Pastor Ed Moreno of New Day Christian Church, Eastvale

By Pastor Ed Moreno

What is the ultimate reason Christmas is important?  Well, I’m not going to say expressing love and generosity through the giving of gifts and such isn’t an important aspect of our Christmas celebrations. Because the giving of gifts blesses people and brings joy to their lives, and that’s a good thing. But is it the ultimate reason Christmas is important?

What about all the supernatural and miraculous stuff that occurred surrounding the Christmas story – are they the reason Christmas is so important?  I mean, think of all the angel activity.  An angel appeared to Mary and to Joseph.  A bunch of angels appeared to the shepherds – that’s all pretty cool, right?

Then think of the fulfilled prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus, e.g., 700 years prior to that glorious event, the Old Testament prophet Micah predicted it would occur in the town of Bethlehem.  How could he possibly know the location where the Messiah would be born unless God revealed it to him?

The prophet Isaiah foretold that Jesus would be born of a virgin, i.e., of a woman who never had relations with a man – and then it happened!  Wow!  Even in our day of in-vitro fertilization, having a baby without any human male involvement whatsoever is still recognized as an incredible miracle, right?

But, even so, neither the Immaculate Conception, nor any of the other miraculous and supernatural happenings surrounding the birth of Christ are the ultimate reason Christmas is important.

No, the ultimate reason Christmas is important and should be celebrated by the whole world is because it was foretold that Mary’s baby would be called and, in fact, would be:  “IMMANUEL,” which means “God With Us.”

Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity, who existed from all eternity, and who is the One through whom all things in heaven and on earth were created – it is this second person of the Holy Trinity who humbled himself and allowed himself to be born into this world through Mary.  This is the ultimate reason Christmas is important.

For, if God the Son had not come and lived a sinless life in human flesh, so as to able to take the punishment upon himself that you and I deserve for our wrongs, then we would be lost and without hope.  But Christ did come, so for sure celebrate and sing with all your heart those glorious words: “Joy To The World, The Lord Is Come!”  Merry Christmas, everyone!

New Day Christian Church meets Sundays at 9:30 and 11 a.m.  They are located at 7155 Hamner Avenue, at Schleisman Road, next to the Fire Station.  For more information, call (951) 278-8367, or visit http://www.newdaycc.net.