Why We Celebrate Christmas

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Many people celebrate Christmas without knowing what it is they are celebrating.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

God became a man.

How is it possible for the infinite to become finite? The all-powerful to become weak and humble? The all-knowing to grow in wisdom?

The savior of the world was nursed by a woman He created. Who was sustaining who as Mary nursed her child?

He is the King of the Universe, yet was born amidst animals and laid to rest in a feeding trough. His birth revealed to shepherds. His resurrection revealed to women. Both events revealed to those whom society deemed unworthy, unclean, and untrustworthy.

And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” - Luke 5:31-31

Then there are the wise men who come and bring three strange gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

  • Gold because He is a king, although His kingdom is not of this world.
  • Frankincense because He is a priest, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), not because he offers sacrifices on our behalf, but because He sacrificed and offered Himself upon the altar of the cross.
  • Myrrh, used for embalming, because although recently born, He ultimately came to die.

So many aspects of this story do not add up. But God is not interested in impressing us. He does not come in the way we would expect. Why? Because He is God, and we are not. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” - 1 Corinthians 1:27

A peculiar Savior indeed.

The Old Testament scriptures testify that any man who hangs from a tree is cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23 cf Galatians 3:13) and cursed He was, although He was without blemish. The savior of the world was put to death in a manner reserved for the worst of criminals... you and me.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21

God became a man, to save us from our sins, that we might spend eternity with Him.

This is why we celebrate Christmas.