"What's this holiday about?"

I recently watched the film “A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish” on Netflix.  I’m not necessarily endorsing it.  Actually, I found it difficult to watch.  The main reason is because the stepfamily of Kat Decker – the main character of the movie – were so incredibly cruel and toxic to Kat.  The viewer has to wade through so much of their venomous betrayal, hate, and deceit before you get to Kat’s happy ending.  I bring it up now because I was struck by a song Kat sings titled “Everybody loves Christmas”.  Here’s a sampling of the lyrics:

“It’s that time of year again; a time that I don’t understand…What’s this holiday about?  All this time I’ve been hiding out, wondering if I’ll ever know.  Tell me now, because I don’t understand.  Help me out, because I don’t get it… I want to know what Christmas really means; all the love and joy I want to see; because it’s always lost on me.  So tell me, why does everyone love Christmas?”   

Can you relate to Kat’s song?  Do you wonder why there’s such bliss regarding Christmas?  Why do we run around and buy gifts (or, to put it more accurately for this year: why do we spend hours and hours shopping online)?  Why do we adorn trees, and string our houses with lights every year?  After the ridiculousness that is 2020 why do we still anxiously await December the 25th? 

I submit that it’s not about the gifts, mistletoe, Santa Claus, music, or all of the pomp and circumstance of the day; it’s about the celebration of Jesus Christ.  My father, Jerry, once wrote a song on what Christmas means.  One line states, “Two thousand years ago, because the Father loved us so, He sent His Holy Son down to a manger, to die on Mount Calvary to save men’s souls and set them free.”  Though he wrote these words in the 1970’s, my dad’s words ring true, even today.

For 10 years, the theme song for the TV show “Smallville” pleaded, “Somebody save me.  I don’t care how you do it, just save, save.  Come on.” Humanity is saying that.  Deep down, we know we are broken, sinful, and in need of salvation and forgiveness.  Some have spent decades and decades to try to clean the stench of sin by works.  But that’s an exercise in futility; we can’t save ourselves, no matter how hard we try.  We need someone to save us.  The good news of Christmas is Jesus is the One who came to do just that.  The angel even told Joseph to name the child “Jesus” because He will save people from sin (Matthew 1:21). 

Jesus – God in human flesh – lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death for man’s sin, and ultimately got up and walked out of a borrowed tomb, victorious over death!  He offers the gift of forgiveness of sins, and an intimate relationship with God.  Once again, it’s not about trying to work off our sin, but rather it is to realize, to quote the old hymn, “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe.”  Consequently, if we are willing, the sin that “left a crimson stain” He can “wash it white as snow.”  That’s why we celebrate Christmas!

The song “Everybody loves Christmas” is sung again at the end of the film.  Kat realizes that she now understands Christmas.  “My Christmas spirit almost gone,” she states melodiously, “suddenly you came along.  That’s when I finally understood.  Even when I feel alone, I’m with you and then I’m home.  Finally feels like Christmas should.”  I understand her happiness to be whisked away from her horrible stepfamily, and to begin a promising new romantic relationship.  I celebrated these happy developments with tears as I watched.  But her explanation of Christmas is inaccurate.  Ultimate peace, joy, and satisfaction come from a genuine relationship with the God of the universe, through faith and trust in His Son, Jesus.   

Kevin