I love Christmas.  I enjoy giving gifts (and receiving them in moderation).  I enjoy spending time with family and friends.  I enjoy stuffing myself with various food items and watching football on television.  I even enjoy hearing Christmas music on the radio (for the first 14 hours at least).

But more than all that stuff, I love CHRISTMAS.  I am amazed that the God of the Universe loved us so much that He sent His own Son – Jesus Christ – to take on flesh and dwell among us.  I really like how The Message Bible phrases this sentiment (John 1:14).  It tells us that Jesus (the Word, God’s Son) “became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”  Unbelievable.

Why?  Because we were created to live in a relationship with our Creator.  He made us with the opportunity to choose good or evil and we chose evil.  That left a separation between this Holy God and the unholy us.  And no matter what we tried, how we thought we could “make up for it” or “be a good person,” we couldn’t — ever.  This is why religion itself is a failing venture.  Because there is no way we can make our way to God.  In less spiritual terms, we were screwed.  Because the price to be paid for these screw-ups (aka: sin) is death.

That’s where Christmas comes in. 

The turning point of God’s Conspiracy to save us and redeem us is that He sent Jesus.  Not to be born into a wealthy family with a silver spoon up his in his mouth.  Not to rise up to political power or special religious office.  But to be born to a common, hard-working, real family. 
And to live a sinless life. 
And most importantly to die in our place.  To pay the price for all of our sin. 
And not only that, but being fully God, Jesus defeated the one thing that takes out all of the rest of us: death itself. 
He rose again three days later a victorious champion.
Through the finished work of Jesus, God made a way for us to Himself.

And He offers that payment to us for nothing more than to receive it.  What a deal!  In return for cashing in our screwed up lives, He gives us a new one.  Complete with a relationship with God now and forever.  Eternity.

Yeah, we celebrate all of this again at Easter, but it’s Christmas that made Easter possible.  It’s only because of Jesus’ birth, that we can celebrate His death.  It’s only because of Jesus’ death that we can celebrate His resurrection.  And it’s only His resurrection that gives us Hope.  For today.  For tomorrow.  And for eternity.

And that’s why I love Christmas!