December 24, 2025

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:8-14: The Shepherds and the Angels

8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[c] praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

Linus recites the scripture from Luke 2 in A Charlie Brown Christmas in response to Charlie asking about the meaning of Christmas.* The point seems to be that Christmas isn’t about the biggest and best Christmas tree or how many presents you receive.

Rather the religious significance of this holy day (holiday) for Christians is that Jesus is born. To you is born…. a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:11) But, what does it mean for Jesus to be our Savior, Messiah and Lord?

A Christmas Carol that has come to be one of my favorites in recent years is Love Came Down at Christmas.** The last verse is

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;

Love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.

This last line has been described in this way:

“The plea suggests the kind of statement that we might offer (or plead) in court: a summary of where we stand and what we believe. God’s love, which we live out, becomes at once our plea; the gift we are given and give to others; and the sign that God is present now as in Bethlehem.”***

The meaning of Jesus as our Savior, Messiah and Lord might really be about how we live out the love of God that we experience through Jesus. Living our lives with Jesus as Savior, Messiah and Lord means living out God’s love in this world.

May you have a truly Merry Christmas as you share God’s Love with others!

Rachel Gonia

*If you want to hear the King James version recited by Linus from the Peanuts; click this link: https://youtu.be/WXShaNdyRmQ?si=dgvtrnOCjry-rc0r

**Hear Love Came Down at Christmas at this link: https://youtu.be/ssKkP78kFiM?si=s-BCE0tk5dPREaS4 or a modern version by Jars of Clay https://youtu.be/zIr5th0d44Y?si=OpTJfj1Uop4VY9LU

*** https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/resources/hymns/love-came-down-at-christmas-stf-210i/