By the Rev. Wendell M. Waller

Special to the News-Herald

Christmas is a special time. There are certain sights and sounds that are reminiscent of Christmas — trees decorated, homes adorned with lights, Christmas music, the arrival of Santa Claus and, of course, department stores and shopping malls full with Christmas shoppers.

We are reminded time and time again that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” However, what does this mean?

The birth of Jesus is a reminder of the hope we have in God. We all need hope, and Jesus Christ and His birth in Bethlehem give us hope. This was the message delivered to the shepherds — “For unto us is born this day in the City of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). This is a message of hope for the hopeless. Notwithstanding our denominational preferences, whenever we hear these words they offer us a sense of hope.

The birth of Jesus is a reminder of the harmony we have in God. God has reconciled us unto Himself. God and sinner have been reconciled. The birth of Jesus is the arrival of Emmanuel (God with us). Although we remember the manger at Christmas and the cross and empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday, these two events cannot be completely separated; they are inextricably connected.

Jesus was born to die. He was born to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. He was born in Bethlehem only to be crucified on the cross. The birth of Jesus Christ marked the beginning of our journey toward harmony and reconciliation with God. Jesus Christ is available to every person regardless of ethnicity, economic status or religious preference. He is the Savior of the world, and He affords us harmony with God.

Let us not forget the message of the angels when they said, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) We can now have peace with God because of Him. (Romans 5:1)

Finally, the birth of Jesus is a reminder of the holiness we now can have in God. We can now be holy before God, not because of anything we have done but because of what God has done for us. He gave us a Savior, who makes us holy. Followers of Christ stand holy before God without spot or blemish because of God’s blessed Son.

Jesus Christ, who was born in a manger, has cleansed His followers from all sin. We are indeed a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, all of which have been made possible because of the child who was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. (1 Peter 2:9).

May you experience this Christmas season the peace of God, which truly passes all human understanding, because the Messiah has come!

 

Wendell M. Waller is the pastor of Christian Home Baptist Church.