Mark 2:10

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people." (Luke 2:10)

Why Christmas? Because Jesus came to give abundant life—the joy of God's presence now and forever—and that good news is for all people.

Reviewing the Question: Why Christmas?

Over the last three weeks leading up to today, we have been considering one question—the same question we asked people on Black Friday: "So you celebrate Christmas. Why? What's the point?" Often you get blank stares.

We've looked at three answers so far. First, because the world is broken. Second, because God is a gift-giving God. Third, because to God life is precious.

The brokenness of this world came about as a result of the fall of humanity described in Genesis 3. Through one man, Adam, sin came into God's good creation. God had made this creation very good, but sin came in, and with sin came death, which has been passed on to all humanity.

Sinners at the Heart Level

The fact that death has been passed to all humanity is witnessed by our own sinful actions. Many people think we are sinners because of our sinful actions, but the reality is the opposite: we commit sinful things because we are, at the heart level, sinners.

The prophet Jeremiah recognized this some 2,500 years ago: "The heart of man is desperately wicked." Our culture doesn't believe that; people say man is inherently good. But as God reveals it, man at the heart level is wicked. Jesus tells us in Mark 7 that out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts and evil actions. The bad things happening in this broken world are the result of the fall and our fallen heart.

God's Gift Foretold in Prophetic Hints

But God, the good gift giver, knew He had the perfect gift for a broken world. Even though that gift would not be unwrapped for thousands of years, God made sure to make known what it would be through prophetic hints in the Scriptures. Just as a good gift giver drops hints because he enjoys seeing his loved one's joy, God gave hints throughout the Old Testament.

The first comes immediately after the fall in Genesis 3:15, where God declared a man would come—the offspring of a woman—to destroy the dominion of the serpent. In Genesis 12, this man would come through the family of Abraham; in chapter 17, through Abraham's son Isaac; in chapter 25, through Isaac's son Jacob; and at the end of Genesis, through Jacob's son Judah.

Then in 2 Samuel 7, God promised King David—an imperfect man, yet one after God's heart—that one of his descendants would be enthroned as king forever. So this coming one would also come through the line of David, a king upon the throne forever.

The God-Man Born in Bethlehem

About 700 years before Jesus' birth, the prophet Isaiah gives another hint: this man would not be a mere man, but the God-man. He would be called Emmanuel, "God with us," and would be born by miraculous means through a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). The prophet Micah adds that He would be born in a specific city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

Isaiah 9 tells us more about His character. He would come to bring light to those in darkness, joy to those who are joyless, and freedom to those in captivity. He would be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Some struggle with "Everlasting Father," since we believe Him to be the only begotten Son. But at least one meaning is that everything eternal comes from Him; He is the source, the father of all things everlasting. And as Prince of Peace, He brings not merely the cessation of violence, but shalom—whole well-being, human thriving. Isaiah 9:7 says of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

To God, Life Is Precious

Christmas is important because this world is broken and God is a gift-giving God—but also because, to God, life is precious. God, who is life, is the source of all things that live. He gives life and loves life.

He loves life so much that Ezekiel 33 tells us He does not delight in the death even of the wicked. Why? Because, as Peter says in 2 Peter 3:9, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. We recognize the preciousness of life because we are created in His image (Genesis 2).

Though death came through the fall, God chose to give the gift of life to you and me, who were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2). We are all spiritually walking dead men. Yet His choosing to do so came at a great cost. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Jesus, the Life of God Incarnate

Jesus is the very life of God incarnate. John 5 tells us the Father has life in Himself; Jesus is the embodiment of that life in human flesh. In John 14:6, He said, "I am the life."

But why did He come? In John 10:10 Jesus says, "The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

In John 6:51, Jesus says, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." And verse 33: "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." In Genesis 2:17, God warned that eating the forbidden tree would bring death—and it spread to all humanity. Jesus came to give that life back.

What Is Abundant Life?

What exactly is abundant about this life? Many people immediately answer "eternal life"—life that goes on forever. That is partially true; one aspect of abundant life is that it is everlasting. But merely living forever is not abundant life.

If abundant life were only everlasting life, it would have made sense for God to immediately give man the tree of life after the fall. But instead, in Genesis 3, God kept man from the tree of life "lest he eat of it and live forever." Living forever is not all that abundant life is. And honestly, to live in this broken, fallen world forever—even in its nicest place—would be hellish.

