It has been said, “This person has the spirit of Christmas.” Or, “That person does not have the spirit of Christmas.” What does the spirit of Christmas mean? Is it the spirit of giving? How about joy? What about peace? Or is it about celebration? It is all of that and much, much more. Christmas is a celebration of the approximate birth date of Jesus Christ. It is a bit more complicated. He is eternal, but He took the form of human flesh and was born in that flesh on or about Christmas time. Mary was visited by angel Gabriel to tell her the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of God will overshadow her in Luke 1:35. God is able to do the impossible. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty; in Zechariah 4:6 latter portion. Mary was pregnant just like any other woman who was pregnant and had babies. It was an ordinary day just like any other, according to the world. But the heavens were celebrating in Luke 2. The angels were singing in heaven. Jesus’ star appeared in the sky according to Matthew 2:2. He was born in Bethlehem. It took Caesar Augustus to issue a decree for everyone to go back to their hometowns to register in the census; see it in Luke 2:1-3. Otherwise, He would have been born in Nazareth. However, prophecy had to be fulfilled.
Who is this child that caused heaven to rejoice over? Isaiah 9:6-7 stated, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Why were we given this child? The answer comes in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We were the reason Jesus Christ was born. He loves us and wants us reconciled with the Father. What is the spirit of Christmas? It is the spirit of love. He is the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ. I wish you the fullness of Jesus Christ this Christmas. Ephesians 3:14-19 says, “… I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
