What is Christmas's true meaning?

Definition and Overview

Christmas, in its essential form, commemorates the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world. At its heart, this celebration is rooted in the biblical narrative that God took on human flesh to bring redemption to humanity (John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”). While traditions and cultural practices have developed over centuries, the original purpose is a solemn and joyful reflection on the birth of the Messiah who fulfills God’s promise of salvation.

Historical Context and Date

Although December 25 is widely recognized as Christmas Day, the precise historical date of Jesus’s birth is not explicitly stated in Scripture. Early followers of Jesus often commemorated His birth in conjunction with existing festivals, eventually settling on December 25 in the West. Early Christian writers like Tertullian and Hippolytus provide Christian liturgical references to a winter celebration marking the Incarnation. Regardless of the specific date, the central truth remains the same: Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, entered human history at a particular point in time.

Archaeological and historical research supports the existence of Bethlehem as an active town of Judea in the period surrounding the birth of Jesus. Local traditions, such as the Church of the Nativity, which is believed to be built over the cave that tradition holds as the birthplace, have been upheld for centuries. Such evidence aligns with the consistent testimony of Scripture that Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4–7).

Biblical Account of the Birth of Christ

Matthew and Luke each present narratives central to the Christmas story:

• The Announcement to Mary: Luke 1:26–38 records the angel Gabriel’s visitation, declaring that Mary, a virgin, would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. This fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 confirms a long-awaited prophetic event.

• Joseph’s Guidance: Matthew 1:19–25 chronicles how an angel reassured Joseph of Mary’s miraculous conception, instructing him to name the child “Jesus” because He would “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

• The Journey to Bethlehem: Luke 2:1–5 recounts Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem for a census ordered by Caesar Augustus. This decree maneuvered events so that Scripture’s prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace would be fulfilled (Micah 5:2).

• The Nativity Scene: Luke 2:6–7 describes how Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid Him in a manger, demonstrating a humble entrance into the world.

• Shepherds and Angels: Luke 2:8–14 details how shepherds witnessed a heavenly multitude praising God and proclaiming “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). They went on to Bethlehem to worship the newborn Messiah.

• Visit of the Magi: Matthew 2:1–12 chronicles wise men from the East—commonly referred to as Magi—guided by a star toward the Christ Child, offering gifts that recognized His kingship, deity, and ultimate sacrifice: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled

From Genesis onward, the Jewish Scriptures point to a coming Deliverer. The lineage in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 demonstrates that Jesus descended from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and specifically David, confirming both prophecy and royal legitimacy (2 Samuel 7:12–13).

• Virgin Birth: Isaiah 7:14 is clear: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel.” In Matthew 1:22–23, this verse is cited as directly fulfilled in Jesus’s birth.

• Bethlehem as the Birthplace: Micah 5:2 foretold that Bethlehem, “small among the clans of Judah,” would be the birthplace of the Messiah. Luke 2:4–7 records this fulfilled in Jesus’s arrival.

The Meaning of the Incarnation

Central to the celebration of Christmas is the doctrine of the Incarnation—God the Son entering the realm of humanity:

• Revelation of God to Humanity: John 1:18 teaches that no one has ever seen God, but Jesus, being God, has made Him known in a definitive and personal way.

• Demonstration of Divine Love: John 3:16 underscores that God sent His only begotten Son “so that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

• Path to Redemption: Herein lies the cornerstone of Christmas: Jesus being born to ultimately suffer death and rise again, making atonement possible and offering salvation to all who believe (Romans 5:6–8).

Archaeological and Manuscript Witness

The reliability of the New Testament accounts of Jesus’s birth is sustained by consistent manuscript evidence and corroborating external references:

• Manuscript Evidence: Papyrus fragments such as P52 (though primarily concerning the Gospel of John) and other early manuscripts testify to the stability of the Gospel texts. Scholars like Dr. James White and Dr. Dan Wallace highlight that the New Testament enjoys more manuscripts, earlier witnesses, and significantly lower textual variation than any other ancient literature.

• Early Historians: While not detailing the Christmas narrative specifically, historians like Josephus, Tacitus, and Suetonius acknowledge the historical existence of Jesus and the early Christian community, thus providing external affirmation of key events described in the Gospels.

• Archaeological Insight: Excavations in Bethlehem and nearby regions confirm first-century Jewish settlements consistent with the Gospel accounts. Artifacts affirm the socio-political backdrop mentioned in Luke 2:1—a census under Roman authority.

Philosophical Implications of Christmas

The Incarnation, as celebrated at Christmas, sets forth a framework in which:

• Humanity’s Purpose: In recognizing life as designed by an eternal God, Christmas underscores the value of each person created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and highlights our ultimate purpose to glorify God.

• Moral Reflection: The humility of Jesus’s birth in a manger challenges worldly standards of power and prestige, promoting humility and compassion (Luke 2:7). This fosters generosity and service during the Christmas season and beyond.

• Intelligent Design Displayed: The orchestrated and specific details leading to Christ’s birth—including Old Testament prophecy and historical timing—illustrate the purposeful design of an all-knowing Creator. Dr. Stephen Meyer’s analyses on intelligent design can be applied in a theological sense: these events were neither random nor accidental but reveal intentional orchestration by God.

Celebration and Worship

The Scriptures do not prescribe an exact liturgical format for Christmas observance, yet they are filled with calls to worship God for the gift of salvation (Psalm 96:1–3). Believers often celebrate by:

• Reading Scripture: Recounting the Nativity story in family or communal settings.

• Singing Carols: Musical expressions of worship, reminiscent of the angelic chorus (Luke 2:13–14).

• Acts of Charity: Reflecting God’s generosity by helping those in need, living out “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27).

• Personal Reflection: Contemplating the significance of Immanuel, “God with us,” fostering a deeper devotion to the One who came to save.

Beyond the Holiday: The Ongoing Impact of Christmas

Though widely celebrated on a single day, the message of Christmas resonates throughout the year:

• Invitation to Faith: Christmas sets the stage for the rest of Jesus’s life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. It beckons each person to examine the claims of Jesus—the true Light entering a world darkened by sin (John 8:12).

• Celebration of the Resurrection: Scholars like Dr. Gary Habermas have emphasized the historical evidence undergirding the resurrection, which is the ultimate vindication of the Christmas story. Without the resurrection, the birth of Jesus would be a noteworthy historical event, but not the transformative force it truly is.

• Continual Hope: Christmas reminds the faithful that God’s promises find fulfillment in Christ. This provides a daily hope grounded in the reality of an eternal God, fully capable of intervening in human affairs.

Conclusion

Christmas’s true meaning centers on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, an event where God took on humanity to accomplish salvation. Through the Nativity accounts in Matthew and Luke, confirmed by manuscript evidence and bolstered by archaeological and historical insights, we see the unwavering truth that Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the promised Messiah.

It is a celebration of God’s faithfulness and the first step toward His redemptive mission: “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). For all who reflect upon and trust in the significance of His coming, Christmas is not merely a historical commemoration on the calendar—it is the monumental unveiling of hope, inviting every heart to receive the light He brings into the world.