CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2025

As we drive down community streets, we often see houses adorned with festive holiday lighting, seasonal displays of decorated trees of the evergreen family such as firs, spruces or pines, and people making the obligatory effort to project an aura of joy, kindness, cooperation and peace.   In many cases, the very same aspects of character that have been absent for the vast majority of the year.

Nonetheless, we’ve all heard the phrase, “reason for the season”  as the world annually observes this period for different reasons such as a winter solstice celebration, or the opportunity for a commercial economic windfall or simply a much anticipated and officially sanctioned absence from work or school.   But how many people who benefit from the traditional advantages of this season will observe it for what it truly is and in the manner for which it was intended?    How many will not only faithfully believe and understand the magnitude of this period, but spiritually participate in the dedication of it to the commemoration of the earthly arrival of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world Who was sent by God to recover our lost souls?

Unfortunately, though going through the motions of a so-called yuletide, the recognition of our Lord and Redeemer is often not even mentioned in these festivities with the significance of His magnificent birth being overlooked as the world immerses itself in merriment and gaiety.    But we know that the impact of His birth cannot be overstated as it doesn’t get any more significant than when an angel from heaven, is sent to earth by Almighty God and says,  “Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2: 10-11)

How excited we should be about the fulfillment of the promises made by God Himself that He would provide the means for us to return to fellowship with Him despite our rebellion against His righteous authority and praise-worthy, all-powerful position as the Head of all things.  What joy should flood our souls because of His great love for us as detailed in  John 3: 16-17  which says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;  but that the world through Him might be saved.”   

Just think about it.   The Creator of the Universe sacrificed that which was most dearest to Him for our sakes.   And why?   Simply because He loves us with an everlasting love even though we were stained with sin and needed someone to bear the brunt and pay the price for our rebellion. As Jesus told Pilate in John 18: 37, "...to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world...." God sent of Himself to this planet to be born to die, not only for us, but for His glory because we were created by Him and for Him.  “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by Him, and for Him:   And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”  (Colossians 1: 16-17)     As  Isaiah 43: 6-7  tells us,  “…bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth;  Even every one that is called by My name:  for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him;  yea, I have made him.” 

And how beautifully  Isaiah 53  explains the purpose of Jesus’ birth, chronicles the magnitude of His voluntary and spectacular sacrifice and describes the horrendous level of suffering He endured for us all:

[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

[2] For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:  He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

[3] He is despised and rejected of men;  a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him;  He was despised, and we esteemed Him not

.[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

[5] But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

[7] He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth:  He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.

[8] He was taken from prison and from judgment:  and who shall declare His generation?  for He was cut off out of the land of the living:  for the transgression of My people was He stricken.

[9] And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.

[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;  He hath put Him to grief:  when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

[11] He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied:  by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

[12] Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong;  because He hath poured out His soul unto death:  and He was numbered with the transgressors;  and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

As you may be thinking from this scripture, we typically associate the Messiah’s passion with Resurrection Day, not Christmas.   This is true, but both events are inextricably linked because it was the day of His birth that He began His journey to undergo the tragic human experience that was purposefully planned to ultimately fulfill God’s divine objective of atonement for sin and the restoration of humankind.   Those holy sacrifices prescribed by the Law of Moses in the Old Testament were never intended to save us,  but were deliberately designed to be subservient to and fulfilled by Christ.  “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”   (John1: 17)

Now one may ask this question,  “Is the law then against the promises of God?”   And here is the eternal answer to this ill-informed inquiry:   “God forbid:   for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.   But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.   But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”   (Galatians 3: 21-25)   

And when grace and truth arrived in a physical form through the birth of God’s beloved Son, the prophesied final precious paver on the path to paradise, the sanctified stone on the street to salvation, the righteous Rock on the road to redemption was laid.  “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.   Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me:   In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure.   Then said I, Lo, I come  (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,)  to do Thy will, O God.”   (Hebrews 10: 4-7)

Every child born on this earth will at some point undergo severe challenges in some manner during their lives.   Jesus was no different except for the fact that His agony was not for, or because, of Him.   It was for and because of us.   Therefore, we should be extremely grateful, unhesitatingly thankful and expressively appreciative for the time of His earthly appearance which opened the opportunity for us to get back to our heavenly home.  

No wonder the shepherds to whom it was first told on that cold night in Judea were stunned and astounded.  “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.   And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.   And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”  (Luke 2: 8-10 & 20)  

And no wonder the dispatched messenger of God was able to confidently make that startling announcement, being given the privilege and honor to deliver the glorious good news that the much-anticipated arrival of the Savior of the world had occurred!   “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.   And this shall be a sign unto you;  Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”   (Luke 2: 11-12)   And no wonder that choir of angelic beings couldn’t help but join in on the great celebration.   “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”   (Luke 2: 13-14)

The birth of Jesus.  The event that, for Him, signaled the beginning of pain and suffering, but for us was the advent of unassailable, indescribable hope and overwhelming joy to the world.   And though we do not know the actual day of Jesus’ birth, we choose this time to worship and honor God for the delivery of that beautiful and blessed baby boy born by a barn, Who’s destiny was to conquer death, rise with all power and be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords by virtue of His obedience to His Heavenly Father.    

So let us joyously celebrate His birth with the knowledge of His marvelous and merciful mission to make us perfect.   Rejoice with genuine gratefulness for the gracious gift that has been given to all humankind.   “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given:  and the government shall be upon is shoulder:  and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”   (Isaiah 9: 6)   

And whenever you see lavish decorations where so much time and effort have been put into creating incredible displays of seasonal artistry, think of Jesus and remember that the celebration is for Him.  In fact, don’t reserve your appreciation and thanksgiving by limiting it to this time of year, but honor Him, worship Him, praise Him and obey Him all year long.   For we serve an eternal God.    

Hosanna to the One Who made all of this possible!  Hallelujah to Him Who is still on the job and continuing to make the case for your salvation as He sits on the right hand of the Father. 

All praise and glory to God.   And to all, Merry Christmas.