The Sacred Story: Letting Christ Impact Your Christmas

“‘Twas the night before Christmas…” This familiar poem reminds us of the divine truth we find in Luke chapter 2. This sacred story of Christ’s birth should never grow old; it must be fresh and new each year, allowing Christ to impact our Christmas again and again. We celebrate His birth because He was Deity in the flesh—the Incarnation—born to die for your sin and mine, shedding His blood to take our place. What a profound and sacred story!

Let’s consider three key observations from this timeless narrative.

1. The Christmas Story is True

The events surrounding Christ’s birth were not a dream or a “feel-good creation” but a real, firsthand experience witnessed by many.

The Shepherds: These were regular, hard-working people “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). They saw the light, heard the message, and went to Bethlehem, where they “beheld him” (Luke 2:16). They are powerful eyewitnesses to the truth.
The Angels: Suddenly, a “multitude of the heavenly host” appeared, praising God (Luke 2:13–14). Even the special messenger, the angel of the Lord (likely Gabriel, whose name means “champion of God” and who made special announcements to Zacharias and Mary in Luke chapter 1), was present.
Wider Testimony: People not only saw and heard the baby Jesus, but they also heard the shepherds’ testimony. After seeing the child, the shepherds “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17).

The Christmas story is not just a “warm, fuzzy feeling” or a ritual bound by a calendar. It is a present reality: Emmanuel, God with us. The presence of Christ—His comfort, wisdom, and example—is not bound by a timetable but is available to us all year for all time. The story is true, it is real, and it brings the peace of God to our hearts.

2. The Christmas Story is Transformational

The Christmas story is more than informational or motivational; it is life-changing.

The shepherds dropped everything—their time, their location, and their occupation changed—to go to Bethlehem and see the Christ child.

Changed Focus and Direction: The shepherds left their flocks and turned toward Bethlehem. Their focus and direction changed forever. They didn’t complain about their schedule disruption; they were consumed by the miracle they had seen.
Changed Conversation and Outlook: They “made known abroad the saying” and “returned, glorifying and praising God” (Luke 2:17, 20). Their conversation was centered on Jesus. We, too, should focus our talk on Christ, speaking uplifting and wholesome words. We should tell people what Jesus has done for us—the forgiveness we have received—instead of dwelling on what is wrong.
Changed Love: The transformation is a love change. We are called to seek God first, not ourselves, following Jesus’ command: “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Before Christ, we tend to love the world, ourselves, and money (1 John 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:2; Matthew 6:24). But the sacred story calls us to love God above everything else: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30; citing Deuteronomy 6:5). This difference is a heart change that only Jesus can make.

3. The Christmas Story is Timeless

The story connects the generations, from Old Testament believers to us today, and to the future.

Looking Forward (Old Testament Believers): Ever since Genesis 3:15, Old Testament believers looked forward to the coming of Yeshua Christos—Jesus the Christ, the Redeemer. We see this hope embodied in Simeon. God had promised him he would not die before seeing the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby to the temple, Simeon took Him up in his arms and declared, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation”* (Luke 2:25–30). Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, finding true peace only in Jesus. We find our consolation and peace in Christ, not in human counseling or self-help philosophy.
Looking for Redemption (Anna): We also see Anna, a prophetess who served God day and night in the temple. She was looking for redemption (Luke 2:36–38). When she saw Jesus, she realized the temple rituals were not enough; He was the perfect sacrifice. She “spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Our Limitless Priority: Their perspective was limited, but ours is based on the full life of Christ—He came in a humble way, died in a humiliating way, was buried, and rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is coming again (Acts 1:11). While our scope is still limited until His return, our priority is limitless because our priority is Jesus Christ, the infinite, ageless, eternal, omnipotent God.

If Christ had not come, there would be no consolation, no hope, no gospel message, and no promise of salvation—only bitter despair. Let the Christmas story be fresh in your heart, transforming your life, and be the one who tells the world about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.