Merry Christmas Eve! I've decided not to do a Christmas Day post, as most people are hopefully spending time with friends and family, but I wrote this post for Christmas Eve and scheduled it to release for you all to read! <3 Now I'm not going to talk about Christmas from an outside or secular view, and say that it's all about spending time with those you love and the spirit of giving, although those are a part of Christmas. But have you ever wondered where Christmas comes from? Maybe you've heard snippets of baby Jesus in a manger, or the wise men coming with gifts to present to the Child, and though those are all pieces of the Christmas Story, I think the real meaning of Christmas is this: hope. That's all. Hope. And I think the reason that's the meaning of Christmas is because the birth of Jesus was special because, well, it's Jesus! But I think the story of His birth is meant to give us all hope. Think about it; if we had this story written down about a very special teacher or evangelist being born in humble circumstances, what's so life-altering about that? Why would a holiday be made out of that hundreds of years later? That's why Christmas is unique. I mean, how much for obvious can it get, Christ -mas? So Christmas was meant to give us hope for our future. Without the birth of our Savior, we would all be hopelessly lost in our own sinfulness.
That's the meaning of Christmas.
In the gospel of Luke (2:25), a man is mentioned because of his lifelong hope of seeing the Savior with his own eyes. Simeon was an old man, and one thing he wanted to see before he died was the little Christ child. Well, an angel appeared to him and told him his prayer would be answered. Simeon was able to see the Messiah, the one who gave us hope for the future of mankind. Simeon knew what true hope was.
So, I ask this holiday, among all the hustle and bustle of last minute shopping, preparation and giving and getting, remember why we celebrate. Why it's so important, and who is so important.
To read the entire Christmas story yourself, I'm attaching the account from the gospel of Luke below:
THE BIRTH OF JESUS (1) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (2) (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) (3) And everyone went to their own town to register. (4) So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. (5) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (13) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (16) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful holiday with friends and family!
What are some of your family's traditions? What is your favorite part of Christmas?
“And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow