Religion is generally described as man’s search for God, but the Christian religion is not about man’s search for God, but God’s search for man. It is about the Creator and Owner coming in search of the lost mankind. Jesus Christ describes the reason for this coming to earth in these words:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved.”
Constrain of space will permit only the bare outline of the full meaning of Christmas. Many legends and traditions have grown around the Christmas story and have obscured the true meaning of the event.
The birth of Jesus Christ was not meant to be an isolated event, or an end in itself; it has to be understood in the light of His whole ministry and mission. This will take us to the very first Book of the Bible: Genesis.
Here we learn that God created man as a perfect being, meant to enjoy fellowship with his Creator forever. But man fell into the sin of disobedience and consequently lost his fellowship with God.
However, in the very garden of Eden itself, God gave His promise of a Saviour who would come from heaven to earth, in the form of a man, and who would do all that was needed, for mankind to receive God’s mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation with his Creator, to the end that man might once again enjoy eternal life with God..
But for these divine promises to be met, and fulfilled, a condition had to be met, and that was, the offering of a perfect death- sacrifice as an atonement for the sins of all mankind; this alone could satisfy the twofold requirements of God’s love and grace, on the one hand, and His justice and righteousness, on the other.
This is the reason for the human incarnation of Christ, who came to identify completely with our human condition, but without any sin; He revealed by word and example, the love and compassion of God for man. He ultimately offered His own life as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
However, His death was not the end of His mission; He was raised from death on the 3rd day of 40 days later, ascended back to heaven, to intercede for His people as a great High Priest.
The ultimate purpose of Christmas is yet to be accomplished, at the coming again of Jesus Christ, in power and glory. He will establish a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness and peace will reign forever.
Christmas is a celebration of the supreme gifts of divine love, grace, mercy and restoration for fallen mankind. And as it is with only gift, these gifts can be enjoyed through simple faith and acceptance.
This gift is offered freely to all: the song the angels on the night of Christ’s birth was: “We bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord.”
The coming of Christ is intended to fulfill God’s plan for our world, expressed in these words, in the Book of Revelation: “Behold, I make all things new.” His purpose is to create a perfect world, to create in His people a new heart and new spirit, and even new bodies which will be immortal and incorruptible.
God has given man the wisdom and power to change the form and substance of materials for his use and it is therefore not surprising that God can change the form and substance of our human bodies.
This is the glorious hope that Christmas brings: it is nothing less than the answer to man’s perpetual quest for immortality and for perfect joy and peace in a perfect world.- By Dincola Kharkongor ( The writer is a retired English lecturer and member of Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Church)
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