The Centerpiece of Christmas
May I ask you a question? Exactly what does Christmas mean to you? And if you were to randomly ask that question to passersby on the sidewalks of your town, what would you hear? They might say something like the following: “Christmas is a family time.” “Christmas is stressful—with all the things that must get done—shopping, cooking, cleaning, parties, shopping, wrapping, family get-togethers, and the relatives, no less . . . and did I mention shopping?” “Actually, I never refer to it as Christmas. I call it the holidays; that’s more politically correct. I would never want to offend anyone.”
In our secular society today, Christmas is seen as a national holiday loosely built around the birth of Jesus Christ. So this week, as we think about Christmas, the time of His step into history to dwell with mankind, let’s focus on who He really is. Though He is marginalized by the world as merely a good moral teacher, Jesus is not just a man—He is the God-man.
In John 1, He is called the Word, a term used by the Jews to refer to God and His life-changing power, and by the Greeks to the governing power behind the universe. We learn in this passage that Jesus is eternal, present with God at Creation. He is part of the triune God as God the Son. At His incarnation, Jesus took on humanity, becoming fully God and fully man. Though incomprehensible to us, He became the God-man.
Other Scriptures confirm His deity: “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). God Himself announced it at Jesus’ baptism: “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17). Even Jesus referred to Himself as I am, the very name God revealed to Moses. “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” (John 8:58).
While the world around us may ignore Jesus this Christmas season, He alone remains the centerpiece of Christmas. Jesus stands alone as the God-man, the Savior of the world. Worship Him!
Father, help me to remember that a Christmas without Jesus is no Christmas at all. May I keep my focus on Him and Him alone during this Christmas season. Amen.