Christmas, a Love Story

No, this is not a re-telling of a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.

Instead, it’s the re-telling of “The Reason for The Season.”

Of course, it is Jesus’ birth and what that means to all humankind that is indeed the reason for the season.

And it is a Love Story, as declared in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Now, that’s love!

Let’s take a look at Christmas, a Love Story, with a simple and old-fashioned outline that will help us receive and retain the message it has for us.

Let’s take the word LOVE and give each letter a word that unpacks it’s meaning and it’s truth.

L

O

V

E

Lineage. Does that word ring a bell with you from the familiar Luke 2 story? It’s there. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.”

Both Luke and Matthew begin their Gospel accounts with elaborate lineate reports. Back in Genesis, God chose Abraham to be “blessed to be a blessing,” and promised him that the Savior of the world would come through his family line, which carried on through King David and finally to Joseph and Mary. So, God fulfilled His promise with Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, and the lineage of Jesus was of upmost importance.

Obedience. The obedience of both Mary and Joseph seems almost impossible to our modern minds and hearts. Just imagine the human doubts and questions that had to assault both of them. Surely, they could have yielded to human reason and rationale and refused their mission.

But they obeyed with an obedience to God that rendered to the world the greatest blessing and gift of all time. What love God showed to them. What love they showed for God. And what love they showed for each other.

Victory. We must remember again this Christmas that it’s meaning is not “how precious and sweet this little baby was.” No, indeed, the meaning is that with the birth of Christ Jesus, God set in motion the ultimate victory for humankind over our foes of sin, death, and the devil.

This baby was the Son of God, who would be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This baby was to be the full sacrifice for all sin as He would give His life on the cross. This baby would be the resurrected Lord, offering eternal life to all who believe. Victory. God’s victory. Our victory.

Evangelism. This is kind of a “churchy” word, but it simply means, “Good News telling.”  This Love Story has so many instances of good news telling. Two examples are these from Luke 2.

The angel proclaimed to the shepherds, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

And the shepherds, what did they do after they had come to Bethlehem to see this babe? “They made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.” It was news too good to keep to themselves. They couldn’t help but tell others.

And this same good news telling is a part of our lives, as well. The news of Christ the Savior and His whole life story is too good to keep to ourselves. We can only do the natural thing and tell as many others the good news we have received. And we most certainly begin with our own family, where we have our most powerful sphere of influence.

Christmas. It is truly a Love Story. You can remember it and tell it with these simple words: Lineage, Obedience, Victory, and Evangelism.

This is “The Reason for The Season!”

Merry Christmas. I’ll see you at the manger.

Dr. Justin Kollmeyer is a grandpa of eight and a thirty-nine-year resident of Fayette County. As a retired pastor, he is available for a Christ-centered, Biblical, traditional message or teaching. Contact him at [email protected]