The Joy of the Journey: The True Meaning of Christmas

The Joy of the Journey

The True Meaning of Christmas

In Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”  Christmas is a season filled with music, lights, gatherings, and traditions, but at its heart stands one breathtaking truth: God came near. The miracle of Christmas is not just the birth of a child; it is the arrival of the eternal God stepping into our lives. The manager holds the message that heaven has touched earth, and God Himself has chosen to dwell with us.  Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing articles about Christmas and what it means to us. I hope that the articles will bless you and draw you closer to this God who is with us!

First of all, let us look at the promise that prepared the way. Long before shepherds heard angels declaring that Christ was born, God had already spoken a promise. For centuries, Israel held onto the hope that a Savior would come. Even when God felt silent, His plan was moving forward. Isaiah 7:14 declares,“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, andshall call his name Immanuel.”

This promise didn’t simply predict the birth of Jesus; it revealed God’s intention to draw near. Christmas shows us that God is faithful, purposeful, and always working behind the scenes. Every candle and carol is a reminder to us that God keeps His word.

When the promise was finally fulfilled, it wasn’t fulfilled in a palace but in a stable. God didn’t send an angel or a prophet He came Himself.  John 1:14 says,“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”Jesus entered our world in the most humble way so He could walk our roads, feel our pain, and carry our burdens. He came on a mission declared to us in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Through Jesus, we see the heart of a God who refuses to love from a distance. Christmas is the revelation of a Savior who steps into our darkness to bring light, into our brokenness to bring healing, and into our sin to bring salvation.

With so much happening around us during the holidays, it’s easy to be like Martha in the Bible, busy, overwhelmed, and distracted. Jesus gently told her in Luke 10:4–42, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”

Christmas invites us to slow down and return to that one thing that matters the most…the presence of Jesus!The season takes on a deeper meaning when Christ becomes the center. Presents may delight us for a moment, but His presence transforms us forever.

If God has truly come near, if He is truly with us, then He calls us to respond not just with celebration, but with worship, humility, and a heart that makes room for Him.  Psalm 95:6 encourages us by saying, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”

Responding to Immanuel means allowing His presence to shape our families, conversations, priorities, and lives. Christmas becomes meaningful not because of what we do, but because of who we draw near to. Christmas is not simply a holiday; it is a holy reminder that God is with us, and He still draws near to every heart that makes room for Him.