All of these can be very ‘nice’ things to focus on and they will have roots in our childhood and many happy memories for most of us. But is this why Christmas is so special?

For me I always enjoyed Christmas. I loved the memory of family times and the bike I got as a youngster and so many other wonderful presents in what were difficult years. I always liked to celebrate Christmas and made much of the sooty footprints on hearth and that illusive dead of night visitor for the benefit of my children. Thankfully, like all of us they played along with the theme, long after they discovered a flaw or two in the otherwise perfect deception. But that was not when Christmas became really special. Once I became a Christian it took on a different and new perspective that was special as I realised the historic significance of this world-changing event. That still did not do the business that I was later to discover was the real wonder of this amazing event.

I suppose like so many in this age, I rejected and was not captured by the love of a Gospel that seemed to hold little reality in it, or that seemed to have all the hallmarks of religious dogma, and a sort of pious oppression. It was only when I started to discover for myself the ‘Truth’ about Jesus, at the age of 47 I began to understand. First all what he had done then, the deep life changing Truth, that Jesus loved ME! The commandant that Jesus quoted when asked, which is the greatest commandment, he replied, to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and the second is like it, Love your neighbour as your self. Well this does not have much sway if you don’t love yourself that much, and so many of us don’t! And apart from that is the underlying view that Jesus and / or God. has no relevance in this day and age.

The most wonderful event in the entire universe is the day you start to believe that Jesus IS ALIVE and that he loves “ME”! That he came, in order that “I” might have Life and have it abundantly! That he not only loved me, not in an unemotional religious way like the Pharisees in the Bible, but in addition to that love (Jesus said that no man has greater love than, to give his life for a friend, which is just what he did for you and me.), he actually really loved ME, like a brother, like a friend, like a bridegroom loves his bride, like a Father should love his son, and even more, He actually likes me too! You see he delight’s in his children, even ME, just as he delights in YOU. We are the apple of his eye. He sings songs over us he so overjoyed with his children. He loves you! He came to earth all those years ago, in love with YOU and ME, in order to make a way for the impossible to become possible, for us, YOU and ME to have the chance of getting to know Jesus as a brother, lover and friend and that through His Love for ME and YOU we had a chance to get to KNOW that Love that surpasses knowledge! In other words, you have to experience it! Then to realised that Jesus’ Father, is Just like Him and that Father God so Loves you, his child, that he agreed with Jesus that He should come to earth, teach us about his Father, His Love, and the Kingdom of Heaven, then pay the price for our sins, so that YOU and I could be reconciled to this wonderful Father we all have in Heaven.

That’s why Christmas is so wonderfully special. It is the celebration of the start of the fulfilment of what God did with and through Jesus in order that He could spend all eternity in love with you in a place called paradise. The rest of Christmas is pale by comparison. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s fun, enjoyable, a great time for family and friends to meet up and renew their bonds, but compared to KNOWING JESUS! Wow! That’s why its special!

So when I wish you a happy Christmas here and now, there is one gift I would like you to receive this Christmas above all else. That is a revelation in your heart that Jesus Loves YOU! He came that He might take you back to his place, to meet his Dad, and share His Kingdom with you. That is what we will, are and do pray for you this Christmas.

What would you like for Christmas?

With the Love of Jesus.

Alan

Chorley Chapel.