Is Christmas significant? What does it means to you? Have you ever thought about the true reasons why we celebrate it and why it is significant to us? These are all important questions if we are to fully embrace the season. For the secular world, Christmas takes on numerous meanings. It is a money-making, merry-making event. It is about a fat guy dressed in a red suit distributing gifts. For others it is about dressing up, new everything - toys, clothes, curtains, furniture, painting of homes etc. But is that what Christmas is truly about? Have we lost its true significance?

Mrs. Marilyn Hodge

Well, Christmas is the day we celebrate the arrival of God's Son on the earth. God gave the greatest gift ever given - himself, that very first Christmas. He entered the world not as a mighty king, as expected, but as a little baby born in a stable. The Word had become flesh and would dwell among us. Since that day, the world has never been the same.
God's desire is that everyone should not perish but have everlasting life. This is the reason why He gave his only begotten Son who was born in a manger and who grew up to be a great teacher to share the good news and save us. The Christmas season then was intended for us to mark or observe Jesus’ birth. You see, Jesus came as a baby but he did not remain a baby. He grew up. He had an assignment. He was a man on a mission. He had a mandate to fulfill. Too often, when we celebrate Christmas, we get stuck at the baby in a manger and hang all of our merry-making around that and forget the true meaning of the season and our reason for celebrating.

Yes, Christmas should be a fun time, a joyous time, but it should also be a sobering time, a time of true reflection of the significance of His birth. So, what is the PURPOSE OF HIS BIRTH?
1. To reveal God - (John 1:18) God knew that no one would believe His existence. That is why He sent Jesus here on earth. Jesus did miraculous things to reveal to people that God is real.

2. To bridge the gap between God and man - (1Timothy 2:5) There is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus. If we come to know Jesus there is life living for. His birth tells us that even though we commit a sin, there is always a bridge that will link us to God.

3. To save man - For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

4. To rescue the whole creation - Everything that we see belongs to God. Sadly people worship the people that God used and not God.
You see, because Jesus’ birth had great significance, it created a stir, a pandemonium you may say to the King of the day. Matthew 2:12 – tells us that when Jesus was born, Herod was troubled because he was afraid of a potential rival to His throne. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream: "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
The Jewish leaders didn't believe that the baby was a king because Jesus was born in a manger instead of a palace.
However, the wise men reacted to it - They sought Him and worshipped Him. This was a reverence to their father. He is worthy to be praised. They offered the best to Jesus.
What about you? Is Jesus your King? Is He king of your life? Why do you celebrate? Does His birth have any significance for you? We should celebrate Christmas to honour our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus was spared from Herod's wrath because He was the Messiah -the one who would save us from the wickedness of our sins. The redemption of mankind was here on earth. Just like the three wise men, we too seek Jesus because we are called to His ministry. As we are called, we are not just partakers; we are inheritors of His suffering.
God is a faithful rewarder of those who seek Him. We have the victory through Jesus. Knowledge can't save us; it can only bring us closer to God. It is not about food, and merry- making. It is about Jesus Christ, the one who came to redeem us. This is the essence of His birth. Therefore, celebrate the season this year with a difference. Let us honour and worship Him in spirit and in truth. If we surrender, blessings will follow.
Remember –Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

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