The Reason for Christmas

Merry Christmas from Harvey Cedars!

During Christmas, Christians celebrate one of the most important events in history: Jesus, the God-Man, being born in human flesh. But to end our celebration and remembrance there would miss the bigger picture. Christmas and Easter are separated by about three months, but they are deeply intertwined; we cannot celebrate one without acknowledging the other.

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus tells us why he came that Christmas morning over two thousand years ago: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This powerful verse captures the essence of both Christmas and Easter. The title “Son of Man” speaks to his humanity, necessary for the sacrifice that pays for our sins, and his divinity, necessary to satisfy God’s wrath and provide us with righteousness and life. Furthermore, it alludes to the future kingdom he will usher in as its ruler.

There is so much to meditate on in this verse as we look forward to his second coming. Watch the video above for a short greeting from Executive Director Jon Oldham.