Every year on the 25th day of December, the world celebrates Christmas Day. Do you know why we celebrate this festive season? Christmas is not about decorating a tree, getting presents, being kinder to your friends or siblings, or helping those in need. Christmas is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Virgin Mary
A young virgin, named Mary, was engaged to a man named Joseph who was a descendant of the lineage of David, king of Israel. The angel Gabriel, sent from God, appeared to Mary with a message that Mary would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and give birth to a son, and she must call his name Jesus.
When Joseph, who was a good man, found out that Mary was pregnant, he decided to break up with her quietly, not willing to shame her in public. He did not understand how Mary could be pregnant if she was a virgin.
An Angel Visits Joseph
While he thought about these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He advised Joseph that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, as the child she was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
The angel explained that Mary would give birth to a son who would be called Jesus, for one day, he would save his people from their sins.
This event was a prophecy foretold by the prophet Isaiah, who said, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” (Isaiah 4:17), which means ‘God with us’.
Joseph woke up and did what the angel told him to do. He took Mary as his wife and did not touch her until she gave birth to her firstborn son, and they called him Jesus.
Celebration of the Birth of Jesus
When Jesus was born, the angels celebrated his birth, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). Later in the story, three wise men travelled from the east by following a bright star that led them to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. They bowed down and worshipped him and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
What We Learn from the Story of Jesus
From the story above, we learn six facts:
- Mary was a virgin.
- She was carrying a child conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- She would give birth to a son who would be called Jesus.
- One day, Jesus would save his people from their sins.
- The angels celebrated his birth by praising and glorifying God.
- Three wise men also came and worshipped Jesus and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
We celebrate because Jesus is the Saviour of the world. He was born to save us from our sins so that we could have eternal life in heaven. It is written in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
A Saviour and Eternal Life
Now you may be wondering how to make Jesus your saviour and how to have eternal life? There are five steps to take to make Jesus your saviour and to receive the free gift of eternal life:
- Acknowledge that you are a sinner. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin is an immoral act against God. Having bad thoughts, saying hurtful things, being selfish, and any other actions that are considered harmful, shameful, or immoral are sins.
- Believe in Jesus. According to the Bible, Jesus is the Son of God who died to save you from the penalty of sin, which is death. It is written in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Believe that God loves you so much that he sent his only Son to die for your sins.
- Repent of your sins. “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). To repent means to sincerely feel regret or guilt about one’s wrongdoing or sin. If we confess our sins to God, he will forgive us, wash our sins away, and give us new life and hope.
- Invite Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour. “Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and he died for your sins and was raised from the dead, you will be saved.
- Receive and accept the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God loves you and gave up his only son for you. If you believe in Jesus, the Son of God, and repent of your sins, you will not die but instead have eternal life.
You can pray this simple prayer, using your own words, “Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Please forgive me for all my sins. I ask you to come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour. Take control of my life and help me to follow you and live my life for you from now on.”
Next Steps
Now that you have taken the first step to invite Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour, the next step is to read the Bible. Start with the gospels such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John so that you may learn more about Jesus.
Next, find a church that focuses on the teachings of the Bible and whose core belief is salvation through faith in Jesus. Attending church helps you to meet and connect with other believers who will give you support and guidance in your new life as a Christian.
Once you grow in your faith in Jesus, the next step is to get baptized. Baptism is to show the public that you have a new life in Christ.
And finally, talk to others about your faith in Christ. You can speak to other Christians, or a trusted mentor or friend.
RECOMMENDED READING
You can read the story of the birth of Jesus in the Bible in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20.
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