Minister’s Blog

The Christmas season is celebrated both as a secular and a religious holiday personified in Santa Claus and the baby Jesus. We Christians believe we have a duty to insert the Christian concept of Christmas into the season. A popular slogan among us is the statement, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” We intend for this statement to influence the secular world to remember that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ. From a biblical position how accurate is the statement that Jesus is the reason for the season? This slogan needs some scrutiny.

To answer this question we need to examine the Bible again to remind ourselves why Jesus came to this earth as a human baby. The angel’s conversation in Matthew chapter one to Joseph explaining why Mary was pregnant though still a virgin provides us with an answer. The angel informed Joseph he would name this child Jesus for He would save His people from their sins. In Luke 2 the angels announced to the shepherds guarding their sheep, “Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke informs us Jesus came to be the Savior. When we believed in Jesus as the Christ with all our hearts, repented of our sinful attitude, confessed the name of Christ and were baptized, we made Jesus our Savior and Lord permitting Him to save us from our sins.

The reason for this season is to offer us forgiveness and salvation through Jesus’ sinless life and suffering, death and resurrection. Christmas is about Jesus’ birth into our world but we are the beneficaries of God’s gracious gift of an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, we sinners are the reason for the season. Have a Merry Christmas!

In His Love,
Terry Jones, Senior Minister, Christ’s Church at Tiffin