Two Reasons to Celebrate Christmas

By: George Moore

#1 - Because Scripture Gives Us Evidence

As we celebrate the Christmas season, many will question why we observe this special day and time? I believe one reason we should celebrate Christmas is because the birth of Jesus caused celebration, praise, and anticipation in the Scripture. In Matthew 2:1-12, Magi from the east sought out this young king to honor him with gifts. 

The next person to celebrate the coming birth of Jesus was Mary’s cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-44). As Elizabeth was marveling at God's own faithfulness toward her as she was awaiting her child, John the Baptist, she praises God for the miracle surrounding Mary. Even John the Baptist, from the womb, praised God for Mary’s good news. 

Lastly, on the day of Christ’s birth, shepherds and angels praised God (Luke 2:9-20) for the birth of the savior of the world. The Good Shepherd was worshipped by shepherds. The One who is greater than the angels was serenaded by angels from the throne of heaven!

From the testimony of Scripture we see a barren woman, an unborn child, Gentile nobles, shepherds and the angels of heaven all taking time to worship and praise the One who would redeem Israel and save the world. If there is any reason to celebrate Christmas, it’s because those who came before us on earth and in heaven demonstrated the appropriate posture we should have regarding an event that changed the course of eternity.

#2 - Because Jesus Is Coming Back 

Paul tells us in Galatians 4:4-5 that “…when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Christmas shows us that God kept his promise to Eve long ago (Gen. 3:15) when He said the “seed of the woman” would crush our enemy, the devil. With Christmas we are reminded that just as an angel told Mary that she would birth the champion of heaven, an angel also declares to the disciples in Acts 1:11, “…this Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 

 Jesus is coming back. He is coming for his church, for those who have believed in His name and we anticipate the day His Kingdom will be fully inaugurated. On that day, our faith will be sight, and we will be received by the One who has purchased our salvation and defeated all our enemies.

Simply put, not only is celebrating Christmas grounded in scripture, it also keeps us focused on the coming King, who will one day make the obedience of the nations is His (Gen. 49:10).