From our Pastor
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Christmas: God Demonstrates His Love
1 John 4:7-11, Matthew 1:18-25 December 24/25, 2007
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So often at this time of year you hear people complaining about how society has commercialized Christmas, and sort of taken it over to make a buck. While a person cannot deny that Christmas has been commercialized, our society has also done a good job of getting out the word about Christmas. Almost everyone knows that we celebrate Christmas on December 25th. While the full message of Christmas is often missing, still there is a vague understanding that somehow this holiday is about family, about God, about love. People in our society seem to understand that Christmas is a time when love is emphasized. Even non-Christians in our society understand that this is to be a special time of love and being with loved ones. The idea of gift giving has certainly made it into our mainstream consciousness. There is no doubt that our society has a lot of things messed up about Christmas. But they’re very close in a lot of ways.
They have it right that Christmas is about love. 1 John 4 surely emphasizes that. In five short verses the word love in its various forms is used 13 times. Christmas is about love. It’s about God’s love for us. “Love is of God” we read in verse 7. “The person who does not love does not know God because God is love.” (8) “Here’s how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him.” (9) This next one really hits home how deeply God loved us. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as the payment concerning our sins.” (10) There you see very clearly where the idea of gift giving at Christmas comes from. God gives the most precious gift, and the most costly gift. He gives his Son. God gives his only Son. God suffers, since he loves Jesus so much, to give him to die for our sins. Because the whole point of giving Jesus as a little baby, is so that Jesus can live for us and die for us to pay for our sins. “You will call his name “Jesus” for he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:21) Love moved God to give that extremely wonderful, and what was for Jesus and for the Father who loved him so much, a very painful gift to give.
Moved by that great love for us, we are, in turn, moved to love one another. “Dearly loved ones, If God loved us like that, we ought to love one another.” (11) That’s the natural response. It’s not that way for some people. “Oh no, they gave me a gift so I’m going to have to get something for them.” No, it’s nothing like that. There’s no obligation. It’s just a matter of being moved by love. Since God loves us so deeply, we want to love in return. It’s a natural response.
Our society also understands that somehow Christmas is about family. Very true. The original family is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The most loving, most complete, most wonderful family of all. Christmas is about sending one family member, Jesus, to come and do what’s necessary (die for our sins) so that we can be made a part of the family. Jesus is born into another family that’s just getting started, Mary and Joseph’s family. But most importantly, he welcomes us into his family. God the Father becomes our Father. Jesus, because he’s our Savior, invites us into his family. We become his brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of our loving Father.
It’s our society’s partial understanding that Christmas is about family that causes so much grief. The lonely, the grieving ache for loved ones who are not with them at Christmas. Also for Christians Christmas can be a very difficult time. But we do not grieve like those who have no hope. The main thrust at Christmas is how God loves us enough to send Jesus to be our Savior. We’re celebrating that our Savior came for us, and forgave us and brought us into his family.
Celebrate love this Christmas: God’s great love for you. Enjoy giving and receiving gifts. Let each present remind you of God’s great gift of his Son to you. Let your gift giving be a response of love to God’s great gift of love to you. And whether you’re with a large loving family this Christmas or all alone, rejoice to know you are not alone. The dear Lord Jesus, who was born as a baby for you to be your Savior, is with you! You are part of a very loving family, God’s family. It’s Christmas… celebrate God’s love for you!
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MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH
2001 N. Alpine Rd.
Rockford, IL 61107
815-399-3171
Pastor Ken Krause: kkrause@mtolivelutheran.com