Saturday, December 20,
2025
WHAT IS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
Isa 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.
In his book, The
Second Tree from the Corner, E. B. White makes this throbbing observation: “To perceive Christmas through
its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.” This Christmas season is as difficult as any
and it is difficult to find what we commonly call the Christmas Spirit. The
problem seems to be in its definition. I will list a few contributing sources
of what we sometimes refer to as the Christmas spirit.
1. IT IS THE SPIRIT OF
ANTICIPATION!
Those who practice a more
liturgical form of worship, if they pay attention to it, may be better equipped to
understand the spirit of anticipation. The season of Advent is a season of
waiting, of anticipating. It is waiting and knowing. The Advent calendar, with
its little daily door to be opened, marches confidently toward a known
conclusion and not to an uncertain end. It is the spirit of anticipation.
Luke 2:25-26
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem,
whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting
for the consolation of Israel:
and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he
should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
2. IT IS THE SPIRIT OF
SURPRIZE!
Christmas should be full of
surprises. It is
when the days become long and predictable that we tumble into bed without a
feeling of triumph with weariness our only reward. It is the day full of
surprises that ends with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
Luke 2:36-38
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an
husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years,
which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers
night and day.
38 And she coming in that instant gave
thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for
redemption in Jerusalem.
Simeon was fulfilled in his
waiting – but Anna was joyfully surprised! The Christmas Story – the one in the
Bible and not the movie on TV – is full of surprise words like “suddenly” and
“immediately.” The Christmas spirit is the spirit of surprise.
3. IT IS THE SPIRIT OF
WONDER!
Luke 2:8-10
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in
the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
The combination of the Greek
words for “sore
afraid” is actually “mega phobia.” It is the spirit of
wonder and incredulity. It is Mary asking the angel “how can this thing be?” It
is the speechless shepherds who are wide-eyed and doubtful of their own senses.
4. IT IS THE SPIRIT OF
FAITH!
Heb 11:1
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.
Substance and evidence! These fill the heart of the
one full of unverified hope and unexplained joy. It is a gift of the Holy
Spirit and a product of the holy written word. We need an apt benediction both
for those with the Christmas spirit and for those who still seek it today.
Rom 15:13
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the
power of the Holy Ghost.
Dear Lord, fill us all with
that joy and peace in believing today. Fill us with wonder. Surprise us with
your presence. AMEN
