Rejoice!

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a  Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

 Christmas. What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Does it make you think of Santa Claus,  Christmas trees, gift-giving, family gatherings, or parties? “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was released in 1963. Andy Williams sang it on his first Christmas Album. To many people, the song sums up what Christmas is all about. The following are some of the lyrics:

“Its the most wonderful time of the year

With the kids jingle belling

And everyone telling you be of good cheer

Its the most wonderful time of the year

It’s the hap-happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

When friends come to call

Its the hap- happiest season of all

There’ll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow

There be scary ghost stories

And tales of the glories of

Christmases long, long ago

Its the most wonderful time of the year

There be much mistletoeing

And hearts will be glowing

When loved ones are near

Its the most wonderful time

Oh the most wonderful time

Of the year.”

When I think of Christmas, the lyrics to the above song are not what comes to mind. When I think of Christmas, I think of the word rejoice. The word rejoice is defined as to feel joy or great delight. Why would Christians rejoice when they think of Christmas?

Because God sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to redeem His sheep. That night that our Savior was born, the angel brought to the shepherds the news of great joy that the Savior had been born. The shepherds went to find the baby Jesus and see what God had done. To understand the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas, you have to understand why Jesus came.

He was born of a virgin and was fully man and fully God. He came to save men and women from their sins. He was born to die to set believers free from the slavery of sin. Since God is holy and we are not, God’s anger against our sin must be accounted for. If we got what we deserve, we would all be sent to hell for all eternity. Instead, God sent His only Son to pay the price for our redemption. Only a perfect sacrifice would satisfy God’s wrath against our sin. So, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice, the One who knew no sin, became sin for us to set us free to receive God’s mercy. If you have made Jesus Lord and Savior of your life, you are a child of God, and you can rejoice this Christmas, and every day you draw breath knowing that you are His for all eternity. As you rejoice this Christmas, don’t allow the true meaning of Christmas to be lost. The following are the words of the song Noel that help remind us why Christ was born of women.  “Love incarnate, love divine, Star and angels gave the sign, Bow to babe on bended knee, The Savior of humanity, Unto us a Child is born, He shall reign forevermore, Noel, Noel,  Come and see what God has done, Noel, Noel, The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us, Noel, Son of God and Son of man, There before the world began, Born to suffer, born to save, Born to raise us from the grave, Christ the everlasting Lord, He shall reign forevermore.”

May the Lord bless you and keep you as you rejoice as we remember the birth of our Savior.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark