when He preached, He wasn’t just preaching to those around Him.
He was preaching to us, too.
What am I am talking about? Go read the Gospels. Read the sermons He gave that are now written down for us to learn from. Not only does Jesus speak to us today, He was speaking to us then. He knew His words would reach through the pages of Bibles one day to touch us. To impact us.
To save us.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. – John 3:5
And because Christ lived on this Earth, we know He understands what we’ve gone through. That He’s not some distant deity on a throne. He is a man and God, and because of that, we can bring anything to Him.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:15-16
Isn’t that a comfort, knowing that He walked this Earth? Knowing He was tested and tried just as we are? Knowing that He understands our needs?
It’s amazing.
So maybe it doesn’t sound so crazy to celebrate Christmas year-round when we think of it that way. Because after all, Christmas isn’t about festive trees and wreath or a sleigh and reindeer.
It’s about Christ.
