"Jesus is the reason for the season!"

While it may not be everywhere, you may not get out enough if you haven't heard that yet this holiday season. The point is, while you may have heard this expression before, it might be hard to know what it really means. Let's be honest: the gift-giving and the materialism that comes with it can be troublesome, if not nauseating, to some people. But the truth remains we are celebrating The Gift that a generous and loving God gave to the world long ago.

Let's pause and ponder this for a moment. If I were to visit your home and present you with a luxurious watch as a Christmas gift, you'd likely appreciate the gesture. But what if I were to say, "Here, accept my son as a Christmas gift."? You might find such a proposition bizarre or even unsettling. Yet, this is precisely what God did for us. He bestowed upon us His Son a gift unlike any other.

Now, I could take you on a deep dive into the Bible to find the answers, but let's keep this message short and sweet, okay?

We only have to look at Jesus' name to get a clue as to why he came. Jesus means Salvation, and Emmanuel1 means God with us. So Jesus was the savior who brought sinful man into a close relationship with God. You see, Christmas is a forward-looking holiday that foretells what would eventually happen at the cross. Through his death, we received eternal and abundant life2. Through the shedding of his blood, we are washed clean of sin and made righteous before God3. His body was beaten beyond recognition that we could receive health and wholeness4. He became poor so that we might be enriched5. He was cursed so we could be blessed6.

This might sound too good to be true, but that is the wonderful thing about God and His kingdom. It is bound to be a lie with man, but with God, anything less would be a deception.

I hope you will receive this wonderful gift this holiday season if you haven't already.

Blessings and Merry Christmas!

Michael Holmes
Proprietor of Get Zipped LLC

1. Matt. 1:23
2. 1 Jn. 4:9, Rom. 6 22-23
3. Rom 3:25, Matt. 26:28
4. Isa. 53:5, 1 Pet. 2:14
5. 2 Cor 8:9
6. Deu 21:23, Gal 3:13