What Does Christmas Mean To Me?

[PernellRodocker]

What does Christmas mean to me? I was asked this last Sunday at church. Several people spoke at church last Sunday about what Christmas meant to them. Some said the way they saw it as a child, presents, family and food. Some said after they accepted Jesus as Savior that their views changed.

I see it differently. Christmas is more than a day of celebration. It is more than a day of gifts or a baby in a manger. I see Christmas as a time when a Father cried even though He knew that His only son would again return to him. The Father sent His prince, the one that He loved so much, away to a manger. He sent His son to be sentenced to the prison of flesh and into a world of hate and fear. He sent His glorious child away from His arms of love and peace into a world that would despise his very arrival and deny the reality of what the Father was really doing. Ultimately the Father sentenced His son to die for those that would hate him, for those that would kill him.

We have a great anticipation during this season! Whether it is family arriving or presents under the tree. God’s anointed holy ones were anticipating a Savior… Very few were expecting a baby. For God to let go it hurt. How do I know? We were made in His image. It hurts to let a child go and find their own way. We teach them and tell them and show them how to make it in life. In their minds they hear our voices telling them what to do and how to survive this terrible world. In the end we may never know the result of our child’s success in life.

But God knew. God knew how it would turn out! I know He cried to let His son go. Jesus became the prodigal son. God waited and watched from Heaven for His son to return… Why do I say Jesus became the prodigal son, because, He bore the sins of the world. Our sins… He became everything that we are, and He died… He was obedient to His Father and then as He came home, his Father was waiting…

The next time His Father sends Him out it wont be as a lowly child born in suffering. He will be sent out as a victorious leader! A King to lead the armies of Heaven! Why, to bring home all the other prodigals and to defeat all the hate and suffering that the world had given to His children. What does Christmas mean to me? A Father that cried…

And that’s not the end of the story!

 

[robaston]

We have a great anticipation during this season! Whether it is family arriving or presents under the tree. God’s anointed holy ones were anticipating a Savior… Very few were expecting a baby. For God to let go it hurt. How do I know? We were made in His image. It hurts to let a child go and find their own way.

very fascinating comment bro. never looked at things this way.you'll go a long way

 

[Christ4Ever]

@PernellRodocker

Your thoughts on this reminded me of a song I heard a few years ago. I located it on You Tube and share it below. For at the time it brought thoughts of wonder, amazement, with tears that knowing all that would occur, He still went through with it. Humbling and overwhelming to contemplate a love so amazing!

Thanks for sharing.
YBIC
C4E
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[Lanolin]

Wow well I don't know if our Father was sad to send his only begotten son down to live amongst us but I do know the angels rejoiced when his birth was announced.

I think Christmas means that we all become as children again, and when we are as children we can receive the Kingdom easily into our hearts much more so than adults can.

Another thing I like about Christmas is all the preparation and anticipation gets people excited that SOMETHING is going to happen, maybe a miracle. The stars seem to shine brighter, people are more cheerful.
I wouldn't be surprised if that's the day Jesus chooses to return. I mean we have a kind of wedding supper with all the family, there's festivities, music, singing, it's like the prodigal son story.

 

[B-A-C]

I always think of Immanuel - God with us.

Man chose to sin. We can blame Adam, but the truth is... we all choose to sin.
Who can say they have never sinned?

If there was no birth of Christ, there would be no Christians.
If there was no Christ, we would all still be under the penalty of the law.
In fact we would be under all of the law. The law that says he wages of sin is death.

Because a man sinned... sin was spread to all men.
Because another man was obedient (even unto death) salvation is an option for all men.

Without Christmas... this never could have happened.