Is Jesus Really the “Reason for the Season”?
Hmmm . . .
Is Jesus Really the “Reason for the Season”?
The answer to that question depends upon a person’s perspective.
Some individuals don’t care what the Christmas season is about—just celebrate it, ban it, or ignore it. Others, who declare it loudly and fight for the right to do so, believe that Jesus is The Reason for the Season—yet privately admit they dread it, endure it and can’t wait for it to leave. Of course, all children long for it, love it, and enjoy it. But so do many adults who rejoice in this unique opportunity to illuminate the Reason.
But I wonder . . . could there be another perspective we haven’t considered? What about God’s perspective?
What if God thinks we are the reason for the season?
Where on earth would I get such a blasphemous idea? Maybe . . . from God Himself—the Great Gift-Giver?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16 NIV
When you consider all of its ramifications, who is the focus of the above amazing declaration? Not the Gift-Giver. Not the Gift. But the recipient. The world. The whoever. Us. You. I.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God . . . –1 John 3:1 KJV
And what is the Gift’s perspective?
I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly. –John 10:10 KJV
Who are “they”? They are us! From the beginning, Christ knew that coming, bearing himself as our Gift, would be expensive, costing him dearly. His life. Why would he volunteer to leave his perfect environment and lower himself into a polluted mankind destined to die on a cross—if not for us?
But, in all of heaven, wasn’t there anyone else God could have sent? A mighty angel, perhaps? No. Man may not understand it—but the Messiah did.
I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father, but through me. –John 14:6 NAS
More importantly, why would Jesus agree to this unpleasant trip? Because He knew that we, dwelling in darkness—doomed by an inherited spiritual disease—would perish without Him. We desperately need the Light, the only antidote for our dark condition. He knew that he, alone, is our Perfect Solution! Only his sacrificial supernatural love and forgiveness could rescue us, provide us joy and peace in a dark, hurting world and help us overcome all difficult circumstances—no matter how terrible!
And, as if that weren’t enough, his coming would ensure our living with Him eternally. Why is that significant to Jesus? Because he unabashedly declared that he wants us to be with him—forever. (Read what He said in John 14:1-3)
Talk about love!
In light of even this limited verbal and historical evidence, couldn’t we conclude that just maybe we are his reason for the season?
Indeed, multitudes celebrate Christmas to honor the Gift. But what reason does the Gift and Gift-Giver have to celebrate at this time? Wouldn’t they, and all of heaven, rejoice if we, the recipients, gave them a reason to celebrate?
You may wonder how you, a mere earthly mortal, could impact heaven enough to elicit rejoicing. Are you that important to God?
Obviously.
Just think, of all the billions of people ever born or who will be born, there will never be another you. God didn’t use a mold to create you. Nor are you a designer knock off, a cheap replica of a better version. You are the genuine, one-of-a-kind original handcrafted by God himself, the Master Designer. That makes you infinitely precious to him!
Consequently, because you are totally unique and loved so dearly by God, he is immensely interested in you—and your quality of life. Right now. In the present. Your life is no experiment or a trial run—it is real and live action, with no retakes. That’s why God desires that you give it your best shot.
With him.
Don’t fritter away your one and only life by chasing after smoke and mirror illusions, ideas by imposters, things that are not real—much less eternal. But maybe you feel you’ve already done that . . . messed up your life beyond repair.
Good!
That means you are in the perfect position for a remake. God does allow remakes, you know—new beginnings through rebirth, or recommitment and rededication. He knows and loves your heart—so why not place it in his loving, creative hands? His forte is making miracles out of messes!
Hmmm. I wonder. What if each of us dared to believe that we are the reason for the season? Wouldn’t we be humbled to our knees? Wouldn’t our soul finally feel its worth? Wouldn’t our grateful hearts, overwhelmed with awe, love and gratitude, find it impossible to do anything but adore him—so much so that his love would ooze from our very pores? Imagine the impact made upon our circle of influence!
And wouldn’t God, the Great Gift-Giver, and Jesus, the Gift—along with the entire heavenly host—indeed have a reason to celebrate? Yes!!
Because we would be living proof that the Messiah came.