Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Even though we don’t have changing seasons here in the Arabian Desert, it’s still cool enough to enjoy a leisurely walk outside. Since we don’t technically have an autumn and we skip seasons from hottest, to hotter, to just plain hot, our family takes the liberty of putting up our Christmas trees in October. And yes, it’s true, we have four trees. We love Christmas.
The Christmas Season Can Be Challenging
While I love Christmas, some holiday seasons have been challenging for me. I remember when I was eight years old and two of my grandparents passed away in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It was a somber time. That year, there were more tears than presents. As a kid, I was always excited to open presents, but that year felt different. There were other years when I had health struggles or ministry was stressful. Then, in 2020, we were days away from hosting our Christmas Eve service when cases of the pandemic spiked, shutting down our gathering at the last moment. We were so disappointed. The Christmas season has a way of reminding us of what is missing in our lives. It could be that empty chair at dinner, a discouraging diagnosis, or a broken relationship. Whatever it may be for you this year, there is hope.
The Greatest Gift of Christmas is God’s Presence
I realized something during those challenging Christmas seasons, and still today, that no matter our circumstances, we are not alone at Christmas. Even when we can’t gather together, even when we’re suffering from illness or loneliness, we are not alone. Matthew 1 tells us that Mary would have a son and his name would be Jesus. The angel of the Lord said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” and then Matthew added “which means God with us” (v. 26). The best gift of the holiday season is a reminder of God’s presence. Christmas reminds us that Jesus came to us.
It’s interesting that Matthew’s gospel begins with a promise of Christ’s presence and ends with a promise of his presence. Have you thought about this before? We celebrate the incarnation every Christmas—Jesus has come to us as a human. The Son of God has come to dwell among us. And yet at the end of Matthew, in Christ’s final charge to his people after his resurrection and before his ascension, is the promise of his continued presence. In the Great Commission, Jesus challenges the disciples and us to make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. But then, as we go about the ministry, he gives us a promise and says, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). What a promise! Jesus came to us as a baby, but even as he leaves earth, he promises to be with us. Christmas reminds us that Jesus has come, but also that he’s still with us today.
Jesus Understands Our Circumstances
I don’t know what trials you’re facing right now, but I hope that this Christmas you can experience closeness with Christ. Jesus not only came to us and is still with us, but he is also our Savior and High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. Hebrews 4:14–16 says, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
What a mind-blowing truth! Jesus knows what it felt like to be alone in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Jesus knows what it is like to feel searing pain and humiliation. Jesus knows what it’s like to be betrayed by friends. Jesus knows. He knows, and he is there for us. Jesus faced the full wrath of God and separation from the Father, so that you and I never have to be alone and separated from our Father. Christmas means Jesus has come, and it means he’s with us today. Christmas means that, as a believer, you are never truly alone.
The Surprising Savior
Christmas is a celebration of God coming to us and becoming one of us. The anticipation and preparation that leads up to the big day each year is but a taste of what those who were waiting on the Messiah experienced so many years ago. In The Surprising Savior, Dave Furman sets out to examine the familiar stories anew, while stepping back, and appreciating the mind-blowing nature of every little detail surrounding the first Christmas.
