By Dennis Rainey
On a December day I stopped by my bank to make a deposit. I used the bank drive-through, and the teller behind the thick glass window was a young man, perhaps in his late 20s or early 30s. A pleasant young man.
There were no customers in line behind me, so after he helped me with my deposit I thanked him for his work and said, “Merry Christmas. And don’t forget to celebrate the One who made Christmas famous!”
I watched his expressionless face carefully as I paused, then asked, “Do you know who made Christmas famous?”
He didn’t flinch … his answer was instant and confident as he responded, “Santa!”
Over the past decade I’ve probably asked that question to a couple hundred people. Although Santa is famous, what he offers is trivial compared to the first advent of the King of Kings and the Creator of billions of galaxies in the universe.
I did not want to make fun of the young man or put him down, so I gently said, “That’s an interesting answer … Santa is in second place, but he’s a long way from the One who is in first place.” I paused for a second and said, “Wanna try again and maybe ask one of your co-workers?”
I watched as the young man looked at one of his colleagues and asked her the same question. The young lady smiled and didn’t hesitate. I could see her lips quietly pronouncing the answer: “JESUS.”
He then turned back to me and offered his second response with more than a hint of doubt, “Jesus?”
I affirmed his answer then added, “… and I just want to encourage you to make much of Jesus this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!”
Santa vs. Jesus
As I reflected on this encounter, some thoughts come to mind.
Santa receives a lot of media attention every Christmas, as does the Easter bunny in the spring. Santa appears everywhere in films, television shows, and commercials. Parents bring their kids to stores and community events to perch on Santa’s lap and whisper what they want him to bring them for Christmas.
But whose promises really deliver? Those from Santa? Or Jesus?
Who has the authority to speak into the lives of our children and grandchildren when they go through a crisis? Answer: No comparison.
Whose teachings have been used to transform lives, families, and nations for centuries? Santa didn’t even write the famous poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” The book that Jesus authored, the Bible, is the bestseller of all human history.
Who defeated death? And offers us eternal life? Jesus rose from the grave and He is alive right now. And He’s promised He’s coming back.
This isn’t a fairy tale!
The greatest gift
Then I thought: Christmas is about gift giving. Have you ever wondered why we practice this tradition of giving gifts?
The familiar passage in the Gospel of John spells out the greatest gift ever given in the history of all creation:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Christmas, for those who have never placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, should first be focused on receiving the greatest gift ever given, God's Son. For those who have trusted Christ, Christmas should celebrate Jesus. He came to pay the price for our sins and redeem us from hell. He offers us a relationship with God here and now (John 17:3). And Jesus gives us the promise of being with Him in heaven for eternity (John 14:1-3).
Have you believed in Him? Truly trusted Jesus as your Savior, the One who died for your sins so you will not perish?
Have you surrendered your life to Him? Why not place your faith in Him right now?
Are you following Him?
And are you proclaiming Jesus’ love and forgiveness to others?
People need to know
I’m reminded of two questions that someone asked me as a young man. The first was, “What’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to you?”
I answered, “Receiving Christ and God’s forgiveness of my sins and His promise of eternal life.”
The second question was,“Then what’s the greatest thing you can do for others?”
Answer: “Introduce Christ, and His claims about Himself, to others.”
We should tell others about our faith throughout the year, but there are two major holidays that demand a heightened excitement for making Christ known: Christmas and Easter.
Christmas is when we celebrate His birth. Easter is the season of making much of His gift of forgiveness for all our sins and His defeat of death. Both are central to our right standing with God.
Our children, grandchildren, extended family members, neighbors, and those whom God puts in our paths ... all need to know of God’s love and forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ.
People have a soul and need to know where they will spend eternity.
Don’t miss the opportunity Christmas gives you to share Christ with your family and the people around you. Give them an opportunity to place their faith in Jesus for forgiveness of their sins.
Merry Christmas! And don’t forget to celebrate the One who made Christmas famous!
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, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
