the message of Christmas

This Christmas season I have been thinking about the message of Jesus coming to earth. Now I realize that it is highly unlikely that Jesus was born on December 25. I am also fully aware that the celebration of Jesus' birth on December 25 was the replacement of a pagan holiday with a Christian holiday. However, that does not change the value of celebrating the fact of "God with us".


In a nutshell, the message of Christmas is about God with us. God chose to identify fully with us by the birth, life, and death of Jesus. What incredibly good news - God coming to us to reconcile us to all that is Him! Interestingly, as I read the gospel accounts, the coming of Jesus was not good news for everyone. Those with self-centered agendas in both the religious and political worlds were threatened by the presence of God. However, for the "little people" the coming of Jesus offered hope in an otherwise hopeless existence.


For the untouchables, the lepers and sinners, God with us signified a new way of life. During the ministry of Jesus, He repeatedly stopped to associate with the little people. He ate with the sinners. He touched the lepers. He offered forgiveness to those needing forgiveness. The little people got it; they understood the transformational power of God with us. As a result they were healed, forgiven, and restored.

I have noticed that some things don't change. The little people still get the meaning of Christmas. They are fully aware of their shortcomings, their need for a Savior. Since they have been largely brushed aside by the religious community, they are not encumbered by the religious bondage that binds those who grasp for power and position in the religious community. The simplicity of Jesus is not lost on them.

For the sinners, for those marginalized by the societal and religious elite, the message of Christmas is exceedingly good news!