Was your tree down and the decorations packed away the day after Christmas? Or do you like for them to linger into the new year? I have been known to leave mine up into February, at which time embarrassment sets in and I can’t move quickly enough to restore the house to normalcy. Regardless of when we dismantle the festive décor, though, Christmas doesn’t need to end on the morning of December 26. In fact, for followers of Christ, it shouldn’t.
The birth of Jesus was prophesied and watched for with great expectancy for hundreds of years. But it was not an isolated historic event. It was the catalyst for a monumental shift in all creation because the Savior of the world had come down from heaven. Jesus had to be born in the physical body of a man so he could live a sinless life by the power of the Holy Spirit. That was the only way his death and resurrection could redeem us from our sin and reconcile us to our Father.
You see, Jesus’ birth was only the beginning of the Christmas story. As spectacular as it was, by itself it would not have accomplished its purpose of delivering us from a life of darkness. Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).
It was paramount that Jesus continue his work through the years of his life on earth. Otherwise, we would have no other option than to remain in the darkness of sin, shame, despair, helplessness—of separation from God.
If we celebrate Jesus’ coming on December 25, then return to our regularly scheduled lives on December 26, we will be missing out on the relationship with him that he came to make possible. He doesn’t want one glorious day a year with us, but to live life with us each and every day. He wants to shower us with his love, teach us his ways, guide us through the difficult places, include us in his kingdom work.
Jesus came so he could be with us.
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us”(Matthew 1:23). God promised he will always be with us. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Followers of Christ can be assured that he will be in their lives every day.
You know those feelings you get as Christmas nears—the joyful anticipation, the unbridled expectancy, the unquenchable hope? The feeling that the best thing in the world is about to happen? On December 25, we celebrate the beginning of the best thing that ever happened in the world: God with us. And we can continue the celebration every day thereafter if we don’t pack Jesus away with the nativity.
Jesus wants to be with us every day. If we choose to be with him, every day can be Christmas.
Scripture quotations are from NIV.
Brenda+Murphy
January 7, 2025That is so true! I struggle to even relate to Jesus as a baby because he’s so real as who he is now. Christmas is merely a reminder of the greatest gift, but what matters is who he is to us now. 🙂
Bonnie
January 7, 2025We are a forgetful people and certainly do need to be reminded of many things. Christmas (the holiday) does draw our minds back to Jesus’ coming to be with us–a very good thing to remember and celebrate.
Thank you, Brenda!