This Sunday begins the season of Advent – the “arrival.” As we enter into the Christmas season, we begin to schedule parties, plan shopping adventures, family gatherings, exploring all of the lights and festivities that this season brings.
As recipients of the greatest Christmas gift of all, we often find ourselves focusing on all the flash of the packaging instead of the gift within the Christmas season. The birth of Jesus gets packaged up in traditions, parties, lights, and busyness. There is so much going on in this season that it’s easy to miss it.
Paul, in his letters to the Colossians, unwraps for us who this baby in the manger is and what he came to do.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20
There is no greater Christmas gift than Jesus – Immanuel, God with us. Don’t miss it. This is the meaning of everything we celebrate at Christmas.