It Is Not About Saving Christmas 

Last weekend I saw that a certain older Christmas movie was being aired on a TV channel that specializes in such programming. Since it was one we had regularly watched with our children when they were young, I decided to tune in for the sake of a little nostalgia. It is titled The Night They Saved Christmas. I am aware of at least a couple of other movies with similar titles about saving Christmas. Actually, when you think about it, that is a common theme among many holiday flicks. They involve stories about Christmas being threatened by evil characters, bad weather, or various other circumstances. Will Santa be able to deliver his gifts? Will the family be able to get together as usual? Inevitably someone comes along who heroically solves the dilemma and saves the day.

While that theme can make for some interesting stories, the truth is that Christmas doesn’t need saving. I suppose it might need rescuing at times from secularism and commercialism, but the reality of Christmas will come regardless of who or what may try to take it away. It is with us always, not just during this season of the year. No matter what our world may do to the celebration, no matter how our situations may change or our traditions be altered, the truth remains that Christ was born in Bethlehem.

In the midst of all these stories about saving Christmas, the true story is about how Christmas saved us. We are not the rescuers. We are the ones who needed to be rescued. We are not the heroes who saved the day. Our hero is Jesus. He is the one and only Savior. Christmas is about His loving, sacrificial, and heroic actions to come into this world to save us from our sins.

Granted, the act of being born or of the Son of God taking on human flesh is not what remedied our hopeless situation of being lost sinners facing the condemnation of a holy God. However, it was the first step toward our deliverance. It was the beginning of our Savior’s mission. The angels made it clear that this was the reason for Jesus’ miraculous entrance into our world. One of them told Joseph to name Him Jesus because “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And when the angel announced His birth to the shepherds, they proclaimed, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The One being born was above all else a Savior.

His saving mission wouldn’t be fulfilled until many years later. It would come after a wonderful, sinless life in which He would teach inspiring truths, do great miracles, and help many people. It would come through going to a cross and dying as the sacrifice for our sins. It would culminate in a glorious resurrection. But it had to start in a manger in Bethlehem. He had to be born in order to give His life for us. He had to live in a fleshly body in order to die.

 Yes, there is an aspect of “saving” in the Christmas story. However, let’s keep it straight. No red-nosed reindeer or any other character is the one who does the saving. And it is certainly not us. It is Jesus and only Jesus. While we might seek to save Christmas by making sure presents are given, traditions are upheld, and families are together, the best way we can celebrate is to make sure we have let Jesus save us – and then to let others know that He can save them too. Let Jesus be your Christmas hero. That is why He came – to save us from our sins.