The Four Verbs of Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, it's easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of decorations, parties, and gift-giving. Twinkling lights, festive playlists, and crowded shopping malls can quickly overshadow the deeper meaning of Christmas. But what if this year could be different? What if we could step back and truly understand the profound message at the heart of the holiday?

Beyond the Surface: What Christmas Is Really About
Let's be honest: Christmas can quickly become a marathon of materialism. We get caught up in:
- Endless decorating
- Constant partying
- Gift-buying frenzies
- Overindulgence in eggnog

But Christmas isn't about any of these things. At its core, Christmas is about something far more profound: God becoming human, born in a humble manger, to show us how to live, love, and ultimately connect with the divine.

 The Christmas Story Through a Different Lens

Most of us are familiar with the nativity story found in Matthew and Luke. We know about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. But today, I want to invite you to look at Christmas through a different perspective—through the words of Jesus himself, spoken years after his birth.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, Jesus shares a message that encapsulates the entire purpose of Christmas in just a few powerful verses. This passage, which includes the world-famous John 3:16, reveals four essential verbs that capture the essence of Christmas:

1. He Loves
2. He Gave
3. We Believe
4. We Live

The Context: A Midnight Conversation

The setting is intriguing. Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent religious leader who comes to him under the cover of darkness. Nicodemus is curious, recognizing that Jesus has a unique connection with God. In their conversation, Jesus unveils a revolutionary concept of divine love.

Unpacking the Christmas Verbs

 1. He Loves
Christmas begins with love—not just any love, but a profound, world-changing love. God's love isn't passive or distant; it's active and personal. He loves the world so deeply that he was willing to do something extraordinary.

 2. He Gave
Love manifests through giving. At Christmas, we exchange gifts, but the ultimate gift was God giving his only Son. This wasn't a transaction, but a profound act of sacrificial love, bridging the gap between humanity and divinity.

 3. We Believe
Belief isn't just intellectual assent; it's about trust. Just as you trust a chair to support you when you sit down, believing in Jesus means placing your complete trust in him.

 4. We Live
This isn't just about existing, but experiencing a transformed, eternal life. Jesus came so that we might truly live—not just survive, but thrive in a deep, meaningful connection with God.

The Symbolism All Around Us

Have you ever wondered why we have certain Christmas traditions? Each decoration, each symbol carries a deeper meaning:

Candy Canes
- Shaped like a "J" for Jesus
- Red and white stripes symbolizing his blood and our cleansing
- A sweet reminder of his sacrifice

Holly and Berries
- Red berries representing the blood Jesus shed
- A symbol of his purpose to die for humanity's redemption

Poinsettias
- Red leaves pointing to Christ's sacrificial love
- Introduced to Christmas traditions to remind us of his purpose

 Mistletoe and Wreaths
- Green symbolizing life
- Circular shape representing eternal life
- A testament to Jesus bringing hope and immortality

Christmas Trees
- Evergreen branches representing eternal life
- Tree skeletons resembling a cross
- Lights symbolizing Jesus as the "light of the world"

 A Personal Invitation

This Christmas, I challenge you to look beyond the surface. Make every party, every gift, every moment about something greater. Remember the four verbs: Love, Give, Believe, Live.

If the world seems dark—and let's be honest, it often does—recall that Jesus came as light. He didn't come to condemn but to save, to bring hope, to reconnect us with God.

The Greatest Surprise

Think about the most heartwarming surprise reunion videos you've seen—soldiers returning home, long-lost family members finding each other. Christmas is God's ultimate surprise reunion with humanity. We were separated, and He came to bring us home.

#Your Invitation

This Christmas, you're invited to believe—to trust—to truly live. Just as Nicodemus went from a nighttime seeker to a devoted follower, you too can experience this transformative love.

The gift is already given. Will you unwrap it?