The Meaning Behind the “X”

Today, we begin a 3 part series called Merry Xmas. Throughout the last few years, we hear the phrase Xmas and we think about how they may be taking Christ our of Christmas. We see it written and it may or may not make us mad. We see it in advertisements and we vowel not to purchase from that company. The notion makes us upset enough that we want everyone to know we are upset. It is Christmas not Xmas.

xmas = “chi” (x) = first letter of the Greek word Christos which means “Christ” in English. 1021 - an anglo-saxon scribe wrote “xpmas” to mean “on the morning of Christmas.”

Let me give you a history lesson. The term Xmas comes from the Greek letter “Chi” (X), which is the first letter of the Greek work Christos, which means “Christ” in english.

The abbreviation “xmas” originated as a way to save space on expensive parchment paper. In 1021, an anglo-saxon scribe wrote “xpmas” to mean “on the morning of Christmas.”

So, yes, the x stands for Christ. However, through the commercialization and secularization we have seen the holiday being transformed. People are making it less and less about our newborn king and more and more about their traditions. Jesus will not take second place. He must be first.

The Importance of Christ in Christmas

Today I want us to understand the how and why “X” has come to replace “Christ” in Christmas and what it symbolizes in our culture. First, lets go to Colossians chapter one beginning at verse 15.

Colossians 1:15–20 NIV

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Christ is first and last. He is the beginning and the end. There is no one greater. Through Him all things are made. He is fully God and He is fully man. Christ is the complete package.

You can not take Christ out of Christmas. To try to fully remove Him is crazy. There is no Christmas without Christ. It is just another holiday that you buy presents for people that don’t want them anyway.

When you remove Christ in Christmas and you say xmas or you treat it like Christ is gone, you aren’t just saying words, but you are changing the value of the holiday. Christmas is worthless if we remove Christ from the center of it all.

You need Christ in Christmas.

The Danger of Cultural Displacement

Now that we have established the fact that Jesus must be at the center of the Holiday, go to John chapter one.

John 1:1–5 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. If you take Jesus out of Christmas, then Christmas loses its light.

When you look at how we have treated Christmas over the years, slowly more and more people have removed Jesus and have replaced Him with things.

The average American spends $1000 on Christmas each year.

In 2021, holiday sales reached $859 billion.

If you have ever seen the movie Christmas with the Kranks, I think they had a brilliant idea when it comes to the commercialism and consumerism of Christmas, we ought to skip it.

We can’t let the materialism, the entertainment, and all of the distractions that come with Christmas dominate our life during this special season. If you are having a problem with those things, then skip them. Place Jesus at the center and let Him guide you to the place He wants you to be at.

It is so easy to get distracted during this time of year.

So, what do we do?

Reclaiming the Name

We need to reclaim the name Christmas and make it what it is really about.

Think for a moment, what are some ways that you can make sure that Christ remains at the center of your Christmas celebrations?

Make a plan for your family to do something special this Christmas that will bring glory to the one that this Holiday is all about.

Volunteer at Hope Campus or Community Rescue Mission. Sponsor an angel tree person. Find a family that is in need and reach out to them. We need to do everything that we can to make sure that Christ is at the center of Christmas.

And where do we begin.

You begin by looking at your heart and getting your heart right. Then you make sure that your home is right.

Each of us need to look beyond ourself and make Jesus first and foremost in our lives and in Christmas.

Matthew 6:33 NIV

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

A teacher once stood in front of a class with a large glass jar. He began filling the jar with large rocks until no more could fit. He asked the class, “Is the jar full?” They all nodded.

The teacher then took a bucket of small pebbles and poured them into the jar, shaking it slightly so the pebbles filled the spaces between the large rocks. Again, he asked, “Is the jar full now?” The class hesitated but agreed it looked full.

Next, he poured sand into the jar, filling all the tiny gaps left by the pebbles. Finally, he took a pitcher of water and poured it in, saturating everything.

He explained, “This jar represents your life. If you put the big rocks in first, there’s room for everything else. But if you start with the sand or water, you’ll never fit the big rocks.”

Then he asked, “What are the big rocks in your life? Your faith? Family? What truly matters?”

For us as Christians, Christ must be the first “big rock” we place in our jar. If we start with Him, everything else will find its rightful place. But if we let distractions or lesser priorities take over, there won’t be room for Him at all.

Jesus must be the center of everything you do.