CHRISTMAS BEGINS WITH “CHRIST”
Christmastime is a season of great joy and celebration! But this joy and celebration will be hollow if we fail to hold in tension the “who” and the “why” behind Christmas. “Who” are we celebrating and “Why” are we celebrating this obviously important person? Why the Christmas dinners, the exchange of gifts, the rejoicing and general sense of goodwill all around? In one word: CHRIST! Jesus Christ gives Christmas its meaning: A Saviour is born! HE IS the Redeemer SENT to buy our freedom from sin. And so the angel declared most appropriately, “joy to the world” to herald the birth of the most important person to enter the history of humankind! “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10–11, NIV) At Christmas the whole world is suddenly enwrapped in the spirit of love and of joy just as the angel declared at that firs