Matthew 1:18, Matthew 1:21, Isaiah 9:6

Howard Drummond considers the true meaning of Christmas

Howard Drummond

I don't know if you've seen the recent Sainsbury's advert that shows what goes on during Christmas Day at a variety of people's homes and occasions? Young, old, big, small, those who wear their onesies and those in their Christmas jumpers, all react in different ways towards Christmas.

There are many emotions expressed through the advert; those who are happy, those who "don't like" their gift; those who are not appreciative of what they've received.

I especially like the little boy who is repeatedly saying a word I can't understand, whilst frantically almost running on the spot in his green pyjamas by the Christmas tree. He's evidently excited about Christmas!

Is he excited for the right reason? He has every right to be excited about receiving a gift that has his name on it; perhaps being the very thing he wants this Christmas. But perhaps unappreciated by him is the fact that someone else has paid the price for the gift that he is so excitedly about to unwrap and receive.

I don't know about you but when I see a new born baby I get excited, especially if it's my own. I was at both births of our two children and I was really excited. I loved their chubby cheeks, tiny hands and feet, the very little or no hair they had and their first little sneeze or yawn.

Jesus Christ who was born in a manger was the gift given to all of humanity to pay the price for all humanity, wrapped in swaddling clothes, to be revealed to all mankind.

'And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins'. Matthew 1:21

You may ask, "What's so exciting about that?"

A few verses before in Matthew 1 it's mentioned how the birth was to come about. The exciting thing about those verses is that of how the baby was to be conceived; not by natural means, but by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). This may seem quite difficult to understand or even conceive, but it's the truth.

The result of such a conception was that of the greatest gift of all time, given to every one of us; Jesus Christ.

As we get excited about Christmas; excited about unwrapping the presents that have our name written on them, I would like us to take time to think about the gift of Jesus Christ and to get excited afresh about unwrapping the gift of who He is: Wonderful; a Counsellor; a Mighty God; Everlasting Father and a Prince of Peace.

'For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.' Isaiah 9:6

There is a Sesame Street film called 'Elmo Saves Christmas'. In the film Elmo says, "Wouldn't it be great to have Christmas every day?" Elmo is granted his request and so Christmas came everyday; Christmas dinners every day, presents brought, wrapped and given every day. The singing of Christmas carols happened, every day.

In the end he discovered that the meaning of Christmas was lost. Elmo saves Christmas by making it that one day of the year that is given to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who offers a gift to us every single day; the gift of Him being Wonderful; a Counsellor; a Mighty God; Everlasting Father and a Prince of Peace.

This Christmas as you give and receive gifts, I hope that you too experience and celebrate afresh the real meaning of Christmas and perhaps unwrap new parts to Jesus' nature that you've not encountered before.