In certain respects, Christmas is the beginning of the Gospel story, which reaches its climax on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. There are many passages of Scripture associated with the birth of Jesus. There are Old Testament prophecies and epistle readings. And of course, there are the Gospel accounts from Matthew, Luke, and John. Each of these Gospels has its own beauty and meaning. We might say that Matthew 1-2 focuses on Joseph's perspective, that Luke 1-2 reflects the point of view of the Virgin Mary, and that John 1 emphasizes the timeless theological meaning.
All these Scriptures complement one another, and the Gospels, in particular, provide believers with the truth we need for meditating on the significance of Christ's Birth. Many of us recall lovely childhood Nativity pageants, but adults need to move beyond that level. The Scriptures point us to deeper nourishment for the heart, mind, and soul. Scripture teaches us the truth that Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, "came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man" for us and for our salvation (Nicene Creed).
In other words, Scripture teaches us that Christmas is about more than a family festival or the birthday of a great man; it is about our eternal salvation. Faith in Christ our Savior is where we need to focus our attention. Of course, we should have faith in Him every day, but we need a special time of emphasis on His Incarnation. We need more than a few moments on Christmas Eve, and church tradition suggests at least for twelve days. Meditating on the meaning of Jesus' Birth at this time can help us better appreciate the entire Gospel message as we move through the church year.
Prayers and wishes for a blessed and meaningful Christmas!
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