The Reason For The Season

 

This Sunday, we will discuss the Christmas season. Jesus is the reason for the season. Christ is the root word of Christmas. Christians celebrate the Advent season because Jesus came and lived a life we can benefit from. Saint Nicholas inspired by Christ, became the inspiration for Santa Clause! Additionally, Jesus Christ provided the opportunity for us to receive gifts of the Spirit. Gift-giving in this season is a Christian heritage. We are all heirs of this holiday season from the life and ministry of Christ.

Christ is the reason for this season of gift giving. Jesus was born to provide for all humanity the gift of a life like his. A life containing birth, death, and thanks to Jesus resurrection. Jesus showed us the power of God is greater than death. His raising from the dead of people and his own resurrection from the grave paved the way for human immortality through life after death. Death is no longer the end for all those who can believe. There is a promise of eternal life.

Christmas has no greater figurehead beside Jesus than Santa Claus. Santa Claus, though, is a gift from Christ. Saint Nicholas, inspired by Christ's gift-bearing life, became himself the inspiration for Santa Claus in our modern times. We would not have jolly Santa Claus giving gifts on Christmas Eve if not for Jesus. Modern advertisers, capitalizing on tales of Saint Nicholas, created our jolly fat man in the red suit giving gifts in this season.  We inherited Santa Claus and the Christmas gift-giving practice from Jesus in addition to the possibility of eternal life with God in Heaven.

Besides eternal life, Jesus came back from death bearing gifts of the Holy Spirit for those that can believe in him enough to receive from him these spiritual gifts. Knowledge, prophecy, miracle working are a few of the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit makes available through Jesus. Even life in the invisible God is now a potential thanks to the Apostles of Jesus' ministry. Christmas is a celebration. Christmas reminds those who know of Christ's humble birth, life and afterlife of bearing gifts for those who keep Jesus in their lives and the Christmas season. Jesus is the real Christmas story. Santa Claus was inspired by stories about Saint  Nick who was inspired by Christ.  

Enjoy this gift giving season. Enjoy the festival of Christmas that has grown from Christ's life and death and resurrection. Enjoy Christmas, and being Santa's little helpers catching the Christmas spirit. Enjoy but try to remember Jesus, He is after all the reason this season is filled with celebration and gift giving. Jesus' gifts wait for anyone who looks into his life and can believe.