The Christmas season is always an exciting and interesting time of year for many people. I believe though that the season of Christmas with the gifts, music, and many other traditions can often distract us from what Christmas is really about. Of course, for Christians, most of us understand that Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus. What often occurs though is that sometimes in the midst of celebrating the birth of Christ we forget about the mission and the purpose of the birth of Christ.
In Luke chapter one we find Mary in an interesting situation, confronted by the angel Gabriel. This angel Gabriel came to Mary with a message. A message that would change her life and change the story of the world we live in. Gabriel said this to Mary:
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
The angel here gives Mary a message and declares what Jesus will be to the world and tells of the coming kingdom that Christ will bring to earth through his life and death. From the first time that Mary heard the name of Jesus, He had a mission and a purpose in His birth. Jesus was born to die. Born to die to bring forth a new life for humanity and a new kingdom for the citizens of earth to become a part of. The mission of Christ’s life was out of the selfless love of God by sending His son as a gift for all humanity. The gift of Christ’s birth is the gift of Grace to all people. Grace is given through the perfect life of Christ and through the undeserving death on the cross. What is so beautiful about the story of Christmas is the birth of an innocent child born to die for a guilty world.
As the Christmas season has rolled around once again are we remembering the gift that we have received from God? Or are we more concerned about the gifts we are giving and receiving from other people? Christmas is often reflective of how many Christians live their lives. We become caught up more so in what we give and receive from humans more so than what we give and receive from God. The gift of Grace has been given to us through the birth of Jesus through the mission of His life He received at conception. Will Christmas remind us that our lives are to be reflective of making known the accomplished mission of Christ, or will we allow Christmas to be what it always has for many of us, just another holiday? We have been given the gift of Grace. Will we show the world and be reminded going into a new year that the accomplished mission of Jesus is the message that gives our life purpose?