Pastor Wayne Evans
New Hope Christian Church
What does Christmas really mean? More importantly, what does it really mean to YOU?
To many children, it means Santa comes to where they are to bring them what they want. To many adults, it means shopping and the problem of deciding what to buy at a permissible price for someone who probably has everything they already need! Both of those meanings seem pretty selfish to me.
Christmas really means “EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US!” This event we celebrate is the coming of the One and Only begotten Son of God to bring salvation to a lost and dying world.
Christianity begins here! “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God”. (John 1:1) That WORD is Jesus Christ!
Christmas means the “Light shone in darkness” (see John 1:4,5 & Isaiah 9:2). Remembering that God actually came to us as a little child should remove all dread of God. He is not to be dreaded or ignored, but to be adored, as we do babies!
EMMANUEL means: the One True God came to live with man; to die for man; to rise from the dead for man; and to ascend to heaven and make intercession for man!
This birth marked the intercession of Eternal with Time! Jesus is so ‘Emmanuel’ that our very existence is upheld by Him every moment! We do not exist just by chance; ‘In HIM we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28). Without HIM, we can do NOTHING! (John 15:5)
He is not only with us, but with the entire world; not only to exhibit His power and Might, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Speaking of Jesus in Acts chapter 4:12, the Bible states, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved”.
• By the Light of Nature…we see God above us:
• By the Light of the Law…we see God against us:
• By the Light of the Gospel (JESUS)…we see God with us! Reconciling us to Himself!
It is most appropriate at this season when there is great darkness that we celebrate the great LIGHT.
If you haven’t accepted the Light of the World, then you really aren’t ready for Christmas!
CHRISTMAS REALLY MEANS EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US!
