It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or is it? For many, Christmas has become a whirlwind of shopping, decorating, and endless to-do lists. Somewhere in the hustle, we might find ourselves wondering: What is this all really about?
The truth is, what we believe about Christmas shapes how we experience it. If we reduce it to presents, parties, or even just warm family traditions, we risk missing the true beauty of this season. Christmas isn’t just a feel-good holiday; it’s the celebration of God stepping into our world to rescue us.
But if our understanding of the Bible is fuzzy, we can lose sight of that. Instead of seeing Jesus as the center of Christmas, we might treat Him as just another piece of the holiday puzzle—nice, but not necessary.
Why Knowing the Bible Matters
The Bible tells the story of why Jesus came. Without it, we’re left with a watered-down version of Christmas that focuses on vague ideas of kindness and cheer. Those things are great, but they’re not the heart of Christmas.
Consider this: Christmas is about a promise fulfilled. In the Bible, God promised to send a Savior to fix what was broken in the world (and in us) because of sin. The Old Testament points to this Savior, and the New Testament shows us His arrival—Jesus Christ.
When we grasp this, Christmas becomes so much more than a cozy story about a baby in a manger. It’s the start of the greatest rescue mission in history. Jesus didn’t just come to be admired; He came to save.
Missing the Mark
When we don’t dig into Scripture, it’s easy to get caught up in ideas that sound nice but miss the truth. For example, we might hear things like, “Christmas is about giving because Jesus gave us love.” While that’s partly true, it leaves out the bigger picture: Jesus gave Himself. He came to live the life we couldn’t live, die the death we deserved, and rise again to give us new life.
Without a solid understanding of the Bible, we can end up with a version of Christmas that feels good in the moment but doesn’t have the power to change us.
Rediscover the Wonder
This Christmas, let’s go back to the source. Spend time reading the Bible, especially the passages that tell the Christmas story (Luke 2, Matthew 1, Isaiah 9). Let these words remind you that Christmas is about a God who loved us so much, He came to live among us.
When we see Christmas through the lens of God’s Word, it changes everything. The lights, gifts, and traditions all find their place—not as the main event, but as ways to celebrate the incredible truth of Emmanuel, God with us.
So this year, don’t settle for a surface-level Christmas. Go deeper. Let the truth of who Jesus is and why He came fill your heart with wonder. Because the real meaning of Christmas isn’t something we make up—it’s the greatest story ever told.
Merry Christmas!