A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Christmas Again"

"Christmas Again." These two words can be said in a variety of ways expressing a number of possible attitudes toward the Christmas celebration. To some these are words of expectation and excitement. To others they are words of apathy and anxiety. Still others speak them with disdain like the famous character Scrooge in Dicken's "A Christmas Carol." Regardless of how the words are spoken, they reveal the fact that we celebrate Christmas each year on December 25th. One may ask, why? Why is it important to repeat this celebration?

Under the Divine inspiration, three of the four gospel writers believed it crucial enough to include Christ's birth in their accounts. Luke, probably the most read account and the most detailed, took over 50 verses in two chapters to tell the story. (See Luke 1 and 2) Matthew condensed his account and gives us his account through Joseph's vantage point. He simple, begins with "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about," and in seven verses sums it all up, concluding with "When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had not union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus." (Matthew 1:18-25) John sums it all up succinctly in one powerful verse saying, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

No getting away from its importance, but that does not fully answer the yearly celebration question. There are some fundamental reasons why it is important for Christians to celebrate Christmas every year.

We learn through our stories. In much the same way that Jews celebrate Passover, retelling the story year after year, we retell this history-altering, life-changing event year after year. It is crucial that we not forgot what God has done in Christ Jesus and His coming affirms this glorious truth. God came! A Savior is given to us! The prophecies find their fulfilment in Him. "In Him was life and that life is the light of men." The celebration is a joyous retelling so that we do not forget.

The retelling reminds that we have a seeking God who still comes to us. Jesus told the Twelve before the cross that He was returning to the Father but he would not leave believers as orphans, but that He would come to them. He would send His Spirit who would abide in us and we in Him. (John 14:18) Jesus is still Immanuel, God with us. Our retelling the wondrous truth of His coming as a Baby in flesh making His dwelling among us for a time, reinforces the astounding reality that He still comes to us.

Our celebration includes the witness that, as in Christ the Word became flesh, His Word is still being "fleshed out" through all who believe. We cannot celebrate Christmas apart from the message of the gospel. People are still being transformed by grace through faith, made new creatures in Christ Jesus. Through the empowerment of the abiding Holy Spirit, the Word of God is fleshed out anew in God's people and the message that the Christ of Christmas is indeed the One and Only full of grace and truth is proclaimed.

What the world celebrates is not Christmas. Only Christians can truly celebrate Christmas. It is our festival, our retelling, our celebration. And we will celebrate it year after year after year, never ceasing to rejoice and proclaim the wondrous message first told to a group of lowly shepherds over 2000 years ago: "For unto you is born a Savior. He is Christ the Lord!"

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
Return to Devotional Index