Christmas exists for one reason and one reason only – to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today is not a day to celebrate the birth of Pierre Poilievre, Maxime Bernier, or Donald Trump. Neither is it a day to celebrate the births of Justin Trudeau, Caesar Augustus, or Moses.
Instead, it’s a day to celebrate the birth of a baby from Bethlehem, for He offers us a salvation from death that none of our politicians can ever provide.
As we open presents and wish each other good cheer, we celebrate Jesus’ first arrival because it launched the ultimate fulfillment of our liberation. We laugh and smile with a happy hope in our hearts, knowing that Christ has already come.
But did you know that He’s coming again?
At this time, we celebrate the first Christmas. In no time at all, we’re going to celebrate the final Christmas. Soon, we’ll sing new carols and start new traditions in commemoration of Our Lord’s last arrival.
It should be noted that Christ’s second coming is going to be completely opposite His first.
For example, Jesus initially came to save the world from sin, but He’s coming again to save the world from sinners. He won’t flee from His enemies as He once had to do; on the contrary, His enemies will hopelessly flee Him. Christ had to hide from Herod, but Herod will soon be hiding from Christ.
To take another example, 2000 years ago, no one recognized our Lord even though they had eyes to see Him. The next time He comes, everyone will recognize our Lord, even if only because His glory will make them lose their sight.
Finally, Christmas tends to produce pictures of a little baby dressed in poverty and tattered rags, but one day, we’ll behold a King who’s dressed in white robes and a golden sash. He’s not coming again to be ruled, but to rule.
The list goes on, but the point is already clear. In Bethlehem, our Lord didn’t come with fanfare and splendor. He wasn’t hailed by cheering masses, but braying donkeys and bleating sheep. He wasn’t clothed with power and majesty, but swaddling clothes and derogatory insults.
All that is going to change. He’s coming back, and His second coming is prophesied to be nothing like His first.
And yet, whether it’s the first or final Christmas, the reason we celebrate this day is ultimately the same: No matter how hard we try, we can’t get to our King, so our King comes to us. Earth can't ascend to Heaven, so in an act of supreme humility we can never comprehend, Heaven descends to Earth.
Merry Christmas!