…that He gave His only begotten Son… John 3:16

I’ve watched quite a few Hallmark movies recently. Mostly they’re as light and fluffy as marshmallow cream but they help lull me to sleep more easily. I’ve even recorded some so while hubby is glued to football in the den, I put on my jammies, have a cup of tea and unwind with a movie. The plots follow along predictably, the settings could be painted by Thomas Kinkaid while the main characters seem interchangeable from one movie to another. I’m really not expecting Dickens or holiday goof ball Clark Griswold when I turn to one of these.

The “movies and mysteries” include every holiday theme even remotely related to Christmas. Surely there’s one called “The Christmas Gift”, no doubt set in a “snow globe” town ablaze with lights strung on every roof , store front and quaint town square gazebo. Children’s presents are piled knee high under the most gorgeous Tannenbaums on the planet. According to Hallmark, the “Christmas gift” is an elusive, magical spirit of Christmas which brings families together, livens up dormant romances and fills the atmosphere with lots of caroling good cheer. It the holly and the ivy – and everything in between except the only true Christmas Gift – Jesus. In fact, in every movie I’ve seen, Jesus is glaringly absent from the “spirit of Christmas.” Is this accidental? Or not? If deliberate, it ‘s unsettling.

Note to Hallmark folks: There is no spirit of Christmas except the Holy Spirit of Jesus. There is no Christmas magic. Jesus’ historical birth 2,000 years ago is the only reason for Christmas. Jesus was born in an animal stall to a poor young virgin and her betrothed. The night was dark and Jesus’ parents had neither family nor friends to help them with the birth. There was no snow falling in Bethlehem, no sleigh bells tinkling, no fir trees or wintry fantasy land. However, there was mystery and there was wonder. Ancient prophecies about the Messiah were being fulfilled; amazed shepherds came out of their fields to worship a new born Child while in the heavens angelic music resounded. No artificial lights blinked on and off; instead, unearthly glory shone all around that manger and the glory was Jesus. There were no presents for the baby, for He was God’s Gift to mankind.

The Apostle John states it simply and powerfully:

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16

God gave men the Christmas Gift because He loves us. Christ incarnated as a baby on earth, as the Son of Man, is our salvation gift – if we believe in Him. The Christmas Gift is Christ born so that we would not die, but have eternal life. It doesn’t get much simpler or clearer than John 3:16.

And so, my prayer for Christmas is, “Lord, may we honor you in Your Spirit and Truth. Christmas is your birthday – and nothing can take away the glory due to your Name.”
Anything else is not my Christmas, despite the pretty packaging.