Christmas is about goodwill toward men

One of my mother’s Christmas traditions is to read the Christmas story before any presents can be opened. As a child, I accepted this barrier to those tempting, shiny packages with more patience than you might expect. I understood the inevitability of that story being read before presents could be opened like the fact one must eat dinner before dessert. I also enjoyed the story, the tradition.

For many years, my mother would be the one to read it. She almost always seemed to emphasize or end the story at Luke 2:19, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The section of Scripture about Jesus’ birth actually ends in verse 20. I’ve never asked her about it directly, but I think it was a subtle message to her family that Mary’s example was one we should follow.

In later years, we would take turns reading the story. It was almost like a badge of honor for mom to pick you to read. I’ve now heard my own daughters read the story at their grandmother’s request. So many Christmases, Christmas play readings, sermons and Sunday School lessons that I can almost quote the whole story of Jesus’ birth by memory.

This year, I may have truly taken mom’s preferred ending verse (Luke 2:19) to heart. I’ve pondered this story in my heart. Nestled within the story of Christ’s birth is a glorious truth that I’m not sure many people believe. The story is just so familiar. How many years have I heard it or read it and not felt my heart stir? There’s an old saying that “familiarity breeds contempt.”

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’ve held the story of Jesus’ birth in contempt. Yet, I rarely study it or look for God to speak to me through it. Yet this year, I was struck by the truth the angels and a multitude of the heavenly host proclaimed.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Luke 2:14 NKJV

God boldly proclaimed His intent

The Christmas story is a reminder of God’s heart and intent toward mankind…and that intent is “peace and goodwill.” I’m not sure this is the God most people imagine. Do you think about God having goodwill toward you? God sending His only Son to earth to die for us so that we could have a personal, one-on-one relationship with our Creator is the greatest love story in the history of the world. God is love.

Some people don’t see God as love. We could list a thousand reasons. The history and narrative of the Bible detail a tumultuous love affair between God and His people (the Israelites). We see a jealous God; an angry God. When we read of God’s holiness, we see unattainable. When we read His law, we feel judged or unworthy.

Sometimes we only see the curse and exile from the Garden of Eden in the story of Adam and Eve’s sin. We fail to see the God who still cared for them (Genesis 3:21). A God who still communicated with them after they left the Garden (see God’s warning to Cain as he likely plotted his brother’s murder Genesis 4:6-7). Yes, God is Holy. God is just. He brought forth justice upon Cain. But we forget, prior to Cain’s sin, God spoke to him one-on-one. Like a loving father, God tried to convict and guide Cain, to speak wisdom that would’ve spared Cain and Abel. Cain ignored it. I’ve been there. Haven’t we all?

Yet, sometimes we give God the bad guy reputation because we ignore His unfailing love. We close our eyes to His steadfast refusal to give up on a people because He made a promise to Abraham (and let’s be honest, you and I would’ve given up on the Israelites long before we get to Jesus’ birth). It seems we focus on the punisher (even though God extended mercy within Cain’s punishment). We call God harsh. We chafe at the justice (unless it’s of course someone else who deserves justice meted out upon, just not us, right?).

Jesus is the peace offering

Christmas is a time to meditate on the God who desires “peace, goodwill toward men.” He took extreme measures to exemplify that goodwill. Sending Jesus was His most powerful message to the world in that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God sent Jesus to make peace with mankind. Christmas is a time to ponder the truth about God: that He is love (1 John 4:16), that He is good and His mercy endures forever (Psalm 136); He is forgiving, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger (Nehemiah 9:17), and He is with us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Don’t be deceived. You have an enemy who wants you to believe lies about God, not the Truth of His Word nor the truth many, many faithful believers have experienced firsthand. God is not aloof nor distant. He has done everything He could to build a bridge to an intimate relationship with you and me. This Christmas is a great time to reconsider the truth about God and the salvation Jesus brings.

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3-7 NKJV (emphasis mine)

I hope you find peace and a deeper understanding of God’s goodwill toward mankind this Christmas. If, like me, you already follow Christ, then may we find ways to live it. At the very least, we could follow Mary’s example to keep all these things and ponder them in our heart.