“To ask the right question,” said Psychiatrist Carl Jung, “is already half the solution to a problem.” People often ask a “why” question to solve a problem. Apparently, a certain young lady thought I was a problem.
I was serving in a major disaster area. At a community lunch for survivors and responders, I sat at a table with people from another organization. A young lady saw “Chaplain” embroidered on my shirt. “What is your role here?” she asked. By her tone, she meant, “Why are YOU here?” I said, “I am a chaplain,” stating the obvious. I continued, “At this moment, my role is to tell you that God loves you. Are you a woman of faith?” “Ab-so-lute-ly NOT,” was her emphatic reply.
My response to her also answers “why” questions about Christmas. Why did it happen? Why is it important? More to the point, why did Jesus come? Short answer: because God loves you. All other reasons we find to explain the mystery and purpose of God entering His creation as an infant cannot be separated from His love for you.
Christmas marked the advent (arrival) in human history of God’s eternal plan, which was for “the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isa. 53:6). The prophet named the “child born to us” as “Mighty God” (Isa. 9:6). The angel told Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mat. 1:21). Why Christmas? We need a Savior.
Jesus knew why He came, and said so. At his trial he told Pilate, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37). Why Christmas? We need to know truth. He said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Why Christmas? In a world scarred by strife, pain, and death, we need life and peace.
Jesus’ coming was selfless. He came “not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Why Christmas? To model humility and sacrifice for those who follow Jesus. My last example is the most magnificent. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Why Christmas? So that by faith you can be righteous before God.
“Why Christmas?” is the right question. The love of God is persistent and prevalent. That is why my final word to that young lady was, “God still loves you, even if you don’t believe He’s there.”