For years people have proclaimed Jesus is the reason for the
season. Meaning that He is the reason for Christmas. Of course, not everybody
meditates on the Christ child while celebrating the chaos they gleefully dive
into once a year. Some don’t give a thought to the ancient tale of the baby
born of a virgin. Shopping, parties, and forcing screaming toddlers onto
Santa’s lap are the unforsaken traditions. The day after, they clean up the
mess and try to forget the holiday assortment of exhaustion, disappointment,
and debt. Then a year later, they do it all again.
season. Meaning that He is the reason for Christmas. Of course, not everybody
meditates on the Christ child while celebrating the chaos they gleefully dive
into once a year. Some don’t give a thought to the ancient tale of the baby
born of a virgin. Shopping, parties, and forcing screaming toddlers onto
Santa’s lap are the unforsaken traditions. The day after, they clean up the
mess and try to forget the holiday assortment of exhaustion, disappointment,
and debt. Then a year later, they do it all again.
When I say they, I mean us. Even in my community of Christians,
it happens. We live up to our societal expectations, and it’s not such a bad
thing, but we forget the immense reason for this season. The astonishing act of
God coming down here. The ultimate gift for our redemption. The odd plan to
offer our only hope through an infant who was, who is, God Himself. The
awestruck wise men brought good gifts rich in symbolism of the newborn King’s
royalty, His worth, and His future suffering. And now we gift each other with
the trivial, soon broken or forgotten. Even when we offer a gift of great
value, we’re expected to give again next year. ‘Tis the season, after all.
it happens. We live up to our societal expectations, and it’s not such a bad
thing, but we forget the immense reason for this season. The astonishing act of
God coming down here. The ultimate gift for our redemption. The odd plan to
offer our only hope through an infant who was, who is, God Himself. The
awestruck wise men brought good gifts rich in symbolism of the newborn King’s
royalty, His worth, and His future suffering. And now we gift each other with
the trivial, soon broken or forgotten. Even when we offer a gift of great
value, we’re expected to give again next year. ‘Tis the season, after all.
This year, I’ve heard it said that Jesus is the reason for all seasons. Not just Christmas, but
every season. This is the time of year we send out cards embossed with Season’s
Greetings, so what does it mean to declare that Jesus is the reason for all seasons?
The four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter? The seasons of life—birth,
childhood, adulthood, death? The years spent raising children is one season.
Aging brings another season until one dies, leaving others to continue the
seasons. All of life can be categorized into seasons. A nation can be born, and
thrive, and then wane to less than it once was. Even the broad expanse of our
universe, once new and seemingly endless, may shift into variable seasons of
existence. Is Jesus the reason for all seasons?
every season. This is the time of year we send out cards embossed with Season’s
Greetings, so what does it mean to declare that Jesus is the reason for all seasons?
The four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter? The seasons of life—birth,
childhood, adulthood, death? The years spent raising children is one season.
Aging brings another season until one dies, leaving others to continue the
seasons. All of life can be categorized into seasons. A nation can be born, and
thrive, and then wane to less than it once was. Even the broad expanse of our
universe, once new and seemingly endless, may shift into variable seasons of
existence. Is Jesus the reason for all seasons?
If He is the reason for one season, for Christmas, then yes,
He is the reason for all. Speaking of the Christ child, the dying Savior,
victorious Redeemer, and soon returning King of kings and Lord of lords,
Scripture proclaims:
He is the reason for all. Speaking of the Christ child, the dying Savior,
victorious Redeemer, and soon returning King of kings and Lord of lords,
Scripture proclaims:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven
and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all
things, and in him all things hold together.
all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven
and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all
things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17
He is more than we can imagine. And yet this
time of year we view Him simply as a baby. If we pay close attention, if we slow
down, we will remember to behold the infant and celebrate with joy.
What a wonderful gift God gave us.
time of year we view Him simply as a baby. If we pay close attention, if we slow
down, we will remember to behold the infant and celebrate with joy.
What a wonderful gift God gave us.
Every season of our lives, of our world, gives
us hope to know Him, to be redeemed by Him, to seek Him more, to worship Him,
to cling to His love for us, to tell of His goodness, and to obtain His eternity.
So in this merry season, especially when we’re caught up in the holly jolly of
it all, we must fall to our knees before the manger and gaze at the shadow of
the cross. And be awestruck by God’s immeasurable gift.
us hope to know Him, to be redeemed by Him, to seek Him more, to worship Him,
to cling to His love for us, to tell of His goodness, and to obtain His eternity.
So in this merry season, especially when we’re caught up in the holly jolly of
it all, we must fall to our knees before the manger and gaze at the shadow of
the cross. And be awestruck by God’s immeasurable gift.
