“For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given.” — Isaiah 9:6
The birth of Jesus was the splendor and majesty of heaven personified in a human body. It was when heaven entered humanity. He who was spirit became flesh. The extraordinary became ordinary. He was nobility clothed in poverty. God entered this world through Jesus to make him more relatable and accessible to everyone.
Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus with family gatherings, gift giving and worship. His birth ushered in hope, protection and promises that are true, unbreakable and the fulfillment of prophecies.
God promised to never leave or forsake us. Jesus was born so that he would always be with us. His name, Emmanuel, means “God with us.” In our high moments of celebration, jubilance and joy, Jesus is with us. In seasons of loss, exhaustion, sorrow, pain, suffering and grief, Jesus is with us. His divine presence is with us as a protector from hurt, harm, threats and danger.
He doesn’t wait on the sideline of hardships and tragedies; he walks through the floods and fires with us. He abides with us as a caring comforter; he consoles us. He dwells with us as a balm to heal brokenness, fractures and wounds. He is omnipresent and sitting right next to us at the same time. His promise of presence gives us the assurance that no matter how tough or troubling life becomes, there is someone who loves us so much that he will shoulder our burdens, fix our problems and give us peace.
He promised us salvation. The birth of Jesus represented God’s salvific covenant with us. Despite our many sins of commission and omission, he promised to save us from all of them. As our savior, he cleanses our soul from unrighteousness and redeems us. Within this divine redemption is the promise that we will see him again.
Lying in the manger in Bethlehem were thousands of years of pardons, interventions, amnesty, mercy, justice and forgiveness for unborn generations. Wrapped in swaddling clothes were answered prayers, healed wounds, cancelled debt, defeated threats and eradicated stigmas. Equipped only with whimpers, he delivered empathy and compassion for those who would be bullied, beat up and buried by hearts of stone, eyes with scales and ears that don’t listen. Resting in a cradle lined with hay, Jesus illuminated the Earth with second chances, do-overs, fresh starts and hope that we did not know we would need.
He promised inclusion — Revelation 22:17, “Whosoever will, let him come.” From a smelly, dusty Bethlehem barn, Jesus’ boundless mercy spread across continents, countries and communities to people who were distant and disconnected from him.
He promised to fight our battles. For centuries, nations and communities have been obsessed with weaponizing, warring and winning. Battles have been fought over land, principles or simply the desire to be right. When we lay down our weapons, which can be words, there is no need for revenge, retribution or retaliation. He promised us peace.
The promises beyond the manger are available to everyone — saints, sinners, believers and unbelievers. Jesus was born to die for our transgressions. The Christmas season is a time for us to reflect on the greatest gift to mankind: the birth of Jesus. It invites us to testify of his goodness and the grace extended to us even when we didn’t ask for it or deserve it. It urges us to remember his promises which are customized to our circumstances. There is deliverance, freedom and peace in God’s promises. Our hurts, challenges, needs, desires and dreams are different for every one of us, but familiar and fixable by our promise-keeper.
The birth of Jesus is holy, sacred, joyful and hopeful. We can celebrate and rejoice in knowing that ever-present peace, protection and possibilities abound because God, through Jesus, kept and still keeps his promises. You are God’s promise. This holiday season, let’s share God’s greatest gift and his promise with one another. Let’s remember that the real gifts are not under the tree, but around the table, across the street, down the road, in your contacts, at the shelter and inside of you. Merry Christmas!