Yes, it’s true. Sometimes I forget. I forget where I put my glasses. I forget where I put my car keys. Sometimes in a large parking lot, I forget where I parked my car. I might forget to answer an email or forget someone’s birthday. BUT – there are some things that I never want to forget as long as I live.

I was reminded of this last night at a church reenactment of the Christmas story – a story that I have heard for so many years and know so well – and yet, last night this story felt brand new all over again – a startling revelation of God’s love and a reminder of what extraordinary measures God took to make His love manifest to all mankind. How could I have forgotten such fantastic truths?

Christmas is so much more than a birthday celebration, so much more than an historical event remembered, so much more than just another holiday. Christmas is about a promise kept, prophesies fulfilled and miracles made known. The promise? God told satan in the garden –

“he (woman’s offspring) will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

God promised us, we who are “the sheep of His pasture”, you and I, who are created in His image -to us God promised to send a Rescuer, a Redeemer, a Savior, a Deliverer, a Shepherd, a Sacrificial Lamb. Jesus is all of those things and more. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)

God’s promise to mankind became reality on the night Jesus was born. That night, the prophesies were fulfilled which said –

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Then there was the testimony of a man described in Luke like this –

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:25-26)

When Simeon encountered the baby Jesus in the temple courts, this is what happened –

“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.’ ” (Luke 2:28-32)

Simeon recognized God’s gift to the world of His only Son, the Savior He promised so long ago. Simeon recognized the miracle that had taken place –

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Truly Christmas is about miracles from start to finish – the miracle of God’s love for you and for me being so great that He would give His own Son to die in my place and in your place, so that we might have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

I am overwhelmed with the miracle of the Christmas story – that God would choose to take on our humanity and walk miles in our human shoes before dying on a cross for our sins so that we could be made right with God. Who else would do such a thing? What Jesus did for me and for you and for all humanity is described in these words –

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)

I don’t ever want to forget the miracle that is the Christmas story. It’s a story that starts with the miracle of a manger filled with God’s presence. The story ends with an empty tomb because the grave cannot contain God’s presence. I don’t want to forget any detail of the Christmas story because it is a story of redemption, forgiveness, hope, second chances, limitless love and eternal life. I need all of those things.

Today I am celebrating the Christmas story, remembering the words the angel said to the shepherds –

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

Don’t live in fear! There is good news, which brings great joy, and it’s for everybody! No one is left out.

the Savior is here! prepare to receive Him!

sincerely, Grace Day