Photo credit: ACTA
What does Christmas mean?
In a world where weakness is pitied, morality is what works, materialism grabs our attention, and the motive power for many is gaining just enough happiness to feel good; the story of Jesus Christ astounds with unlikely messages. For believers, it turns “strength” upside down, and causes assessment of modern thinking.
God himself steps off the multi-universe throne to inhabit a virgin’s womb, borne in a middle-eastern cow stall, with only a few witnesses; quickly travelling a great distance with his poor parents to avoid doom? The eternal Son of God took on humanity — two natures, one person; such an outrageous tale seems poorly written if it were merely a story.
The Lord Jesus Christ appears as a helpless baby; his final destination is destruction on a cross? Not a powerful metaphor for a coming King, but essential in the context and purpose of his life. He lived a perfect life of obedience because we cannot; he died as a ransom for our sins. I know it is presumptuous of me to characterize the Christmas story this way, but in the minds of many this season, passing by without concern, there is no need of absolution. The national Christmas tree at the Capitol has no ornaments about Jesus or Christmas; in some circles, He is not relevant.
Nevertheless, the baby’s birth in the tiny city of Bethlehem changed the course of world history. His life of service, humility, and righteousness was a glorious example of sacrificial love. Dismissing it as myth or impossible, is to lack the fidelity to Jesus necessary for belief in the whole Bible. Christians must face the fact that a denial of the virgin birth is a denial of Jesus as the Christ.
John Sartelle says, “In the incarnation, the creating Son came to redeem and restore His creation. His miracles were designed to prove His divine identity. With each miracle He was declaring, “So that you may know I am the eternal Son.” He made the blind to see, the paralyzed to walk, and the dead to live. His miracles also demonstrated His purpose to redeem and restore His creation. Everywhere the creator Son saw the effects of the fall on His creation, and He repaired the wounds and injuries, and pushed back the darkness.”
His entry is unconventional? His life not regal? Death at the hands of Romans tragic and untimely? Jesus came as the pure Lamb of God in order to be the sacrifice prophesied in the Old Testament, in a blatantly supernatural way. Indeed, the Christmas story is at the beginning of a long theological journey through the New Testament, leading to the passion of the cross. As unlikely as it seems, what starts on Christmas leads to Easter!
Immanuel, meaning God is one of us, was the real son of a real mother. The virgin birth is the starting point of the gospel. During this time of year, when so much of Christmas is shiny, glossy, new, liberal and modern; why not take some time to look back to historic Bethlehem, to an obscure little family ordered to return home for the census?
Incarnation is a big word, but it means that God decided to become one of his enemies, salvation coming through menial condescension; in other words, God decided to lower himself and enter into the lives of sinners, posers, liars, and the fallen human race. It seems bizarre?!
A little baby, born to walk a life of obedience toward the calling set out before him; agreeing with his Father that amazing grace would take an astounding work on the cross. Christmas is the beginning. It ends on hill with a crucifixion. That is the real meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown.
As with every birth, every gift of life, there is hope! We don’t have to rely on our own works; Jesus did the work required to stand in our place. Why must a perfect man be convicted of sin he did not commit? Why Jesus makes the exchange for our sin, becoming man in an act of love and understanding? These are mysteries as perplexing as the virgin birth in Bethlehem. These are things to ponder as you look out into the dark winter sky.
©Mark H. Pillsbury