So abundant life is more than immortality. Here is a definition worth writing down: the abundant life is the unmitigated and perfect experience, both in this life and throughout eternity, of the fullness of God's presence—and everything that accompanies His presence.

Boiled Down to One Word: Joy

All of that can be boiled down to one small word. In Psalm 16:11, David—a thousand years before Jesus came—writes, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy."

David's hopeful expression connects to Jesus' words in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus is the embodiment of that way of life. "You will show me the path of life"—and that path brings us into His presence, where there is fullness of joy.

That small word, joy, sums up what abundant life is forever. The "forever" matters, because in this life we experience only measures of joy and happiness. This season is a joyful one—I love seeing Christmas lights go up after Thanksgiving, driving home and watching them turn on, the sights, smells, and sounds, gathering with friends and family, giving and receiving gifts. There is real happiness in it.

But every one of those things is temporary. The lights come down, the Christmas dinner's joy fades fast (especially when you step on the scale), and we make New Year's resolutions to fix it. The abundant life, by contrast, is the perfect experience—now and forever—of the fullness of God's presence and all that accompanies Him.

The Evidences of His Presence

All that accompanies His presence is the maximal enjoyment of all the attributes of God. Even hundreds of us writing for an hour couldn't scratch the surface of His innumerable attributes. But Scripture names some evidences of His presence.

Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These nine characteristics accompany the presence of God, and we will experience them in increasing fullness throughout eternity. These are things money cannot buy. You can't put them on layaway at Walmart. They come from God alone.

Good Tidings of Great Joy for All People

Christmas is the ushering in of this great joy. In Luke 2, a decree from Caesar Augustus brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the city of David, where she brought forth her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

Many of us know this story—even those who don't go to church. My wife's large extended family doesn't attend church, yet every year before Christmas they gather, and one of her cousins hands out a stapled booklet and they read the Christmas story aloud—Psalm 100, then Luke, then Matthew—each person reading a sentence or two, beginning with the youngest who can read. They've done it for years as a tradition.

In verse 8, shepherds were keeping watch over their flock by night when an angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel said, "Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people." Good tidings is gospel—good news of great joy. Abundant-life kind of joy, joy that extends forever, and not just for a small group but for all people.

A Savior, Christ the Lord

At the root of this is a missionary God. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations." That commission still is not finished—2,000 years later, people have yet to hear the good news of great joy.

What is the good news? Verse 11: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." A Savior who saves humanity from sin and death. He is Christ—the Anointed One, the Messiah—the fulfillment of every promise: the offspring of a woman, from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah, through King David, born in Bethlehem to a virgin. He is Lord, Master, King. Then a multitude of the heavenly host praised God: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men"—because the Prince of Peace has come.

Beautiful Feet That Carry the Message

The first announcement of this one who brings great joy came by angels. But every announcement since has come by those who heard the message, received the gift, and now carry it to others. Isaiah said, and Paul quotes in Romans 10, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good tidings of great joy."

Christmas can be distracted by all the trees, presents, lights, food, and commercialism. But we have received the gift that brings abundant life and great joy in the presence of God. We need to be those with beautiful feet who carry this message. There are many shepherds in their fields all around us who have not yet heard—and in this season their hearts are, in some ways, ready.

So take advantage of these next few days. As you gather on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, there will be friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers who haven't heard. Don't take it for granted. May the Lord stir your heart to be compelled by the same love that compelled God to give this great gift, that we would freely extend it to others. Freely we have received; freely Jesus told us to give.

Closing Prayer

Father, I thank You for the gift You have given to us. Literally, Lord, You spared no expense. I pray that You would stir my heart, that I would see over the next few days the open doors You give by Your Spirit to share the good news of great joy—that Jesus, You came to give life more abundantly. Help me to speak freely and openly with those who don't know, that they would receive this gift of life, because You are not willing that any should perish. Help me also not to be willing that any should perish.

Father, if there is anyone here for whom this is the first time hearing this good news of great joy that is for all people—know that this gift is for you also, and the Lord has made it available to you. Lay hold of it by putting your trust and faith in Jesus. He is the gift, and to receive Him is to receive this life that is abundant joy. In Jesus' name, amen.