 There are many passages of Scripture that speak to us during the Christmas season. Many times we are drawn to the accounts in Matthew and Luke of the first Christmas night. While these are wonderful and tell us many things, there are two in Paul’s epistles that have special meaning to me. I think that most will see the significance of what Paul wrote in Galatians 4:4-5:
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
In this passage we see just a little of the work done behind the scenes of Christmas. Christmas was no accident and it all worked according to the plans of the Father.
In another passage we see a summary of Christmas from the Son’s perspective.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
These verses encapsulate the Christmas story. More than that, they encapsulate the life of the Messiah. Paul pre-summarizes Handel’s oratorio. Jesus Christ was God. It was nothing for Him to be considered equal with God, because He was God. And while He was God, He made himself of no reputation and became a man. Not only a man, but a servant of men. This is what most remember at Christmas.
Now as He was a man (yet equal with God), He humbled Himself further and allowed Himself to be killed at the hands of other men. He was put to death on a cross at the hands of the leaders of the Jews and Pontius Pilate. This is what most remember at Easter.
Some of you may have an aversion to celebrating Christmas and Easter, and I understand that each of us must stand before the Lord ourself. One man commemorates the day unto the Lord and the other does not commemorate the day unto the Lord. Both live for the Lord either commemorating or not. I want to tell you why I commemorate Christmas and Easter. I know some point to some of the pagan traditions of these holidays, but I celebrate them because Jesus Christ not only came to earth at Christmas and rose from the dead on Easter He also reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Look back at Philippians. Because Jesus humbled Himself and lived and died among us, the Father has exalted Him high above all names and every knee will bow to Him, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Every thing in every place — in heaven, in earth, and even under the earth — will show reverence to Him and confess that He is Lord.
Of what is Jesus Lord? Is there any thing that Christ is not Lord over? Are not all things, even thoughts and imaginations, to be brought under His dominion, to be brought captive to His kingdom (2 Corinthians 10:5)? Is it not all His?
A journalist recently wrote that Christians should stop whining about missing the Christ of Christmas. He said that some historical perspective would show that people have been celebrating at this time of the year for centuries, even centuries before Christ was born! I’ll grant him that people were celebrating at Christmas time before Christ came, but He came! And since He came, He rules all. He is Lord of all. Everything. Even the date on the calendar is changed because of Him. I don’t care whether the Romans, pagans, Catholics, or anyone else set up our calendar, I recognize Christ is Lord of the days, months, and seasons. I don’t care that pagans celebrated the return of the sun, when the time was right the Son came and humbled Himself, and because of that, He is now Lord. Lord of all–even pagan holidays!
You Think Too Much! 