The Gift That Changed Everything

Christmas has a way of stirring something up deep inside us. Even in people who think faith isn’t for them. Nowadays, more than ever, there’s a yearning for connection, for hope, for something that makes sense of joy and sorrow, beauty and pain. Christmas doesn’t just awaken nostalgia — it awakens a longing for God.

Jesus came as a baby, and this baby was God’s greatest gift to the world. Not a gift meant to impress us, but a gift meant to save us. God did not send advice, explanations, or distance. He gave us Himself. Wrapped in flesh. Vulnerable. Reachable. Close enough to touch, close enough to know our pain, close enough to carry it.

This baby came with a mission. To step into the brokenness we could not escape. To absorb the weight of sin, suffering, and separation so we wouldn’t have to carry it alone. To bring light where darkness had convinced us there was no way out. Jesus is not part of Christmas. He is the reason it exists.

This season reminds us that God does not love from afar. He enters the mess. He moves toward the hurting. He offers redemption where we see none and hope where we thought it had run out. No matter how fragile or complicated your life feels right now, Jesus is proof that God chose closeness over distance and love over comfort.

That is why Christmas matters.
That is why Jesus is the greatest gift we will ever receive.

When God chose to announce the birth of His Son, He could have sent angels to palaces, temples, or halls of power. He could have appeared to kings, scholars, or religious leaders. Instead, He chose a field.

Luke tells us that the first people to hear the news of Jesus’ birth were shepherds, quietly watching over their flocks at night (Luke 2:8). These were not influential men with social standing. Shepherds were considered ordinary at best and unreliable at worst. They worked long hours, lived outdoors, smelled like sheep, and were often overlooked or dismissed by society. They were not the people you would expect heaven to interrupt.

But heaven did interrupt them.

Scripture says, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9). Into their fear, the angel spoke words that still echo through history:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

That sentence changes everything.

The birth of Jesus was not announced as good news for the powerful, the put-together, or the spiritually impressive. It was good news for all people. For the weary. For the overlooked. For those who felt unqualified, uncertain, or unseen. God’s very first announcement of the Savior made it clear that no one is excluded from His invitation.

The angel continued, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Notice the language: to you. Not to the elite. Not to the religious experts. To shepherds in a field. To everyday people living ordinary lives.

Then, suddenly, the sky filled with a multitude of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:13–14). Heaven rejoiced over a birth that would bring peace not through power, but through His very presence.

What’s even more beautiful is what happens next. The shepherds don’t hesitate. Scripture says, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened” (Luke 2:15). They leave their flocks, go in haste, and find Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus lying in a manger (Luke 2:16). After seeing Him, they spread the word about what they had been told, and everyone who heard it was amazed (Luke 2:17–18).

Christmas reminds us that the story of salvation was never meant to be exclusive. From the very beginning, it was an open invitation to all.

The greatest gift —
For all people.

1. Bethlehem becomes a global place of worship every Christmas
In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, Christians from all over the world gather at the Church of the Nativity for Christmas celebrations. The church is built over the traditional site believed to be where Jesus was born, making it one of the oldest continuously used Christian churches in the world.

2. In many countries, Christmas Eve is the most sacred celebration
In places like Germany, Scandinavia, and much of Europe, Christmas Eve is when families attend church services that focus almost entirely on the birth of Christ. Candles, Scripture readings, and hymns retell the Nativity story, emphasizing Jesus rather than gifts.

3. The Philippines holds the longest Christmas celebration in the world
Christmas celebrations in the Philippines begin as early as September, but the heart of the season is the Simbang Gabi, a series of nine dawn Masses leading up to Christmas Day, all centered on preparing the heart for the coming of Christ.

4. In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated with fasting and worship
Ethiopian Christians observe Ganna, a Christmas celebration marked by fasting, prayer, and early morning church services. The focus is entirely on honoring Jesus’ birth through humility and devotion, reflecting how Christ entered the world simply.

5. Many Latin American countries reenact the Nativity story
In countries like Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia, families participate in Las Posadas, a nine-day reenactment of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter before Jesus’ birth. These processions remind participants that Christ came into the world as a humble guest.

6. In Lebanon, Christmas highlights Jesus as the Light of the World
In Lebanon, a predominantly Christian country in the Middle East, Christmas celebrations often include Scripture readings and candlelight services that emphasize Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise and the light that shines in darkness.

7. Across the globe, Christmas remains the most attended church service of the year
Worldwide, Christmas church services consistently see the highest attendance outside of Easter. Even people who rarely attend church often return during Christmas to hear the story of Jesus’ birth, showing that His arrival still draws hearts across cultures and generations.

Before you close this email or move on with your day, I invite you to pause for just a moment. Step away from the noise. Sit somewhere still and take a slow, deep breath.

Now quietly speak this prayer from your heart:

Jesus, thank You for coming for me.
Thank You for choosing closeness instead of distance.
Thank You for being my Savior, my peace, and my hope.
This Christmas, I make room for You.
Be near to me. Stay with me.

I love you, Lord, Amen.