Running the Race: Christmas is Good News For Everyone

Christmas is a fantastic time of the year. It’s a time of joy. It’s also a bit of a time of unexpectedness. You never quite know what’s going to be in the package, if you’re fortunate enough to get one under a tree. It’s a time of joy, and though, for a lot of people, Sam, it can be a time of sadness, as well. Some people are lonely, some people, this is a very hard time of year, but, when we look around, there are lots of lights, there’s plenty of laughter, and Christmas often speaks of a time of joy. But, Sam, why is it a time of joy for you as a Christian?

For me? Because I think it’s the time that I remember that Jesus came into the world, that he became one of us.

Exactly, and I believe that you nailed sort of what the purpose of Christmas is and why we celebrate it. It says this in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 9 and 10.

“An angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people, for today in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.'”

And this verse here reminds us, Sam, that the reason we celebrate Christmas is that we have joy. There’s great joy for all people. And notice, the Bible doesn’t say it’s great joy for just a few. It doesn’t say if you’re from a particular race or a particular demographic. This is good news for all people.

But why is it good news? Well, the Bible says that it is good news because there is a saviour who is born, and this reminds us the fact that God cares so much and loves the world so much that He enters into it, and this is the joy, and this is the unexpectedness. Our world is broken, and yet God enters into it, and He sends His Son, Jesus, to be our saviour, and this gives us hope. When we look around, it’s easy to look at the TV, even to listen to the news, and it’s pretty discouraging. The world is broken, and there’s a lot of disappointment, there’s a lot of hardship, but the great message of Christmas is God has done something about it. He sent his son, Jesus, to come to bring great joy for all people, and I think that’s… We often talk in clichés, but that is the best gift of Christmas, is Jesus. God gives Himself so that we can have a good relationship with Him.

Yeah, a wonderful thing to celebrate this Christmas, and not just at Christmastime, but all year round, right?

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

That’s exactly right, and one of the things we often forget is why Christmas is important. Christmas speaks of something even greater. God enters the world to fix the world, and He does it by sending Jesus, but ultimately, this baby who we often celebrate at the Westfield and see in the manger will live a perfect life, die for us, and be raised back to life so that we can enjoy the goodness of God, not just one day a year, but for the rest of eternity.

And I think that’s something we can all celebrate at Christmastime. Thanks so much, Mal.