When I hear celebrities on TV, and even many in the church, people who know Jesus, as they attempt to define Christmas, I wonder where this definition comes from, and I think to myself,
“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
Most definitions go something like this, “Christmas isn’t about the gifts and decorations and food, I think it’s about family…about being together, spending time with those we love and care for.” Sounds sweet and good and right, doesn’t it?
But what about people who are alone this Christmas? What about the family whose little one came way too early and died in his mother’s arms just hours after his birth? What about the family whose son and brother died suddenly the weekend before Christmas? Instead of travelling for a family Christmas celebration, they are traveling across the country to attend a funeral. What about the parents who are alone this holiday season because it’s the year that their kids are spending with the family of their spouses? What about the widow or widower who is grieving and missing the love of their lives, those who will spend the day alone?
What about the family of the church leader in South America who took his own life because of the deep pain of rejection and failure he experienced after decades of faithful ministry? What about those dear people whose families aren’t kind or loving or good? What if being with family is painful and hurtful? What if that person has been completely rejected by a parent or spouse or child and faces the holiday dejected and without hope? What about the dad who lost his job and wonders how he will tell his wife or make the mortgage payment or cover the electric bill or buy Christmas gifts for his children?
What about the soldier alone and in danger in Syria or Afghanistan or Iraq? Or the church members in Pakistan who are stunned by last Sunday’s terrorist attack that left at least five of their friends and loved ones’ dead? What about the orphan living on the street in India or Honduras or NYC? What about the prisoner alone in a dark, dank prison cell in China or North Korea? What about the child who was stolen from her parents and sold as a sex slave with no hope of seeing her family again?
How does this sweet, feel-good, message about Christmas – spending time with family – resonate with these dear people?
I have a secret: IT DOESN’T!
If the “real meaning” of Christmas is not true for just one person on this earth, then the truth of the matter is that this sweet, good, “right-sounding” definition of Christmas is a lie.
And if it’s a lie, it is NOT from God. If it’s not from God, it is from the ultimate liar and deceiver, Satan, the devil, the evil one.
The one who wants us to believe a lie…The wicked one, who does everything to distract us from the TRUTH…The enemy of God who turns the truth into a lie.
I know a secret, which is no secret at all.
When I was teaching at Baptist High School in Haddon Heights, NJ, there was one tradition at the school that some thought a little cheesy, but it became a favorite of mine because it was a simple reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Every year on the last day of the school year before the Christmas holiday begins, the entire student body gathers for the Christmas Chapel service, and every year the morning concludes with the 1965 movie A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Linus had it right – he knew the secret – when he responded to Charlie Brown’s question,
“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
Linus answered with the best answer that could ever be given – the truth
“For behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord…”
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Before Christmas came, the truth of Christmas was kept a secret…a mystery…
Then Jesus came, but people did not listen to His message, and they asked Him,
“How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24)
The real meaning of Christmas is not really a secret, if folks would just take 
the time to listen.
Jesus was the secret revealed. Messiah (the Christ) was the mystery solved.
He is the “mystery” described by the apostle Paul in Colossians 1:26-27:
“the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles…
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
I received a Christmas card from EMM (Eastern Mennonite Missions) this past week. On the card was a quote by the 15th century church reformer Jan Hus, from his 1413 Christmas sermon. The real meaning of Christmas is no longer a secret since the Savior came over 2000 years ago. The truth of Christmas continues to this day, even as it was spoken by the angels in the book of Luke and preached over 1,400 years later by Jan Hus. It remains the reason for Christmas, the solution of the mystery, the revealing of the secret, 600 years after this sermon was preached. And the message resonates for all people, everywhere, at all times.
Let’s not keep the secret of these “good tidings of great joy…for ALL PEOPLE!” The Savior has been born for ALL people in ALL situations EVERYWHERE. The mystery of Christmas is solved, and we can be joyful because we know the secret…we know what Christmas is all about!
Be joyful that today God has become bread for the hungry and refreshment for the weary, that there may be peace on earth…
Be joyful that the rich Lord of the universe lies in a manger as a poor person in order that he may make all needy people rich…
Be joyful that today is born one who can free us from all misery.”