The Reason for the Season

"The Reason for the Season" is one of my favorite sayings at Christmastime, but what does it really mean?  Most people probably think of the "first Christmas" meaning the birth of Jesus.  This is good in that it reminds people that Christmas is not just about giving or getting gifts.  It's not just about profits for retailers or even helping people.  Yes, the birth of Jesus is very important and the "reason for the season".

However, if you focus just on the birth of Jesus at Christmas, you are missing out on something very important.  One of my favorite activities each year is to attend the Christmas play at a nearby Bible college.  The reason I like this play so much is that it not only focuses on the birth of Jesus, but his life as well.  We would have no reason to celebrate His birth if it had not been for the life He lived and ulitmately the death He died.  My church auditorium currently has a manger on display next to a cross.  This is fitting since the manger is meaningless without the cross.  The cross is why there is "Christ" in Christmas.  If we celebrate just a miraculous birth, we are missing the point.  It is Jesus' life and death that was God's gift to us.  That is why we rejoice! That is the real "Reason for the Season"