A Christmas Past, Present and Future. (a meditation)

Christmas Past, Present, and Future

Faith • Hope • Love A 5-minute Bible-based Christmas lesson

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Big Idea

Christmas is not only something that happened, or something we celebrate, but Someone we trust, follow, and hope in.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

Christmas Past — Faith (What God Has Done)

Christmas begins not at the manger, but in the eternal plan of God.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.” — Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV)

At Jesus’ birth, heaven proclaimed joy and peace:

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:11 (ESV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” — Luke 2:14 (ESV)

Yet Christmas Past is more than a baby in a manger. Jesus was born to die.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45 (ESV)

He lived the sinless life we could not live:

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” — 1 Peter 2:22 (ESV)

He died the death we deserved:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (ESV)

And He rose again, defeating sin and death:

“He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” — Romans 4:25 (ESV) “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins… But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.” — 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 (ESV)

Jesus fulfilled prophecy so that our faith would rest on truth, not sentiment:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son…” — Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) / Matthew 1:22–23 (ESV)

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah…” — Micah 5:2 (ESV) / Matthew 2:1 (ESV)

“But he was pierced for our transgressions…” — Isaiah 53:5–6 (ESV)

“Faith rests not in what we feel, but in what God has done.” — Charles Spurgeon

Christmas Past calls us to faith — trusting that what God promised, He accomplished.

Christmas Present — Love (How We Are Called to Live)

Christmas Present asks: Where is your mind drawn?

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” — Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

It is easy for Christmas to become crowded — lists, gifts, traditions — and yet Christ still offers what He always has: love and peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” — John 14:27 (ESV)

Because of Christmas Past, we now live differently:

“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 (ESV)

Jesus is not only our Savior, but our example:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” — John 13:34–35 (ESV)

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” — Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)

The peace we carry is not circumstantial:

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1 (ESV)

And that peace produces fruit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” — Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

“If we let Him, He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into… dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures.” — C.S. Lewis

Christmas Present calls us to love — to give what we ourselves have received.

Christmas Future — Hope (Why We Keep Going)

Many feel the ache of Christmas — beautiful hymns, yet broken lives. Scripture reminds us to lift our eyes beyond the moment.

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” — Hebrews 13:14 (ESV)

Jesus was sent not only to save us, but to bring us home:

“In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you.” — John 14:2–3 (ESV)

Our hope is secure:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” — 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

One day, Christmas joy will be complete:

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more…” — Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

“Our hope is not that we will escape suffering, but that suffering will not have the final word.” — Timothy Keller

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Conclusion — Faith, Hope, and Love

Faith looks back to what Christ has done

Love lives out what Christ is doing in us now

Hope looks forward to what Christ will finish

“Surely I am coming soon.” — Revelation 22:20 (ESV)

Come, Lord Jesus.

Guided Christian Meditation & Reflection Questions

(Christian meditation fills the mind with truth, rather than emptying it.)

Christmas Past — Faith

What part of Jesus’ life, death, or resurrection do I most often overlook?

Where is God calling me to trust more fully in what Christ has already accomplished?

Christmas Present — Love

What currently crowds Christ out of my Christmas season?

Who is God placing in my life that I can love or serve intentionally this week?

Christmas Future — Hope

What am I truly longing for this Christmas?

How does the promise of eternal life with Christ reshape my disappointments today?