To many people, Christmas is a time to buy and exchange gifts. But what is the true significance of December 25th?
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the founder of Christianity. Christmas is a Christian holiday on December 25 that celebrates the birth of Jesus. His birth changed the whole world -- and Jesus still changes lives today!
Ancient Romans also commemorated Jesus' birth by marking a division of the calendar still in use today. The years before Jesus' birth are marked as B.C. (Before Christ), and the years after Jesus' birth are marked A.D. (Anno Domini, which means, in the year of our Lord).
Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem in Israel over 2,000 years ago; His mother was the virgin Mary. When He was born, an angel proclaimed to shepherds in the field "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Christmas literally means the Mass (celebration) of Christ. "Christ" is a Greek word and title, meaning "anointed" or one set apart by God for a special purpose. "Christ" is equivalent to the Hebrew word "Messiah." Based on the words of the ancient Prophets, the first century Jewish people expected the arrival of the Messiah promised by God as a great deliver of the people.
The historic record of his birth can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20. Unlike any other baby, the one born in Bethlehem was the most unique in all of history. The reason he was so unique was because he was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14).
He is God, the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the "incarnation." This word means "in the flesh." With Jesus being born, our eternal all-powerful and all-knowing Creator - came to earth IN THE FLESH.
When Jesus was born, some people welcomed Him; some ignored Him; and some rejected Him.
There was no room for Him at the inn in Bethlehem, so the Son of God was laid in a manger where animals stayed. Even today, some people welcome Christ and some ignore or reject Him. Jesus came to earth to be our Savior and to die to pay the penalty for our sins.
Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?
It was for LOVE! God's choice to incarnate in the flesh (be born as a baby) was necessary in order for us to be redeemed in the Father God's eyes. That is why Jesus's purpose was fulfilled when he died on the cross for us. This is also referred to as "paying the price for our sins."
In Luke, chapter 2, Mary and her husband Joseph left their home in Nazareth to travel to Joseph's ancestral home, Bethlehem, to enroll in the census. The census was ordered by the Roman emperor, Augustus. Finding no room in inns in the town, they stayed overnight in a stable. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger or stall. Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the home of King David from which Joseph was descended, fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. This is confirmed to Mary by a visit from angels and shepherds.
In Matthew Chapter 1, we read about the genealogy and birth of Jesus. Also there we find out about the Wise Men from the Orient (likely China) to where Jesus was staying after his birth in Bethlehem. The wise men, or Magi, first arrived in Jerusalem. They told the king of Judea, Herod the Great, that they had seen a star heralding the birth of a king. They asked around, and found out that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea. They discovered where Mary and Joseph were. They went to see the baby Jesus, and presented Jesus with treasures of "gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
Jesus's birth on earth is also known as the most important "Good News," signifying that God Himself chose to come from heaven to earth to help make earth more like heaven.
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