The good news of Christmas

Christmas can mean differently to many people. We have associated many things with it since it happened. It has permeated many facets of our lives – love, family, community, world peace, goodwill, reconciliation, to name a few. The downside is that it has become so commercialized we often barely see the original meaning it had 2,000 years ago, even evolving into totally unrelated, sometimes fictitious ideas like Santa Claus, reindeers, elves, Christmas trees, mistletoes, jingling bells, hollies, and what have you --things you will not find in that house in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.

The disparity between the Christmas message of yonder years and the aggressive secular marketing blasts of today is man’s insistence of something new – of never being satisfied with what God provides and seeking more on his own. The Bible showed us what Christmas was and its utmost significance to man, but we strayed away and looked for other meanings, even telling our children about non-existent Santa Claus and flying reindeer, instead of proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus. So sad.

The very people, a handful they were then, all proclaimed the same message – the hope of salvation to man, and the gift of eternal life. The first message was proclaimed by one angel - “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:10-11). When Jesus was presented at the temple as required by the Law, Simeon held him in his arms and praised God, saying, “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:30-32). Christmas is the good news of salvation, offered to all men.

That the birth of Jesus is the good news is amplified by the receivers themselves who proclaimed message to others. “After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.” (Luke 2:17). Anna, a prophetess who was with Simeon at the temple, “… talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38). As it was at that time of Christ, up to today, anybody and everybody who hears the good news of salvation and receives Jesus as their Savior are eager to tell others of the good news.

And so, as we wait for Christmas in a few days, let us ask ourselves if we have already received the good news. The most tell-tale sign if we did is if we tell others about it with enthusiastic eagerness. Nothing can overflow the heart so much as the gift of salvation and eternal life. My Christmas message to all is, “… God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Tell others about it. That is the good news of Christmas.