What is it about the silence of walking in new fallen snow? Everything is white – even the air. It is like walking through fog, except it isn’t fog, it is falling snow. Objects are just black silhouettes on the horizon. And it is beautiful.
What is it about the light coming off a Christmas tree? White lights glowing off a white tree. Or a rainbow of color illuminating a green pine. Did you lay under your tree at night? Watching the kaleidoscope of color on the wall, the only light on in the house – and feeling the magic.
What is it about the sound of bells at Christmas? There doesn’t even have to be music – just the sound of bells has the power to lift a heart out of its doldrums.
What is it about the season of Christmas that makes people more joyful? More willing to give, to care for the poor, to be compassionate to the needy? People aren’t more needy because it is Christmas, but people are more inclined to help. Why is that?
Where does the magic of Christmas come from? Why is it known as the season of joy? How can this dark, crime ridden, debt plagued, natural disaster torn, selfish world have it in itself to spend an entire month focusing on bringing joy to others?
If we glance even a second into the history of humanity, it doesn’t take long for the death toll and darkness to sound. Actions fueled by greed, lust and vanity have started wars, ruined households and taken the lives of countless (be it by murder or suicide). Show me one person who has not at some point asked, “why? What is the point of it all? Even if I gained all the riches of the world, would it be enough?”
And then there is Christmas. Many Christmas traditions can be traced to pagan origins, but Christians have adopted this time of year for a very specific purpose: to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World.
Why is Christmas so magical? Why does this time of year light a spark in people that is otherwise a barely glowing ember the rest of the year?
This is why. God saw the darkness a world without Him would create – even before it happened. He knew we needed saving – even before we did. Him being a just God, the sins of the world needed to be punished, but He still loved us and wanted to provide a way out.
Jesus Christ is the answer to God’s ultimate dilemma: combining His love for us with His wrath toward sin. Jesus came into the world to save the world: to live a perfect life and to ultimately die in our place. Thereby satisfying the wrath of God and giving us the opportunity to accept His gift of salvation.
This is the magic of Christmas. It is a celebration! Our salvation has come. Those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior have been forgiven their sins, and no longer have to fear death. We now have a purpose higher than acquiring: serving the Lord our God and learning from Him why we were made. Using that knowledge toward becoming productive not only in His Kingdom, but also in the world.
Now, I am not naive. I know that many (if not most?) do not focus on Christ during Christmas. I know that they do in fact focus rather on acquiring, presents, music and lights – anything other than Christ. However, those things obviously don’t afford any lasting joy. So this Christmas, let your mind turn to the birth of the Savior, and ask yourself what his coming means for you.
Because a way out of the reality of sin and death is the real magic of Christmas.
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
-2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB