by Pastor Patrick Cho
Many people consider Christmas their favorite holiday for various reasons. For some, it provides a special occasion for family and loved ones to gather together. For others, it is a “holly jolly” time of festivity, music, and celebration. Some people simply love the excuse to splurge on gifts and good food. For the Christian, of course, Christmas has a deeper relevance. It serves as a reminder that God sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The significance of Christmas and the reason to celebrate center on Christ, the Son of God who took on flesh to be the Savior of the world.
Christmas, then, is really about the gospel. The Lord provided a way for sinful men to be reconciled to holy God. Through the incarnation, Jesus became like us so that He could adequately stand in our place. And still, He never relinquished His deity so that He could completely and perfectly pay for the sins of all who would believe in Him. This gospel message is the foundation for the Christian’s hope and peace. We have hope because a God who never lies has promised salvation for those who deserve condemnation and wrath. We have hope because Jesus said that the work of salvation was finished on the cross. Likewise, we have peace because having been made right with God, we no longer stand in enmity with Him. We are no longer His enemies, but by placing our faith in Christ, we are adopted into His family and brought into the glorious promises of a future inheritance.
Not only do Christians have profound hope and perfect peace in Christ, but we also have true joy. The dictionary would define joy as a good and happy feeling one has resulting from favorable circumstances. While this definition may be helpful, the Christian’s joy is not primarily based on circumstances. It is ultimately founded on a Person. We have joy because we have Jesus. All the benefits of our salvation that we get to enjoy are because we know Him and live for Him. Jesus is the reason for our joy.
In Luke 2:10-11, when the angel appears to a group of shepherds at night, he proclaims, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” The message of joy was that a Savior was born in the city of David. Jesus came to bring joy for all people. This is one of the purposes of the gospel, to fill people who were dead in their sins and had no real reason for joy with joy inexpressible (cf. 1 Pet. 1:8).
Christians, of all people, should be joyful. We have the greatest reason to rejoice, and so we are commanded to rejoice always (Phil. 4:4). Our joy does not mean that we parade around with frivolity or are constant giddy without a care in the world. It means that we have a deep and meaningful relationship with the God of creation who saved us despite our sinfulness and rebellion against Him. Because we have this relationship, even though we might face extremely difficult trials and circumstances, we can trust in Him and rejoice in knowing that God is infinitely greater and better than we are, He knows our trouble, and He cares for us.
Beyond all this, we also need to remember the countless others around us, both loved ones and strangers, who do not know true joy because they do not know Jesus. People need to hear the message of joy and we are the ones who have been given the responsibility to tell it. The Christmas season also proves to be a unique time of the year where people tend to be more open about attending a church service and perhaps even hearing the message of the gospel. We can not only bear witness to the gospel, but also let the light of our testimony shine before men so that they can see our wonderful joy and be drawn to it.