For many people, it is difficult to imagine Christmas without a whirlwind of giving and receiving presents. Yet millions who are delighted to accept gifts, large or small, refuse to accept the greatest gift ever offered – and one that can be theirs at any time of the year. Here it is: ‘The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 6:23).
In December 2005, BBC Radio 4′s programme Sunday ran a ‘Reduced Nativity Competition’ in which listeners were invited to see who could best tell the Christmas story in thirty seconds. But the Bible answers the question in less than three seconds: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’. To grasp the true meaning of Christmas we need to see beyond the tinsel and the trimmings, the parties and the presents, the food and the fun. We need to fix our minds on the fact that Jesus did not come into the world as a diplomat, a politician, an economist, a psychologist or a scientist, but as a Saviour. He came to solve our greatest problem and to bring us into a living relationship with God that will transform our lives here and now and enrich them in heaven for ever.
Great synopsis of why Jesus came. My two favorite “christmas verses” are 1 Tim. 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” and John 17:1-3 “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
I love being reminded of the wretchedness and darkness of our sin around Christmas time. Thanks for great reminder.