Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
(Matthew 1:18-21) It is not an overstatement to say,
“Christmas is a big deal!” This is seen as people go through a lot of work and spend a lot of money on decorations and lights. Department and retail stores go through huge in-store makeovers. Schedules, vaca - tions and travels are planned around Christmas day.
So, the question is, why? Why is Christmas such a big deal? Why all the hassle, all the work, and in many ways, all the expense?
If we were to ask a variety of people why Christmas is important, we would probably get a variety of answers.
Some people might say that Christmas is important, because it is about spend- ing time with those we love and are loved by. Some people might say that
Christmas is important, because it is about giving gifts and receiving gifts which are tangible manifestations of love. Others might point to the importance of Christmas in recalling, sharing and making memories. And still others might say that Christmas is (in all honesty) an important time of the year for the financial success of their business!
While all such responses are not bad per se, there is another answer.
A bigger answer. The reading above from Matthew 1 says that Christmas is a big deal, because God comes to dwell among us in Jesus to take away our sins.
This is big, because sin lies behind ALL of our problems. Sin being the wrong things we do that go against God's word and design of life. For sin lies behind the heartache, guilt and shame that we feel in life. Sin lies behind the tears, death and despair that we experience in life. Sin lies behind the broken and chaotic world that we live in. Because of sin, all of us are left to struggle in some way.
But our struggle, then, helps us see why Christmas is such a big deal!
Jesus has come to take away our sin which leads to all the bad things in life.
Jesus has come to take away our sin to make everything perfect, good and new. Which includes all of creation.
Which includes you and me too!
Through Jesus’ perfect life, death and resurrection, Jesus pays the price for your sin and mine. Through faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven. And when Jesus comes again on the Last Day, we will see what it means for our sin to be gone. Revelation 21:4-5 describes it this way: “’He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” In summary, this is what Christmas leads to. This is what Christmas is all about. And because of this, Christmas IS a big deal. A blessed, joyful and peace-filled Christmas to you!
(Rev. Brian Tuma, Immanuel Lutheran Church)
