What is Christmas all about? Trees and lights and hot chocolate and presents? That is certainly how we celebrate, and there is nothing wrong with any of that. But what are we celebrating? As Charlie Brown asked, “does anyone know what Christmas is all about?!”
As Christians, we all know the Christmas story from Luke. That’s great, but are we celebrating nativity scenes and Jesus being a cute baby and angels singing? Those are all things worthy of celebrating, and if that was all there was to the holiday, it would still be a wonderful thing—to have a time to think about Jesus coming into the world. We should all think about Jesus and it’s great to have a time of remembrance.
However, the true meaning of Christmas is deeper than this. The core of Christmas is all wrapped up in that single word: Advent. Advent means coming, specifically the coming of a great person or event. In this case, God is coming.
God’s coming is a major theme throughout all of Scripture. In the Garden of Eden, God came every evening to be with Adam and Eve. As soon as the fall took place, God began even before the man and woman left the garden, to relay one important thing: God would come again. God would provide a way of reconciliation, and dwell with people again.
This is the promise echoed throughout all of the Old Testament. It is the song of the prophets. God will come, and be with us again. He shall be our God and we will be his people, and God himself will dwell with us. Immanuel.
In the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son to be born of a virgin, and God came down to be with people.
And so comes John, the prophesied prophet, to proclaim that the Kingdom of God, God with his people, is at hand. Prepare the way. God is coming. God has come. Of course few foresaw that Christ would come to suffer, die, and rise again, ultimately returning to heaven. This was all done to make peace between God and humans, so making a way for God to dwell with them.
With Jesus ascended, the disciples were alone, yet Jesus had promised the Holy Spirit would come. Which he did soon after. God would be with them in spirit. As they stared up, the angels came to drive home one crucial point. Jesus will come again. God had come, and God is coming again! Advent.
So this Christmas, let me encourage you to celebrate three things:
God is a God of promises.
God’s chief promise is his coming and dwelling with his people.
God keeps his promises. He came, and he will come.
Under Grace,
John Fritz
John Fritz is the Volunteer Coordinator for Thoughtful Life Ministries and the primary author of the Thoughtful Life Journal, which is published weekly from March through September. The purpose of this blog is to challenge and encourage those who have a desire to cultivate a more meaningful walk with Christ. Visit our Homepage to learn more about the ministry and our annual two-week summer Discipleship Program for teens and young adults.