The Meaning Of Christmas

By Howard Coop

Christmas is almost here.The calendar notes that it is a holiday, but what is Christmas?I asked some friends to give me a definition of “Christmas” as they understood it.They responded and I have a stack of responses before me. 

Using different words, those friends defined Christmas as they understand it and there was an amazing similarity in their answers. One wrote, Christmas is “not Santa nor presents,” and another wrote, “Christmas is time spent with family and friends whom we adore.” Still another wrote that Christmas “should be a time of singing and of the joy that death was defeated.” Then, one wrote, “Christmas is remembering!”

After these introductory words, each individual came to the central meaning of Christmas and, in one way or another, stated that it centers in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea, just over two thousand years ago and what that birth means for us today.

One of the first responses I received was, Christmas is “God’s ultimate gift of love.” Another wrote, “Christmas is the most important date in history…the gift of a savior to the world.” Almost everyone said that Christmas is “the birth of our Savior.” One went a step further and indicated that Christmas is “God coming to reconcile us to himself.” Still another said that Christmas is “a reminder to worship the Almighty for His unmeasured mercy and love.”

The responses I received indicated something else that is important. Almost without exception, each individual pointed out a positively personal aspect of the meaning of Christmas. Those individuals used personal pronouns like “we,” “our,” and, “me” to state what Christmas meant to them. One person wrote, “Christmas is the birth of Christ who lives in my heart.”

In the Gospel of Luke, the meaning of Christmas is defined. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born.”

As that event changed the route of the Wise Men who came to worship, it continues to change the direction of those who bow before that Savior.

SportsPlus

News

Student-athlete abuse protection bill introduced

News

It’s official: Kentuckians will pay less in income taxes in 2026 after Beshear signs GOP-led bill

News

Flu season in the US is the most intense it’s been in at least 15 years

News

‘Super speeders’ bill passes Senate committee

News

Beshear extends State of Emergency over Jan. 5 storms

News

CDC, health officials note steps to avoid norovirus, AKA the ‘stomach bug’

News

Bill would expand prohibitions on overseas abortion services

News

Former Stanford police officer at center of Danville controversy

News

Patriots fall to DCA in 45th District clash

News

Passion, business, and wrestling: How Braden Atwood is making it work

News

Bill would allow Ten Commandments to be posted in Kentucky public schools

News

Measure to expand gambling to include casinos, riverboats in Kentucky called ‘fool’s gold’

News

School absences may have helped slow illnesses

News

Lincoln County Schools reschedules Dublin and London informational meeting

News

Patriots fall short in thrilling contest against Madison Central

News

Cockfighting called ‘runaway crime’ in Kentucky, groups say

News

Stanford City Council discusses key appointments, ethics board and community safety initiatives

News

Pedestrian Killed in Collision on U.S. 27

News

Early Morning Fire in Stanford Draws Multi-Agency Response

News

Bills filed in first week of session address abortion ban exceptions, perinatal care, adoption

News

Lincoln County Republican Party Hosts Guest Speaker Eric Jones

News

On the air and on the job: Lee Sinkhorn guides Lincoln County through the storm

News

Griffin Harness: Leading change in Lincoln County’s justice system

News

Kentucky has fared well in face of impactful winter storm, Beshear says