Why Celebrate Christmas?
Part Four
“Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;, therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’”
Luke 1:34-35 (NKJV)
So if we leave aside the reasons why some people who don’t believe in God still celebrate Christmas, why do Christians, and why should all humanity celebrate Christmas?
Because it is the time when God became human, born of a human mother, Mary, while remaining fully God, born of the Holy Spirit as the scriptures at the beginning of these four studies, in Luke 1:26-36, have shown us.
There has never been and will never be another child, or man, like Jesus Christ. He was born because God knew that human beings will always sin and only He, Himself could live a sinless life and become humanity’s perfect sacrifice for sin. That sacrifice lifts the death penalty from all humanity and opens the way to a new life in Christ.
This child became the man who lived a perfect human life for us, repented of sin for us, was baptized for us, did physical healings as a type of the spiritual healing which was his purpose, was crucified for us, was resurrected for us and lives now, at the right hand of God, interceding for us as our High Priest, our Saviour and our soon-coming King.
That is the real meaning of Christmas, not simply the birth of a child, but the miraculous birth of our Saviour, God in the Flesh. (John 1:1-5, 14)
Prayer
Loving Father, help us to grasp the enormity of what You have done for us and to rejoice at the real meaning of Christmas for all humanity. In Christ’s name.
Amen
Study by Keith Hartrick
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About the Author:
Keith Hartrick is an Elder in Grace Communion Church – Leeds, and serves on the Church Council there.
Local Congregation:
Grace Communion – Leeds
Garden Village Welfare Association Community Centre
Pendas Way
LEEDS LS15 8LE
Meeting Time:
Saturday 2PM
Local Congregational Contact:
Malcolm Arnold
Phone: 01484-312347
Email: malcolm701@googlemail.com