Jesus is the reason for the season

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season” is a phrase spoken in passing. But take Christ out of Christmas and the significance of that day is lost. Christmas without CHRIST is simply one big “mess.”
The shepherds watching their flocks by night, were amazed at the announcement by the angelic host from heaven. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:10-14. And, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” Matthew 1:23.
Some believe the Hebrew word translated “virgin” in the Bible means an unmarried person, references only a young woman. But in Matthew the translation “virgin” from the original writing definitely speaks of a young woman in her virginity.
The virgin birth means that God actually became man and entered the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The coming of God to the world in this birth is “Christmas.” Jesus IS the “Reason for the Season”.
Caesar Augustus, nephew to Julius Caesar, as one of the most powerful of the Caesars, came to a Rome made of brick and left it a city of marble. He transformed not just Rome, but the entire known world with his roads and armies. At his funeral, his mourners thought him a god, and immortal. The man believed to be a god crossed paths in time and space with the God who became a man. The mightiest of men in his time decreed that a census was to be taken which forced Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. “And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
Bethlehem is a Hebrew word meaning “house of bread.” Micah prophesied that the Savior who said to us, “I am the Bread of Life, and he that eats of me shall never die”, (John 6) would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), the House of Bread.

This Christ was a man with no beauty that men would desire Him: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” Isaiah 53:3. He was born in a stable: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” Luke 2:7.
Many pageants portray these events of Jesus’ birth, and the innkeeper is usually cast as something of a villain. But, he is not a bad man, just a busy man. We can identify with that. In this season, we get so busy with Christmas cares and presents, year-end internal revenue matters, shopping and cooking, that there is no room in our lives for the most important guest of all. Like the innkeeper, we are not villains we’re just pre-occupied and harried.
Joseph Bayly penned a wonderful poem Christmas meaning:
“Praise God for Christmas. Praise Him for the Incarnation, for the Word made flesh. I will not sing of shepherds watching flocks on frosty nights, or angel choristers. I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem, or lowing oxen, wise men trailing star with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Tonight, I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son, who became most finite, a baby who would one day be executed for my crime. Praise Him in the Heavens, praise Him in the stable, praise Him in my heart.”
You don’t have to look too deeply to find Christ in Christmas . . . He’s everywhere! Have a very merry Christmas. See you in Church.
Rev. Dr. John I Chamness is pastor of the Family Worship Center A/G in Chester. He may be reached by phone at 573-547-7634 or by email at johnchamness@att.net.