Christmas Eve Devotion

Good evening brothers and sisters and friends,

What a privilege and honour it is that we can gather together to celebrate Christmas.

I invite you take a moment to reflect on the true meaning and significance of Christmas.

Certainly, Christmas is a time for joy, love, and celebration.

It is a time when we come together with our loved ones to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives and to share in the spirit of the season.

But the true meaning of Christmas goes much deeper than just gift-giving and holiday cheer.

It is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world to save us from our sins.

According to John in his gospel, he does not give us the traditional Christmas story about the birth of Jesus unlike Matthew and Luke.

He begins his gospel in this way, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

The story and purpose of Christmas is weaved throughout the gospel of John.

John tells us this eternal Word, who’s God, became flesh. He became man, born of a virgin Mary.

For what purpose?

God revealed Himself through person and work of Jesus.

Or to put it another way, Jesus came to reveal God to us in a way God had never been revealed before.

John says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

That’s the meaning of Christmas in John’s gospel.

But there’s also another purpose:

From the beginning, Christmas was a preparation for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

The Word - namely Jesus - became flesh and dwelt among us, so that He could give Himself for the life of the world to free sinners from the guilt and power of sin. To free us from spiritual deadness and blindness, and to save us from the judgment to come.

John 3:16-17: “[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

That is the great meaning of Christmas. Jesus is the greatest gift that God has given to humanity. And He came to give you Himself who alone possesses true hope, peace, joy, and love if you turn from sin and trust in Him for salvation, for the forgiveness of your sins.

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we come to the end of this Christmas Eve service, we give you all the praise and honor that you deserve. We thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be born as a baby in Bethlehem. We are grateful for the love, grace, and salvation that He brings to us through his death and resurrection.

We pray that you will bless each and every one of us as believers as we go out into the world, sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us. May your Word and your Spirit work in the hearts of those who do not yet know you, drawing them into a personal relationship with You.

We also pray for those who may be struggling this holiday season. We ask that you bring comfort to those who are grieving, hope to those who are feeling lost, and joy to those who are feeling alone. May the love of Christ be evident in the way we treat others, and may his peace fill our hearts and minds.

Thank you for the blessings of this season, and for the privilege of gathering together to worship you. We pray that you will continue to watch over us and guide us in the coming year.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.