The Reason Why We Celebrate Christmas | The Christmas Story in 5 Verses

Welcome back to the blog, my friends! This is our fourth week in our series, "The Christmas Story in 5 Verses," where we've dove into specific verses that highlight and explain the Christmas story. We've talked about the prophesies about Jesus' birth, Mary's surrender, the significance of the shepherd's involvement, and today, we're diving into the whole reason why we celebrate Christmas. I'm so excited to talk about who Jesus is and why that makes Christmas such an important, worshipful holiday! My prayer is that the Lord allows this post and this verse to pierce and encourage our hearts, and draw us back to the whole reason for the season. It's so easy to be distracted and lose sight of the purpose behind all the festivities, but I want this to be our opportunity to slow down and refocus.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

The Christmas season matters because it reminds us of how Jesus, the Son of God, Creator of the universe, came down to earth in the form of a humble baby, to meet us right where we are. We celebrate Christmas because THE son was so graciously given to us, and on Him we build our whole life. Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, didn't come to conquer kings, restore cities, or even just exist; He came to die a brutal, horrific death, the death we deserved, and then raise from the grave three days later.

To us, to you and me, a child is born. And this child changes everything.

He changes everything because of who He is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I want to break down each of these words with the Hebrew meanings, so that we can truly understand and grasp how special and holy and gracious our God is. I find that the Hebrew meanings of words often go a little bit deeper or offer a powerful description, and that often leads me to an even greater sense of awe and gratitude for the Scripture.

"Wonderful" = פֶלֶא ("pele") = marvel, miracle, wonder; extraordinary and hard to understand

"Counselor" = יָעַץ ("yaats") = to advise, counsel, consult, determine

"Mighty" = גִּבּוֹר ("gibbor") = mighty, strong, warrior, hero; attribute of God especially as fighting for His people

"God" = אֵל ("el") = reflecting divine majesty

"Everlasting Father" = עַד ("ad") = forever, perpetually, eternally; final peace of Zion

"Prince" = שַׂר ("sar") = ruler, leader; portrays the ultimate fulfillment of all earthly ruling positions through the Son

"Peace" = שָׁלוֹם ("shalom") = peace from war, global restoration, completeness, safety, prosperity

That baby born we celebrate on Christmas? This is who He is. He is a miracle, born of a virgin. We can't understand Him fully, but we can marvel at His character. He is our counselor and advisor, guiding us through life as the Truth when everything else is shaky. He is mighty and strong, a warrior, fighting for us, His people, even when we fight Him. He is God, divine majesty. He is forever and our source of eternal peace. He has all authority and leadership over the heavenly realms, and one day, He will restore the broken earth we live in. He brings restoration, completeness, safety, and prosperity. He is where we find spiritual wholeness and freedom once again.

This is the reason we celebrate Christmas. This is why it matters.

Jesus' birth was the beginning of a grand plan of reconciliation between us and God, and that changed the course of history. His birth is the fulfillment of many prophesies and the answer to so many prayers. It's the solution to our incredibly broken humanity and sinful nature. Jesus' birth is our hope, the beginning of our access to abudant life and our Heavenly Father who wants nothing more than to be in relationship with us. Because of His birth, the life He lived, His death, and His resurrection, we get to life in freedom and peace and joy.

From the moment baby Jesus took His first breath, everything changed.

God Himself came to earth, as an act of love, choosing and fighting for and pursuing us. He came as a humble, helpless baby, loudly declaring that there is nothing God would not do, no lines He wouldn't cross, to bring His people back to Himself.

What a reason to celebrate.

Christmas is so much more than presents and Christmas trees and yummy food. It's the rejoicing, remembering, and recognizing of the monumental sacrifice that Jesus was willing to do for us, despite all of His power and authority. It's resting in the truth of who He is and His mission here on earth: to bring peace, restoration, and wholeness to us once again. Jesus so easily could have stayed comfortable on His throne, but He chose and desired us so much that He would leave heaven to interact and pursue us.

It's so easy to forget, but when you slow down and meditate on that, it adds so much more depth to the season. I want to be so much more intentional about remembering the why, not only in December, but all year, because His birth has changed my life, and was the beginning of an entirely new relationship between us and His holy, righteous nature.