Recently my five year old grandson, Noah, was riding in the car with me. Noticing all the Christmas decorations in the yards and on homes, he asked, “Papa, do you know what I like about Christmas?” I replied, “The gifts?” “No,” he replied. “Is it the lights?” “No.” “Is it the candy?” “No.” “Is it Santa?” “No. It’s Jesus’ birthday!” That’s a pretty good answer for a five year old. He welcomed Christmas for the right reason. Welcoming Christmas for the right reason is vital if we are to experience the miracle, mercy, and the “merry” of Christmas. How are you welcoming Christmas?

After Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and his disciples landed on the shore of the Gerasenes. Jesus immediately encountered a homeless and demon possessed man who had terrorized the countryside. Jesus cast the demons out of the man. The citizens found the notorious demoniac seated before Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. Did they welcome Christ? Note some of the saddest commentary in the Word of God, “And all the people in the region . . . begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left” (Luke 8:22-39). How do you welcome Christmas?

We find a totally different welcoming committee in Luke 8:40, “On the other side of the lake, the crowds welcomed Jesus because they had been waiting for him.” Do you wait expectantly for the Christ of Christmas? The Lord God comes to those who welcome Him, wait on Him, and worship Him. (James 4:6, 8)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, two elderly prophets had been waiting in the temple in Jerusalem for years to see the Christ of Christmas. God had promised them that they would not die until they saw the Messiah. Eight days after Jesus was born Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to dedicate him to God. Simeon held Jesus in his arms, worshipped, and prophesied, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations and he is the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).

Anna, the elderly prophetess, was in the temple waiting and welcoming the Christ of Christmas. “She never left the temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer” (Luke 2:36-39). What a blessing of joy she received.

How are you welcoming Christmas? Do you welcome Christ with wonder, worship, waiting on him expectantly in faith, widely opening your heart to Him as Savior and Lord, and witnessing the good news of Christmas everywhere as Anna did? “For as many as received him, gave he power to become sons of God, even as many as believed in his name” (John 1:12).