Christmas is the celebration of God’s revelation of Himself in and through Jesus Christ. God reveals Himself in many ways—in historical events, in nature, through the Bible, through persons and supremely through Jesus Christ.
God’s revelation through Jesus Christ is called Incarnation. Incarnation tells us the truth about God. It tells us about His intervention in human affairs. It tells us about His true nature, about His self-giving love. It tells us that God came into this sin-filled world out of love in order to save it.
Incarnation also tells us the truth about human nature. It tells us that mankind has violated God’s will and has alienated itself from Him. God, however, wants to reconcile humanity, to restore the broken relationship and bring His sinful children to Him.
Christmas is the celebration of God’s presence with us here and now. Centuries ago, God told the prophet Isaiah that a baby was going to be born whose name would be called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:4).
One of the central affirmations of Christmas is that in Jesus Christ we see the love of God for humankind made flesh. In the fullness of time—God’s most opportune time—He intercepted human history with the gift of a Savior to redeem a world that had lost touch with its Creator.
In Jesus Christ we have come to know who God is. He indeed is Immanuel—God with us. Not a remote God beyond space and time, but God within us, among us, a deity that binds us to Himself and to one another.
The greatest news that Christmas imparts is that the God who came to mankind in the babe of Bethlehem two thousand years ago can come to us today if we make room for Him in our lives.
In the nativity story of Jesus, Luke tells us why it was necessary for him to be born in a manger. It was because there was no room for the Holy Family in the inn (Luke 2:7). And the most obvious reason why there was no room for Jesus was because the inn was occupied to capacity. One wonders whether the innkeeper could have done some rearrangement in order to accommodate the Holy Family. Most probably he would, had he recognized the significance of the occasion.
An existential question that arises in one’s mind is: If there was no room for Christ two thousand years ago, is there any room for him today? It appears that some people are so preoccupied with so many worldly cares that there isn’t room for anything else, not even for Christ.
Having room for Christ involves some rearranging of life. His very presence requires some commitments and changes.
Those who have made room for Christ in their lives are those for whom Christ is Immanuel (“God with us”). They have experienced the true joy of Christmas.
The advent of Christ into the world is not limited by time. Mary and Joseph held him in their arms. We can hold him in our hearts. If and when we do that, then our Christmas celebration will truly be a joyous one.
Christ is born and revealed
Tidings of joy unto you and unto us.
Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian
Latest posts by Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian (see all)
- April 24, 2024, a day of remembrance and resolve - April 23, 2024
- The 115th anniversary of the Adana Massacre - April 16, 2024
- Procrastination, a robber of opportunities - April 9, 2024
yes, we have all sinned and are deserving of the death sentence as the wages of sin is death. God took the wrath and punishment we deserve on himself so our slate would be wiped clean. Yes, we need to give him room in our hearts but we don’t only give him some room, we give him all of our rooms or all of ourselves and surrender fully to him , otherwise he can not come in. If we don’t put him on the throne of our hearts, and not just a section of our hearts, then he can not reign over us. Full surrender and repentance (realizing we have sinned and deserve eternal separation from a God and turning away from sin and turning to Christ instead) is needed to receive his precious gift. Not by being good or doing good things can we earn our way to heaven. We receive the gift in repentance and faith so that we can have his Holy Spirit and be forgiven . After truly making him Lord of our lives, along with being our savior, we can be born again from His spirit and the Bible says we then become a new creation with a new heart that actually loves him and wants to please him. Faith produces works, and no works of our own can justify us before God. Only the faith of his finished work on the cross saves us.