“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Galatians 4:4-5 ESV

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In 2019, BBC Scotland released a four-minute, seventeen-second spoken word video narrated by the Scottish actress Sarah MacGillivary titled “What Does Christmas Mean To You?” (1). The extraordinary thing about this video is that it never mentioned Jesus Christ or made any religious reference. Instead, the meaning of Christmas was reduced to Christmas markets, snow, presents, eating and drinking, family and friends, movies and songs and a healthy dose of sentimentalism! Perhaps that’s not so surprising for many see Christmas this way. Maybe you have never considered Jesus or spent eleven months of the year dismissing Him, but in December, you are confronted by His birth and wonder—what’s Christmas all about?

The issue with the video released by BBC Scotland is that it asked the wrong question. The meaning of Christmas is not subjective; it is based on objective facts unrelated to personal beliefs or feelings. Rather than asking, “What does Christmas mean to you?” the question should be, “What does Christmas mean?”

The when?

In his letter to the Christians in Galatia, the Apostle Paul reminds them that God sent His Son into the world at a specific point in history. No serious historian or scholar would dispute that Jesus Christ was a historical figure. Although they may dispute the Christian claim regarding His identity, the Bible clearly states that the coming of Jesus was not an unexpected event but a divine appointment that was prophesied hundreds of years in advance (see Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Micah 5:2). The pre-existing author of time and history chose to write Himself into His own story at the time of His choosing, just over two thousand years ago.

The who?

Have you ever pondered the question, “Where was I before I was born?” If so, we can conclude that we did not exist. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus has always existed. One of the names for Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” The remarkable claim of Christianity is that in the first century, a baby who was both God and man was born. This event is known as the “Incarnation,” meaning God became flesh. As Alistair Begg notes, “Without ceasing to be what He was—namely, God—He became what He was not—namely, a man.” (2).

“See amid the winter’s snow,
born for us on earth below,
see, the gentle lamb appears,
promised from eternal years.
There within a manger lies
he who built the starry skies;
he who, throned in heights sublime,
sits amid the cherubim.” (3)

Consider the implications of this: our lives matter to God, and Jesus cannot be ignored without grave eternal consequences. He is too important! (See John 1:1-17). Humanity is not just “bouncing around on a minor planet in a backwater of a gigantic universe. But the birth of Immanuel tells us that we are very much on God’s radar screen. We are the visited planet, but it raises the question – why did God bother? What was the purpose of the trip?” (4).

The why?

The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, reminds him “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim 1:15). This statement beautifully summarises the good news of Christmas. Jesus means “God saves.” Jesus was sent on a rescue mission, “born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law.” But what does this mean for you and me?

Sin is not a popular word today, but it can be defined as rejecting God’s law and sovereignty and living as if He doesn’t exist. To be sinful applies not only to evil people today. It applies to both you and me! Jesus put it this way, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matt 15:18-20).

If we are honest, we will confess that what Jesus says about the human heart (the core of our being) is true for all of us. The problem is that we believe we are good enough for God. We might admit to not being flawless, but we assume God will acquiesce. However, rejecting God’s right to rule and reign over us leads to disaster, personally and for those around us. This is why God sent Jesus into the world that first Christmas day so that sinful humanity could be rescued from sin, redeemed and adopted into God’s family.

Thirty-three years after the first Christmas day, Jesus paid our debt and took upon Himself the curse of the law as He hung upon a cross (see Gal 3:13, Col 2:14). Alistair Begg writes, “If God would save, then the saviour must be God. If man must bear the punishment because man sinned, then the saviour must be a man. If the man who bears the punishment of sin must himself be sinless, then who other than Jesus Christ meets these qualifications?” (5).

The so what?

By the time she died in 1994, Thelma Howard had amassed a fortune of $9.5 million. Often described as the real-life Mary Poppins, she worked as a maid for Walt Disney. Walt Disney held Thelma in such high regard that he gifted her shares in the company every birthday and Christmas. Interestingly, Thelma chose not to sell any of her shares and lived a modest life until her death, ultimately leaving her wealth to her family and various charities.

It is estimated that her fortune would have been $75 million today. (6). Many people treat the significance of Christmas the same way. Redemption from sin and adoption into God’s family is open to everyone, but it’s like an ignored Christmas present left under the tree. Do not ignore the good news of Christmas! You have nothing to lose by looking closely at who Jesus is, and you have much to gain.

Christmas or Xmas?

The Christmas we saw, as described by BBC Scotland, is essentially an Xmas. Christmas with the Christ crossed out! By nature, we want to live that way, but Christmas is an annual reminder that the King has come, and as C.S. Lewis wrote, this King is “the great interferer.” He will not permit you to live your life indifferent to him. If you ignore Him, you will have no defence when summoned to meet Him.

Christmas is ultimately about God’s answer to the human condition—our need for forgiveness. God’s justice demands that sin be punished, but in His immense love, He desires to forgive. Jesus took the punishment we deserve, and if we trust Him and turn away from our sins, we can be assured of our forgiveness. This assurance is not based on anything we have done but on Jesus dying in our place.

“How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.” (7).

That’s what Christmas is all about 🎄

Notes

1. https://youtu.be/RIdDKad_oxs (accessed 14/12/22)
2. Alistair Begg – Truth For Life – 365 Daily Devotions Volume 1, The Good Book Company, 2021, p356
3. Edward Caswell 1814-1878 – See Amid The Winter’s Snow
4. Marcus Nodder & Tim Thornborough – The Real Christmas, The Good Book Company, 2019, p7-8
5. Alistair Begg – Truth For Life – 365 Daily Devotions Volume 1, The Good Book Company, 2021, p356
6. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/entertainment-articles/how-walt-disneys-30-year-housekeeper-died-a-multi-millionaire/ (accessed 15/12/22)
7. Phillips Brooks 1835-1893 – O Little Town of Bethlehem

All scripture quotations are from the ESV unless otherwise stated.