But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

                                                                                                       Luke 2:10-11 

Today: Read Luke 2

It is etched in my mind from childhood. A Charlie Brown Christmas would play around December each year. Within this classic, the kids would discuss the true meaning of Christmas. They were enjoying playing in the snow, searching for the perfect tree, and, of course, rehearsing for the all-important Christmas play. But within all of this seasonal activity, Linus would take center stage in what was largely an empty auditorium to give us the answer to the question of what is the true meaning of Christmas. He recites the larger context of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ. When Linus finishes his soliloquy, he walks off of the stage and announces to Charlie Brown, “That’s what Christmas is all about.”

The angel’s announcement of the birth of Jesus is not just what Christmas is all about, it was a declaration that Christ and His arrival to earth was indeed what all of human existence is about. The One through whom everything was created, the very image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15-16) had come down from heaven to take on human flesh. And what was the purpose for His visit? Consider the following:

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

                                                                                                            John 3:17 

This Christ-child was not sent to condemn the world rather He was sent so that the world might be saved through Him. This is the essence of this good news first announced to those unsuspecting shepherds that first Christmas night.

We need to always remember that the very meaning of the word “gospel” is “good news.” And this good news should bring us great joy. Just like the magi who had seen the star over Bethlehem, hearing about what Christ has accomplished for us should bring joy to our souls. This joy is unmatched by anything else we could experience in this life. In the birth of Jesus, we see the plan of God to forgive and redeem mankind. This redemption and relational restoration is for anyone who will call on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13). This salvation and deliverance from sin and spiritual death is for those who would simply believe.

The penalty for mankind’s rebellion against God is eternal separation from Him. We are entirely incapable of establishing any kind of righteous living (although some people try) that would make us right with God. In other words, there is absolutely nothing we can do to remedy our sinful state. But this is where the cross, in all of its brutality and ugliness, becomes the most beautifully displayed picture of God’s perfect love for us. At the cross, the love of God and the justice of God intersect. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross bridges the gap between sinful mankind and a holy God. When we place our trust in what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross as wholly and entirely satisfactory to secure forgiveness and redemption from God, asking Him to save us, we move from spiritual death into spiritual life. This is far superior to any other religious philosophy as they all focus on what we are to do to be right with God. But the gospel tells us of what God has done on our behalf to be made right. Because God’s grace is superior to our sin (Romans 5:20) and because mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13), it only stands to reason that faith is the currency by which anyone is saved and not works (Galatians 2:16).

The birth of Christ is the focal point for all of history. Although there are those who ignore the centrality of this event, our marking of time, before and after Christ’s birth, is still calculated from Jesus arrival. Likewise, the salvation of a human soul is totally dependent on this one event. Because Christ has come, we have hope! Because Christ has come, we can experience deliverance and salvation. And because Christ has come, we can celebrate along with the shepherds, this good news of great joy!