The Reason for Christmas

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14, NIV.

     During this month’s Christmas Classics series, we have looked at the meaning of traditional carols, songs many of us have known as long as we can remember.  Perhaps the picture of the turntable and album cover brought back memories of when you first heard these familiar carols.  In my house, shortly after Thanksgiving the record player was moved to the dining room and placed on an old footstool covered in Christmas wrapping paper.  A big stack of Christmas records played nonstop throughout the next month – everything from Guy Lombardo to The Mormon Tabernacle Choir to my personal favorite, The Partridge Family.

Through the years the technology has changed, and so has the style in which the traditional carols are recorded, and performed.  However, as we’ve been reminded this month, the message remains the same:  Jesus Christ, 100% man and 100% God, came to dwell among us and reconcile us to God.  His message of peace and goodwill to all men remains the same today as it was when the angels sang to the shepherds on a Galilean hillside over 2,000 years ago.

     Jesus was not born into a Christmas-card scene decked out in tinsel, ribbon, pine trees and twinkling lights.  He was not dressed in a red and white striped “Baby’s First Christmas” sleeper and laid in a bassinet that had been purchased months before in happy anticipation of his arrival.  The world in which Jesus came to dwell among us was harsh and unjust:  a world where a young girl nine months pregnant was forced to travel miles from home to register with her husband for a census, a world where a dictator would kill every male child under the age of two in a rage of jealous paranoia.  Throughout the world today, many live in a similar harsh, unjust environment.  At NewPointe Missions, our ministry is to bring the message of the Christmas Classics to all – the same message of hope, peace and reconciliation which heralded Jesus Christ’s birth.  Thanks to all of you who gave so generously this year of your time, your treasures and your talents to help us spread the Good news that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth!  Have a blessed Christmas!