Why is Christmas so Important?

This year has been a bit harder than usual for me to get into the "Christmas spirit." I know it's not about a feeling or anything like that. But it's seemed like I was just doing all the things I usually do at Christmas and they were just things to check off my list - just going through the motions. Almost like I was just tired of doing the same thing every year.

Something was missing. And even my niece's excitement, or her rearranging my nativity set so that everyone is worshiping baby Jesus, "because that's what Christmas is about, auntie," wasn't helping me. To be honest I was tired of it all, and in the midst of my tiredness, I was missing why we were doing this thing.

Then I went to church on Dec 23 - not a Christmas Eve service yet, our regular weekend services. Except it wasn't - at least not for me. Something clicked as we sang the familiar songs, as I listened to the message, as we took communion together. The rest of the story doesn't happen without Christmas.

Sure, God could have found a different way to start His rescue story. But, He didn't. He chose to send His Son to earth to live and die for us. So, the cross and the resurrection started here. The story begins at Christmas with a baby in a manger.

At our Christmas Eve service, I was struck by the words of these familiar songs. We sing them every year, and I know I often have without realizing how they point to the mission of rescue Jesus was on for His life on earth. They speak of the freedom He was coming to bring. Of the healing He is bringing. They speak of the hope that was held in the birth of this child.

And so I'm reminded again of the importance of what we celebrate today. Christmas was the start of God's rescue plan for His creation. We often and easily see the cross and the resurrection as God's rescue plan, but Christmas was where the plan was launched. The birth of the Savior as a baby.

Why Worship?

The records of Jesus' birth are filled with one response to Jesus.

People worshiped.

Mary worshiped in response to the news she would be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah (Luke 1:46-55)

The shepherd worshiped after they have been told the news by the angels and gone to see Jesus (Luke 2:16-20)

The wise-men traveled far to worship Jesus after His birth (Matthew 1:9-12)

Why was the response worship?

And it seems to be a response we follow today. In our services. In the words we sing. Often our Christmas songs speak of coming to worship the newborn Messiah.

So, what is it about these encounters and ours today that cause us to respond in worship?

In the case of the response of worship in these instances in Scripture, each of the participants had a reason to worship in response. Mary had a visit from an angel with a message from God and knew the significance of the baby she was carrying. The shepherds had a visit from angels who announced to them the significance of this birth. The wise-men studied the starts and in their studies knew the significance of the birth represented by the star.

All of them worshiped out of understanding of the significance of this birth - of the Messiah coming. It wasn't any ordinary event. And they knew it was significant.

I think the same is true for us today. We worship in response to significance of Jesus as Messiah and of our encounters with Him. Worship is a response to significance of this.

We worship because it's a response to the significance of Jesus' birth. We worship because it's a response to the significance of our own encounters with Jesus.

Asking God Questions

Do you ask God questions?
Do you ask them in faith and wonder?
Or are they skeptical and unbelieving?

As I've been reading and reflecting on the story of Jesus' birth this Christmas season, I've been struck by the questions asked by those given messages by heavenly messages. The questions asked by two different people resulted in two different outcomes.

The first question was asked Zechariah after he was told his wife would have a son in her old age. Like 1:18 records his question: "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The result of Zechariah asking this question was that he was unable to speak until his son was born.

The second question was asked by Mary in response to her visit from an angel saying she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. Luke 1:34 records her question: "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel explained to Mary how this would happen.

Two situations.
Two questions.
Two different responses.

But, it was the difference in the responses to Zechariah's and Mary's questions that wouldn't leave me alone. Why were there such different responses?

In both situations, the questions were asked in response to messages from angels about situations that were impossible from a human standpoint.Both questions were in response to messages from God after 400 years of silence.

So, what caused one of the be silenced until the message from the angel came to pass and other one got an answer to their question?

For those answers, we have to go back and look at the questions that were asked. The words used, and the way they were asked. When I read the questions side-by-side, the difference became clear.

Zechariah's question is filled with skepticism. He's looking for some sort of guarantee. His faith is not there in the moment he asks the question. It's not a question of curiosity; it's a question demanding satisfaction of his doubts.

Mary's question is out of curiosity and wonder. The message she's heard seems impossible, but she's choosing to believe God can do it. She's asking how out of a position of trust and faith.

We can take our questions to God. These are not the only time in Scripture where people asked questions of God. The part that matters is our heart when we ask the question. We can come with fonder and faith and ask questions. Or we can come with skepticism - looking only for what we will consider acceptable proof.

It's our faith, even when we have questions, that's the important part.

When you have questions, how do you take them to God?
With faith and wonder?
Or with skepticism?


"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her."
                                           -Luke 1:45, Elizabeth's word to Mary at her visit

Looking for Perfect?

"Allow life's imperfections to become what they were always meant to be - everyday signs that point you to Jesus. Use them as cue that can encourage you to look up from the annoyances of earthly life and see Him. The only One who truly satisfies." (Priscilla Shirer, Awaken Devotional, Day 22)

Somehow it always seems like the imperfections in life are more pronounced at this time of year. They're always there, but we notice them more at Christ,as. At least, I do.

Finding the perfect Christmas tree.
Decorating it perfectly.
Selecting the perfect outfit to wear to the Christmas party.
Choosing the perfect family picture to put with the Christmas letter that talks about all the highlights, the perfect moments, of the last year, but often ignore the other stuff.
Buying the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
Preparing the perfect meal for all around the table.
It can get exhausting.

Yet, in the midst of our search for "perfect" our longings never seem to be satisfied. Something is still missing. And, maybe at this time of year, those unmet longings never seem to be satisfied. So, we increase our pursuit of perfect, in hopes of finally finding satisfaction, only to find we never achieve it.

What if those longings we're so desperately looking to satisfy weren't meant to be met in anything on earth?
What if, instead of increasing the desperation of our search for perfect, they were meant to point us toward something other?
What if they were meant to cause us to lift our eyes?

When I take a moment to read it again, it quickly becomes clear that the original Christmas story was anything but perfect from an earthly perspective:

• Mary was not married when she became pregnant.
• Joseph was asked to believe the impossible and still become Mary's husband, even with the scandal.
• Joseph and Mary had to make a long journey when the time of Jesus' birth was near - not a comfortable time to travel.
• There was no room for them to stay in, so Jesus was born in a stable.
• The first visitors they received were shepherds - the lowest in society.
• When King Herod found out about his birth, they had to flee to Egypt.

The story of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah was imperfect. Nothing about it was as expected.

But Mary's response to this struck me this year. She didn't caught up in trying to find perfect.

Luke 2:19 says, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." In the midst of the imperfect, Mary saw the treasures and held onto them. In Luke 1:46-55, Mary turned her eyes from the imperfect and worshiped God. She lifted her eyes from the imperfect around her, to the only perfect One.

How do you respond in the imperfect? In the midst of unmet longings?

It can be tempting to desperately search for perfect satisfaction on earth. Especially in a season where perfect seems to be the focus.

What would it look like if we instead allowed the imperfect to turn our eyes to Jesus and find the satisfaction we're looking for in Him - the only place it can truly be found?

"Allow life's imperfections to become what they were always meant to be - everyday signs the point you to Jesus. Use them as cues that can encouraeg you to look up from the annoyances of earthly life and see Him. The only One who truly satisfies." (Priscilla Shirer)