“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”
–Matthew 1:21-23
With three weeks to Christmas, the craziness of the season is fast approaching its peak. Right now, millions of people around the world are preparing for Christmas. The mall parking lots are filling up, the lines in stores are growing, and online shopping sites are swamped with frantic buyers searching for the gift that defines this Christmas.
People are consumed by the frenzy of Christmas. It makes you wonder whether they really know what Christmas is about. Is it a myth? Is it about merriment? Is it about money and merchandizing? Is it about being with loved ones? In the busyness of the holiday season, it’s easy to lose sight of how truly incredible the miracle of Christmas really is.
Christmas is an amazing, life-changing miracle that happened long ago—and that continues to happen in the lives of those who know Christ.
Think about it. A virgin girl in a small backwater town conceived a child who would transform the world. That tiny baby, Jesus, would bridge the gulf between God and mankind, taking on our sin so His followers could be forgiven.
The story of Christmas is the Greatest Story Ever Told because Jesus came to bear the cost, to take on the punishment we deserve, to open the gates of heaven for all who believe in our Savior.
It’s unimaginable, but it’s true!
Christmas is about redemption. It’s about hope. As our verse today says, “He will save his people from their sins.”
Because Christ was born, we can be filled with joy, hope, and peace! And that is something truly worth celebrating!
