Christmas is a season filled with many things, but at its heart, Christmas is about love—a love so deep, so unconditional, and so sacrificial that it changed the course of history. The true heart of Christmas is found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse captures the essence of what we celebrate: the coming of Jesus into the world as the ultimate expression of God’s love for humanity.
The story of Christmas begins with God’s love for a broken and hurting world. In a humble stable in Bethlehem, Jesus was born—not in a palace fit for a king, but in a manger, surrounded by animals. This setting reflects the heart of God’s love: it’s not reserved for the elite or the perfect; it’s for everyone. Luke 2:10-11 tells us about the angel’s proclamation to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” The message of Christmas is inclusive and universal, a reminder that God’s love reaches every corner of the earth.
Imagine the shepherds that night, ordinary people often overlooked by society. Yet, they were chosen to hear the good news first. This illustrates that God’s love isn’t based on status or worthiness; it’s a gift freely given. The shepherds’ response was to go and see Jesus, and their lives were forever changed. In the same way, the love of Jesus invites us to draw near to Him, to experience the joy and transformation that comes from knowing Him.
The love of Christmas is also sacrificial. Jesus didn’t come just to live among us; He came to save us. Matthew 1:21 says, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” The manger points to the cross, where Jesus would ultimately lay down His life for all of us. This is the greatest act of love. John 15:13 tells us: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”. Christmas is a celebration of the beginning of God’s redemptive plan, a plan motivated by His deep desire to restore us to relationship with Him.
A beautiful illustration of this heart of Christmas is the story of a little boy who gave his mother a box as a Christmas gift. When she opened it, she found it empty. Surprised, she asked him why he would give her an empty box. The boy replied, “It’s not empty, Mommy. I blew kisses into it until it was full.” That small act reflects the reality of Christmas: the greatest gifts are not the ones we can hold in our hands but the ones given with love. God’s gift to us at Christmas wasn’t wrapped in paper but in flesh—Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
This Christmas, I pray we take time to reflect on the depth of God’s love. A love that came down to meet us where we are, a love that offers hope, peace, joy, and salvation.
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