What is the True Meaning of Christmas?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services
Q: What is the true meaning of Christmas, in your opinion? I hear a
lot about peace and good will and things like that around
Christmastime, but is this the whole story? -- R.W.
A: Peace and goodwill are certainly part of the meaning of Christmas;
when the angels announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds outside
Bethlehem, the Bible says they were "praising God, and saying, 'Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'"
(Luke 2:13-14, KJV).
But this isn't the whole meaning of Christmas -- as the angel made
clear to those shepherds. Do you remember his message? "Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord"
(Luke 2:11). This is the true meaning of Christmas: A Savior has come
into the world for us! This is good news -- the best news we can
possibly imagine! This is why the angels praised God, and why the
shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus.
You see, by nature we are separated from God because of our sin. Our
greatest need is to have our sins forgiven so we can be reconciled to
God. But how is this possible? We can't cleanse ourselves of our sins;
only God can do that. And that is what He did, by sending His only Son
into the world as the final and complete sacrifice for our sins.
Now, because of Him, we can have our sins forgiven, and we can know
that someday we will be with Him in heaven forever. My prayer is that
this Christmas you will discover the greatest gift of all -- the gift
of Christ -- and by faith you will receive Him into your heart today.
Your life will never be the same.
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Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C.,
28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association:
www.billygraham.org.
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