“Merry Christmas!” is a very common phrase this time of year. While it is commonly associated with spreading cheer, there is more behind these two words than just a jolly greeting. The word “Merry” historically means “mighty.” So, rather than saying “Happy Christmas,” we are in fact saying, “Mighty Christmas!” Changes everything, doesn’t it?
Christmas has slowly drifted away from its powerful roots. Instead of celebrating the gift of God sending His Son to us in the ultimate act of love, we get caught up in Santa Clause, consumerism, and frantic errand-running. Of course, these things are not all bad, but they tend to pull us away from what Christmas is really all about.
Only in recent years have I begun to comprehend the magnitude of the real Christmas story. A young virgin girl, Mary, miraculously becomes pregnant with Jesus. Can you even begin to comprehend how she must have felt? Surely no one, especially not her fiancé, Joseph, would believe her. According to their cultural customs, Mary should have been disowned by her fiancé if not faced with an almost certain death by stoning. Instead, Joseph, by the grace of God, stands by her side. They are forced to flee together in a long journey without food and without knowledge of where they were going or what was in store for them. When Mary was about to give birth, they could not find anyone who would give them shelter, and ultimately, she was forced to give birth to her child in a manger housing animals. Talk about a journey of faith!
The Savior of the world was given to us as the ultimate gift from God in the humblest of ways. While Christmas is a wonderful time to give gifts, spread cheer, and deck the halls, it is more than that. It is a time to celebrate the power of the most precious gift we have been given: a Savior who came as a child in a manger to offer us freedom from our sins. 1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” What a profound message of the true meaning behind the celebration of Christmas.
When we begin to ponder upon and comprehend the power and might of Christmas, there is a bigger and better meaning to all the holiday motions. Suddenly we have the true means of experiencing joy in our own lives as well as spreading it to those around us. We are free from our sins, and we have a Savior who loved us so much that He came to us with the purpose of giving us atonement and freedom. We do not have to live in bondage from the evil in the world. We are not alone.
With Christmas just around the corner, I would encourage you to bring the mighty back to Christmas. Remember what it is all about. Get back to the simplicity of Christmas. “Unwrap” and rediscover the greatest gift you have been given. Invite Jesus, the Savior, back into your life.
Life can be challenging and tumultuous. We often struggle with anxiety, fear, worry, doubt, anger, insecurity, addiction, impurity, and so much more. Everything around us seems to pull us farther away from who we want to be and who God designed us to be. The good news is – Christ gives the gift of life, not just at Christmas, but every day of the year. All we need to do is seek Him, and we will find Him (Matthew 7:7). John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Christ cares about us and wants us to have the best life possible here on earth. While we may struggle with an assortment of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, He is still there offering His freedom, and displaying His love for us.
You might be struggling in your personal life, a relationship, at work, with friends, or with your family. Well, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Whatever the struggle is for you, invite the “mighty” Christmas into your life. There is nothing too big or too small for God. He cares about it all and brings healing and grace. Call upon the name of the Lord and remember that He is the ultimate gift given to you daily. Now that is something to celebrate. Merry Christmas!
