Why the Nativity:

A Christmas Message

Christmas has been a long standing tradition in the western world.  Many of the things we do today were established long ago, like giving gifts.  This tradition is intended to remind us of the birth of Jesus.  The gifts remind us of the three wise men and their gifts to the baby Jesus.  They also remind us of the great gift Jesus was and is to us.  Most people know the nativity story pretty well.  However, have you ever taken a moment to think about why it had to happen?  Why does this world need a Messiah?  What was Jesus’ purpose on this earth?  What should be my response to his ministry?  I want to try to answer some of those questions, so if you would, please grab your bible and check out the scriptures I’m going to point to.  Let’s examine these things together and learn the answers to these life-changing questions.

I think the best place to start in order to answer these questions is the book of Genesis.  This book, written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, explains the reason for his coming.  In Genesis chapter 3 it tells of the fall of man, a time when sin (disobedience to God’s will) entered the world.  Further in Gen. 3:15 the first prophecy of the Messiah is given.  Therefore, in this passage we have God’s great plan for the Messiah and man all in one chapter hundreds of years before it would come to pass.  We learn from this that the purpose of the Messiah is to redeem man from sin.  Look at these other scriptures that attest to the same truth.  Isaiah 53 gives one of the most vivid descriptions of what the Messiah was to do.  Take special note of vv. 10-12.  We are told here that he was to be an offering for sin.  There are a host of other passages that speak to this very truth:  Mt. 1:21-23; Jn. 1:29; Acts 4:12.  Of course, those aren’t all of the passages, but I think you get the point.  It was the plan from the beginning that this little baby born in a stable would suffer and die for the sins of men.

Therefore, he suffered and died for you.  Think about it.  Have you ever done something contrary to God’s will?  Have you ever lied (Mt. 5:33-37)?  Have you ever stolen anything?  Have you ever committed adultery (Mt. 5:27-32)?  Have you ever committed murder (Mt. 5:21-26)?  If you’ve done these things you’ve sinned against God.  Romans 3:23 says, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  That means what Jesus came to do he came to do for you!  What a comfort to know that the creator of all that you see, the whole universe, loved you enough to send his son to save you from your sins (Jn. 3:16).  This is probably the most amazing Christmas gift anyone could ever hope to receive.  This is the grace of God, he sent his son to reconcile you to himself (Col. 1:19-22).

Thus, Jesus did the hard part in this plan.  Does he want you to do anything?  What is your responsibility now?  That, of course, is the next logical question.  Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, has laid out some important things that are necessary to receive this gift of salvation.  The first condition is that we must believe that Jesus is who he says he is (John 1:12; Acts 13:39).  Of course there are many scriptures that attest to this fact, but in all reality all we need is one verse that gives this command to make it a part of the conditions for receiving the gift. 

What more?  Is belief all that is required?  Examine James 2:18-20.  It is obvious that belief is not the only requirement.  The bible also places great emphasis on repentance.  Take a look at the following verses: 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Cor 7:9-10; Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 8:22.  As you can see there are many verses speaking to the necessity of repentance and many more are given in the scriptures that aren’t listed here.  However, there are still two more conditions to receive the gift of salvation.  The bible also stresses confession of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.  The following verses speak to this truth: Mt. 10:32; Rm. 10:9-10; 1 Jo. 2:32. Again, there are many more verses in the bible that say similar things.  Finally, the last condition to be met in order to receive the gift of salvation is immersion (baptism) for the remission of sins, as the following verses attest: Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; Rm. 6:3-8; 1 Pet 3:20-21.

Thus, we have the whole purpose of the Messiah and the conditions to receive the gift of salvation.  The gift of salvation was and still is the greatest Christmas gift any of us can receive.  It all began in a little stable, with a little baby, on a beautiful starry night.  The real meaning of Christmas isn’t all the material possessions we exchange among ourselves, or the food we eat, or even the family we spend it with, though all those things are precious and wonderful.  The real purpose and meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the Messiah and the offering of a great a perfect gift to each one of us.  I hope, that this Christmas and throughout the year, you will take time to reflect on these things.  It doesn’t matter if you are or are not a Christian now.  We all need reminders of the amazing grace of God and what he has done for us.  Therefore, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful, God-centered year to come.

Clayton Clark