I cannot believe that we are here on Friday, December 23rd. As a young child, I always called this day “Christmas Eve Eve” to make it sound as special as possible. It was always an exciting day of wrapping the last of the gifts, cooking special goodies, and preparing for an influx of guests. Of course, there was always the anticipation of what was in the mysterious parcels under the tree. In short, it was a day of expectation for something big.

Over 2,000 years ago, something HUGE happened! The whole world expected the Messiah to come to save His people, but He came in the most unexpected way. Jesus left heaven and all His glory to be born of a virgin in the most humble of circumstances. After living a perfect life without sin, Jesus gave up His life to pay the debt we all owed. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

It is only because Christ was the perfect sacrifice that we are able to receive the gift of eternal life through faith. We can never earn our salvation. Jesus truly is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He brought hope to the world! And one day He will return.

Therefore as we celebrate Christmas, we remember what He has done beginning with His birth. We remember His suffering did not start with His trial before the Sanhedrin as Jewish leaders sought to crucify Him. His suffering did not begin in the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan. Instead, His suffering began with His birth as He commenced His life in this fallen world on a mission to save us. We can celebrate His birth because it leads us to the cross where our sins are paid in full. And He told us that He would return and so we expectantly wait for Him.

May your Christmas be a sweet time of remembrance and expectation! Have a very Merry Christmas!