I still remember the feeling. From jumping out of the top bunk bed as soon as my eyes would crack open to declaring “Merry Christmas!” to anyone who was awake to running to the living room to find the hung stockings overflowing with goodies to then running downstairs to gape at the tree and then…*deep breath*… sitting in anticipation of Mom and Dad getting out of bed so we could finally open presents.
This was Christmas morning in the ‘90s and early ‘00s in the Taylor household.
I can’t remember a single Christmas morning when I didn’t feel cared for or loved. To say we were given in abundance would be accurate.
The older I get, and the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I recognize I’ve always been cared for and loved, and always given in abundance, and not necessarily only in tangible blessings. Truthfully, I’ve been cared for long before even the first Christmas occurred over 2,000 years ago.
Christmas morning looks different today than when I was a little girl with big hopes and imagination, but the magnitude of why we celebrate Christmas—why it even exists—continues to extend to the very depths of my soul. It’s a day we praise the Lord for, and it’s so appropriate that it occurs at the end of a calendar year so we can be reminded, once again, of God’s faithfulness.
It started with a promise
There is not one person who has ever lived who has not been affected by Christmas. Before Jesus was born, every human since Adam needed Christmas.
Nearly 4,000 years before Jesus was born, the first humans ever created fell into sin in the garden of Eden. But it was then that God promised a Savior.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”Genesis 3:15
After Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent’s lie rather than trusting in God (something we are all guilty of doing), sin entered into an otherwise perfect state. Now, there would be hardship. The battle between good and evil would now extend to those made in God’s image (humanity). Enmity would be between all who come from the godly line vs. the ungodly. This isn’t the end of the story, but it’s because of this that we need a Savior.
God promised that Eve’s offspring would crush the serpent’s head, and the serpent would strike his heel, guaranteeing hardship for this promised Savior. Eve’s offspring would be the Savior who gives the fatal blow to the serpent. This is the Savior who would bring hope and rest. This is the Savior we celebrate on Christmas.
Imagine every birth that occurred after this promise was made. Eve had to think one of her sons would be the one to save her. Would her first born be this offspring to crush the serpent’s head? No. What about their second child? Or third? No.
When Noah was born, mankind was wicked (Genesis 6:5) and yet the Savior still hadn’t made Himself known. Noah’s father declared his son as one who “shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands (Genesis 5:29).” Would this be the promised Savior? Though God used Noah to save the godly line from His wrath with the ark, Noah wasn’t the one to crush the serpent’s head.
And the anticipation went on. Child after child. Year after year. Generation after generation. Priest after priest. Judge after judge. Prophet after prophet. King after king.
The waiting and longing and distance from God grew.
Did God leave us to ourselves?
Did God lie?
No. In God’s perfect timing and perfect way and with a supernatural sign in the sky to mark the occasion, He came to us. Hallelujah! Rejoice! He is here.
In the same way any human is brought to life, He took on human life through a baby’s development and birth, though still fully God. Because He loves us, and because He always keeps His promises, He gave Himself to and for us.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel
(which means, God with us).Matthew 1:23
He came to save us.
Welcome to our world
The promised Savior had come! He entered into a fallen world where He would experience pain, hunger, thirst, hurt, discomfort, and brokenness. He would grow and learn just as we do. Love humbly came down from His throne of glory to live a meek, human life on earth and experience all that we experience, yet without sin.
How we needed Him!
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
When I think of how my God and my Creator gave up His glory for the sake of my eternal life and so many others’ eternal lives also, I feel truly loved and cared for. He’s given me the greatest gift I could ever need or want. He’s given more than I can ever think, ask, or imagine. He’s given me new life in Him.
And He’s kept His promise.
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
Promise fulfilled
Christ’s abundance was given at the cross, and He’s offered that abundance freely every single day since then.
He is Immanuel—God with us. He’s here with us, even now in Spirit. We can make room for Him in our hearts and live our lives knowing the enemies of our souls (Satan, our flesh, and the world) have been defeated by this Jesus with His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection.
Now as we await His second coming as another promise to be fulfilled in His perfect time, we anticipate when the presence of sin will be no more. When He comes again, we can eternally enter into the true rest He offers us.
We have hope. We can have peace. We have the guarantee of Christmas. We have God with us.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:3
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Revelation 1:7
Here’s what I’ve been reminded of this year, only to culminate in the promise of Christmas: I am cared for and loved every day of the year by the God of the universe. He’s already won my biggest battle. He gives lovingly and He takes away lovingly—everything is His. He knows what is best for me, and I’m learning to wholly trust Him… because He’s faithful.
May you have a blessed and merry Christmas, and a wonderful new year in the Lord!
All scripture references are from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.
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Anna Moore 
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