Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

Imagine a football player stepping onto the field without knowing how to pass, block or tackle. The excitement of the game would fade quickly without a grasp of its fundamentals. Similarly, the spirit of Christmas is diminished if we lose sight of its purpose. I believe it’s time to get back to the basics.

What is the true purpose of the Christmas season? Is it only about decorations and gifts? Are these what touch a person at the core and provide peace, love and joy? Or is there something else?

Somehow, like a football player decked out to play but lacking in the basics, our culture has created a game that seems exciting but lacks meaning.

To reclaim the season’s joy and purpose, we must return to its foundations and embrace its true meaning. So let me remind you of the true details, design and delight of the Christmas season.

The Details:

Centuries ago, an angel from God appeared to a young virgin. The angel told Mary she would conceive a child through the Holy Spirit, and He would be the Savior of the world.

When her fiancé, Joseph, found out Mary was pregnant, he planned to quietly release her. But the angel also gave Joseph the miraculous news that Mary was carrying the Savior and encouraged him to marry her.

Near the end of Mary’s pregnancy, the governor decreed that each person must return to his ancestors’ home to register for a tax. Joseph, hailing from Bethlehem, packed up and journeyed with his wife to the City of David.

Upon arrival Mary went into labor, but due to the crowds, they couldn’t find a place to stay. An innkeeper offered them his stable. It was in this humble place that Mary birthed Jesus and laid Him in a manger.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, God sent an angel to announce the news to shepherds. The amazed shepherds left their flocks and traveled into town to worship the newborn King.

The Design:

Jesus’ birth was not a random happening, but an event that had been foretold in the Old Testament. The story occurred just as the prophets had said. God, the Creator, heard His people’s cries and planned to rescue them.

To do this, He sent His only Son to be born in human flesh. Jesus lived the perfect life and through His death and resurrection made reconciliation with God possible. 

The Delight:

The delight of Christmas comes in remembering all God has done for us. It is through Jesus we receive salvation.

There is no real way to fully enjoy Christmas if we have lost the details, design and delight of the truth. So, this year consider the purpose of our festivities. After all, Christmas without truth, like football players without training, has no meaning.