When I was in the UK in my mid-20s, before I was a Christian, I perceived Christmas with two purposes. First, it’s a commercial celebration where people spend lots of money buying expensive presents for whole families and friends. Second, it’s a family gathering with a huge Christmas lunch served with roast turkey with all sorts of stuffing, mashed potato, and red wine. They would love to have a white Christmas with snowflakes outside the window, holding a cup of hot chocolate in their palms, sitting next to a fireplace in a cosy living room. Outwardly, they seem to know how to enjoy life; but inwardly, they are lonely, melancholy, and depressed without a sense of worth with their existence. Are you in this category? Are you living a very busy life, always striving to meet work deadlines, running like a headless chicken, and feeling empty inside? That’s me before I know Jesus.

Now, I perceive Christmas in a completely different paradigm. It’s not about Santa Claus riding a reindeer sleigh,  sending presents to the children on Christmas Eve. It’s neither about the fancy decoration of Christmas trees nor the exchange of presents at Christmas party. It’s a very sacred day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the King of kings, the Prince of peace; yet He is willing to humbly come down lowly to be born as a vulnerable baby in a manger through Mary on a starry night in Bethlehem. This baby was born with an incredible dazzling mission for the salvation of those who believe in him. 

Baby Jesus grew up just like an ordinary child with a carpenter father, Joseph, and a loving mother, Mary. When Jesus was about 30 years old, he began his earthly ministry. He is very compassionate, especially for the sick, the poor, the widow, the orphans, and the sinners. He walked to many places to heal the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others. “The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:31). The religious leaders grumbled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2). Indeed, Jesus came to call the sinners to repentance, to teach them to turn away from their sinful lives, to love God and love one another. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). He took the punishment of death from all our sins so that we can be reconciled to God with the eternal hope of life. This is the supreme purpose of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day.

Do you know why you were born in this world? Have you found out the purpose of your existence?? If you haven’t, you must not waste your life anymore but seriously ponder and ask God what is the purpose that He created you. Before you know it, your life could have finished without knowing. It would be too late if you end up in the wrong place after death.

I like to share this classic sacred Christmas Carol, O Holy Night (original title: Cantique de Noël), composer in 1847 by Adolphe Adam, a French composer, with the lyrics written by a French poet, Placide Cappeau. This poem is so beautifully written. I like to share Verse 1 and 3 here:

Verse 1

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

Verse 3

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise his name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!