Merry Christmas – Joyeux Noël! – Kala Christougenna! – Feliz Navidad! – Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva! – Boas Festas! – Wesolych Swiat! – Buon Natale!
Sung or spoken in many different languages around the world, the wish “Merry Christmas!” is heard very often. But why is that? Why “merry” Christmas? Of course, you are together with family and dear friends, you give each other gifts and eat good food. But that is not the real reason for the joy, because then the joy would end with the holidays.
You don’t have to look far for the true answer, because Christmas also includes the Christmas story, the story of the birth of Jesus. The Bible says:
“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11).
The Son of God becomes human (John 1:14) and comes to this earth, born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem. The angel who appears to the shepherds in the field announces to them that this is a reason for great joy!
But what does this have to do with us today, with you and me? The angels also tell the shepherds that the Savior is born. At first, this is puzzling. If a Savior comes, then someone must be in need, and that is hardly a reason for joy. No, it is not, because all of humanity is in need—in need of salvation from sin.
“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who does good, there is not even one.’ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, for the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 3:10, 12, 23; 6:23).
This is the judgment of the holy and righteous God upon all people—including you and me. We may not see ourselves that way, but the Bible tells us what God thinks of us, and that alone is decisive. Every lie, every hateful thought, every lustful glance makes us guilty before God. We must all admit that we are all guilty, and the death sentence hangs over us all! There is still no reason to rejoice. But we must come to this realization if we want to have deep and lasting joy. But how do we get there?
Jesus Christ says of Himself that He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). THAT is a reason for joy! For once we have recognized that we are guilty and lost before God, we can now hear that Jesus Christ came precisely for us, to seek and to save us. There on the cross of Calvary, he died in God’s judgment for our sins! There he suffered the consequence of sin—death (cf. Romans 6:23)! He bore the punishment we deserved (cf. Isaiah 53:5). The wrath of God, which should have fallen on us because of all our sins, fell on him with full force, even though he was innocent! Why?
“… so that everyone who believes will not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).
What Jesus did there on the cross applies to EVERYONE who believes in Jesus Christ and personally accepts that the punishment Jesus suffered was his own. And if you don’t believe?
“He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will remain under the wrath of God. God must and will one day judge everyone who has not believed in Jesus Christ for their sins. Such people “celebrate” the birth of their judge at Christmas!
But those who believe in Jesus Christ and come to him in prayer with their sins and ask for forgiveness can truly rejoice in the birth of their Savior—every day of the year!
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!” (Acts 16:30-31).
In this spirit: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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