The Wonder of Christmas

12/12/24

Rob Genin, YBL Director

Growing up as an American Christian, I have always loved Christmas. My family did traditions really well – I looked forward to the advent calendar and candles, the special Christmas sugar cookies and desserts, the special times gathering with friends and the candlelight service at Church. As a Catholic, we would go to a late service on Christmas Eve. Most of all, I have to confess, Christmas was a time when a young boy like me could hope for a big-ticket Christmas present – something special that would be difficult for me to save up for on my own. A killer snow disk. A video game console. A mountain bike. 

Looking back, I am tempted to lecture my younger self for missing the deeper meaning of Christmas. After all, Christmas is not about us and our stuff, it is about Jesus: 

“God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin to condemn sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).  

This is absolutely correct. Yet there is another way to look at this true meaning of Christmas. As a boy, I saw Christmas as a time during the year when I would receive a gift that I could not buy for myself. There was a feeling of wonder to receive something special that was beyond my own ability to obtain. When we consider the gift of God in the life and sacrifice of His Son Jesus, is that not precisely what God has done for us? We were powerless and dead in our sins. The life and reconciliation with God which we desperately needed was not something we could obtain through our efforts: 

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. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Galatians 4:4-7).  

God has given us an unfathomable gift in Jesus. Therefore, before I berate myself or my children for this desire for big-ticket gifts, I think I rather want to say – Christmas IS a time for those big gifts we could never get ourselves. We need to translate that from material things to the healed relationship with God, which was purchased fully by Jesus and given to us by grace.  

Enjoy the Christmas season with family, friendship, special songs and food. Marvel that all those blessings spring from the fountain of life – Jesus given for us. Share both the blessings–and Jesus–with your neighbors, co-workers and family.  

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)