“Love Came Down at Christmas”

by Rev. Sergio E. Arevalo, Jr., PhD

"We Christians should love God via people in need. and our love should reveal through giving away ourselves and possessions to others. Only by this we can feel and experience the true spirit of Christmas."

Most parts of the world nowadays celebrate Christmas in December in their own ways; other parts celebrate in January, like in Egypt. Even unbelievers celebrate with Christians having business motives in mind, since they have a perception of a commercialized Christmas. However, what is Christmas for all of us? What is the real reason of having Christmas? As a starting point let us read what Jesus Christ said 2000 years ago as recorded in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV).

According to Fr. Martin Luther, the father of Reformation, this verse is a 'gospel in miniature' or the gospel in a nutshell,” because it contains the whole message of God to humankind. It contains the love of God to the world. It is also the essence of the hymn, “Love Came Down at Christmas” made by Christina G. Rossetti which I borrowed for the title of this article. The hymn says:

Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine;Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the signWorship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?Love shall be our token; Love be yours and love be mine.Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.

Jesus Christ pictures in the hymn as the Love-Being. A Love-being who was born at Christmas to love and save the humankind. It is the great gift of God to humankind. However, what is that love? What kind of love is it? I suggest that it is a universal and sacrificial love.

The statement that “God so loved the world” shows that the object of God's love is the universe. The object of His love is not only the Philippines, or the rich, or the poor, but everybody. His object of love is universal! It means to say that God loves all peoples and creation. God loves the sinners as well as the saints, the poor as well as the rich, the wise as well as the ignorant—He loves them all!

The expression of that love is sacrificial. Let me tell you a story. There were three brothers who had an over-riding obsession to become heroes of the village. They looked at every happening as a chance for some act of courage worthy to be hailed as heroes. One day the three brothers joined a hiking trip. On the way, They crossed a bridge and below were children swimming in the river. Suddenly, someone shouted that a girl was drowning. The crucial time has come. But instead of jumping the three brothers stood-frozen with flight (Nanigas sa takot). While they were scared, somebody jumped into the river and saved the girl. The barrio gave a medal of honor to that somebody, named Richard. He was publicized and acclaimed far and wide for his feat and presence of mind.

At home, the three brothers talked to each other about what happened to them, why they did not jump into the river. They had a lot of questions in mind, they were stirred. No use wondering.” said the older of the three brothers, “Let us see Richard and ask him what flashed into his mind and what decisions he made prompting him to act courageously and save the girl.” So they went to Richard and confronted him secretly. “Richard,” began the oldest. “We admire and envy you for all your courage and heroism. We want to be like you, so please teach us.” “Richard,” asked the youngest, “tell us please what made you jump into the river. Silence. The three waited anxiously for answers. “Well,” replied Richard in a measured way, “up to now, 1 am still trying to find out who pushed me into the river.” “But why did you save the girl if you were just pushed?” “Well, I was already wet so I decided to be heroic! (Basa na rin lang, nagpakabayani na ako!)”

Our hero of faith, Jesus Christ was not pushed by anybody to save us, to love us. He did it voluntarily, sacrificially, lovingly, and courageously! Why sacrificial? Is it not sacrificial to die and give His whole life for others to be saved? Is it not sacrificial to die on the cross? Indeed, we are grateful to be recipients of that sacrificial love.

The phrase “God so loved the world” reveals that the recipient of God's love is “the world” - meaning to say “all!” In these contemporary days who are the prospective recipients of God's love? Of course, you and I are recipients of God's love.

We, as recipients of God's love, should really receive it wholeheartedly by doing the “leap of faith” meaning we should transcend the worldly life towards the divine life. As recipients we should also share the love of God that we have received and experienced. As we discern from the life of Jesus Christ, He gave His life to us, which is kenosis, meaning life-giving. As we share our lives to Jesus, we need to share what we have with others, particularly to the poor in our community. If we have money, share them with the poor. “Giving is not God's way of raising money. Giving is God's way of raising children. Every time you give sacrificially, you give a little of your selfishness away” (John F. MacArthur).

Giving a possession is giving away our selfishness. There are people who say they do give their lives to Christ. but not their pockets. It means to say that they do not really give their lives to God totally. A song says: “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to Thee; Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.” A church sang this during, the offertory, but one man whispered, asking his friend, “Brother, I noticed that when we used to sing the offertory hymn, you used to sing the first and second lines, but when it comes to the third and fourth lines, you just hum, why?” The man responded. “Well, I want to dedicate my life to God, but not my money and possessions!”

We Christians should love God via people in need. and our love should reveal through giving away ourselves and possessions to others. Only by this can we feel and experience the true spirit of Christmas. Let love come down on Christmas day. Let love come inside your heart now by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Pray with sincerity the following:

Heavenly Father, I am a sinner, Forgive me of all my sins. I believe that you sent Jesus from heaven to save me from all my sins. And he sacrificed and died for all my inequities and transgressions. Jesus, please come to my heart and live in me and from now on I will follow your orders and words. I will read my Bible and pray and worship you regularly. Amen.

If you uttered the above prayer and you believe that Jesus came to your heart, you are now a born again believer (John 3:3-17). Write the day and time of your renewal to your diary. From now on share your faith and changes to your friends and join in a spirit-filled church in your community for the nurturing of your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. If cannot find one, just e-mail me and I will help to locate a church for you. God bless you. Please share to me your joy of salvation and other other concerns by writing at pastor@churchontheweb2008.org you may post your comments in my Guestbook or Forum.