James Merritt - The 25 Days of Christmas: A Family Devotional to Help You Celebrate Jesus

Santa Claus, Rudolph, Jack Frost, the Grinch, Ebenezer Scroogeall of these stories have become part of our modern celebration of Christmas. But most people, even those who dont go to church regularly, could probably tell you that none of these is the real story of Christmas. Everyone knows that the Christmas story started 2000 years ago with the birth of Jesus, right? Actually, no! The story of Christmas actually starts at the beginning of the first book of the Bible, at the very beginning of human history, in a place about as far removed from our idea of a cozy and snowy Christmas setting as possible. The story of Christmas begins in a garden.

The Garden of Eden was as close to heaven on earth as a place could possibly be. The weather was perfect, the flowers never withered, and if there were wasps, they never stung anyone. Adam and Eve didnt have to worry about hunger or animal attacks or splinters. They were at perfect peace with each other, and God even walked with them in the garden.

But something happened that plunged this perfect world into the conflict that still rages today, something that causes all the suffering on the planet. The first sin was committed. You may think of sin as breaking a rule, but as we see in the Eden story, sin is simply disbelieving Gods word and disobeying his will. From the moment Eve disbelieved and disobeyed, everything and everyone has been infected by sin. Roses have thorns. Airports need metal detectors. Cities need cemeteries. And sin has poisoned more than the world around us. Why do we do things we know we shouldnt, and why dont we do what we know we should? Something is wrong in our hearts.

But God never leaves a problem unsolved. In the same moment sin entered the world, God had the solution ready, and he revealed it almost immediately in a single verse holding hope for the entire world. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15). The serpent would bruise the heel of this Savior, but the Savior would trample the head of the serpent. You dont have to be a doctor to know which injury is worsea bite to the foot or a kick to the head! Sin was to be defeated. We were to be rescued.

You may never have heard this verse referred to as the first Christmas story, but thats exactly what it is. Its the very first verse in the Bible to tell of a Savior who would bring us salvation from our sin. The most familiar Christmas verse in the Bible is probably Luke 2:11: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The very first word used to describe the newborn baby is Savior because that is what the world had been waiting for all those long years since Eve ate the fruit. Only when we understand our need for a Savior can we fully experience the celebration of his birth. So with every Christmas movie we watch, every cookie we bake, every carol we sing, and every decoration we hang, let these words echo: I need a Saviorand he is here!

Father God, thank you for solving the problem of our sin so we could once more walk with you. Thank you for sending us a Savior, and help us to remember our need for him every day of this Christmas season. Amen.

In 1865, as Christmas was approaching, an insurance salesman named William Chatterton Dix wrote a poem he called The Manger Throne. Dix imagined that those who passed by the manger 2000 years ago might have been confused about who the child was who lay before them. Why was he in a feedbox? Why were shepherds worshipping him? Why were angels singing over him? Part of the poem was set to a traditional English melody, and it eventually became the well-loved Christmas song What Child Is This?

The world has been asking that question and debating the answer for the past 2000 years. Muslims, for example, believe that Jesus was born of a virgin just as Christians do, but they see him only as a great prophet, not as God. Many Jewish people now see Jesus as a great teacher and political activist but not the Messiah. Buddhists see him as a perfectly enlightened being, full of compassion, who helps others. And millions of people who dont embrace any particular religion dont know what they think about him. So the question remains, what child is this? Well, 700 years before Jesus was bornbefore the star shone, the shepherds knelt, and the angels sanga prophet of God named Isaiah told us in no uncertain terms exactly who this child was.

Jesus would come to be known by many names and titlesLord, Savior, Christ, King of Kings, the Lion of Judah, the Rose of Sharonbut Isaiah gives us four special names that tell us specifically what Jesus would be to us. To the hurting and confused, Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Isaiah 28:29 says, The L ORD of hostsis wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. Unlike human counselors, Jesus doesnt give advice or opinionsHe gives truth. He is the truth (John 14:6). The greatest counselor you can ever have is the Son of God; the greatest counsel you will ever find is in the word of God.

To the helpless, Jesus is the Mighty God. Present everywhere, limitless in power, with nothing hidden from his knowledge, he is an ever-present help (Psalm 46:1). Nothing is impossible with this Mighty God. To the orphan and the lonely, Jesus is the Everlasting Father, a Father who will never leave or forsake you, who was before all things and will outlast all things, and who knew your name from before the foundations of the earth. And to the hopeless and weary, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The peace he gives is not like the peace the world gives, which depends on fragile treaties and temporary solutions. Jesus gives perfect peace that can weather any storm.

Someday, the whole world will no longer have to ask, What child is this? The child who was laid in a manger will sit on a throne. The babe worshipped by shepherds will be worshipped by kings and rulers. And of the reign of this Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, there will be no end.

Everlasting Father, thank you for loving us before the beginning of time. Mighty God, thank you for being our helper and our defender. Wonderful Counselor, thank you for giving us your word to guide us. And Prince of Peace, help us to share your peace with those around us this Christmas. Amen.