THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

I am sure you have heard the slogans by now. “Put Christ back in Christmas.” “Join us in celebrating the birth of Jesus.” Perhaps you have heard it in other ways, but the idea is that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25. Some of the Christmas carols even state that He was born on Christmas. I would like to ask a question. Who put Christ in Christmas? Man did. People have asked me many times over the years, “What does the Bible say about Christmas?” The answer is simple: absolutely nothing. Some have argued with me, but I simply ask them to point out to me where Christmas is mentioned in the Bible. No one has been able to do it yet. I know the Bible mentions the birth of Christ, but what does that have to do with December 25? We simply do not know the date of Jesus’ birth. It might have been December 25 (I think it’s unlikely), or it could have been any of the other 364 days of the year. I do know the following: there is no command in Scripture enjoining us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, whenever it may be; and we have no example of the early church celebrating His birthday.

There is one phrase that is popular during this season I would like to mention. “He is the reason for the season.” Again, this is promoting the idea that Christ was born December 25 and we simply do not know that. But that does not mean that He isn’t the reason for the season, because He most certainly is. He is the reason for this and every season.

In John 1:1-3 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” In verse 14 John writes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word John speaks of here is none other than Jesus Christ. He was with God, He was God, and through Him all things were made. Jesus certainly is the reason for all seasons because without Him there would be no seasons. In fact, there would be nothing.

Paul writes, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). To the Galatians he said it this way, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Jesus is the reason for this season, and all others, because He is to be my reason for living. He is to be my focus and my passion. I no longer live for myself, I now live for Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”
--Lamar