John 1:3-5  3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it[1].

This morning I saw this calculated assault on my Lord, Savior and Friend Jesus Christ.

New Billboard in NYC Says ‘Nobody’ Needs ‘Christ During Christmas’

While it was not a surprise, it was still sad.  How much abuse can you possibly take from someone you love so much??  The Cross answers that question over and over again.  Jesus died for everyone, yes even the ones who designed, paid for and authorized this sign.  He loves them abundantly; guess what just as much as He loves you and me.  I know it does not seem like that is possible, but it is the truth.  I just felt like sharing this with you today so that we remember “what manner of Love His is.”

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made:

Although these atheist (a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods), and I use that term graciously, because they seem to flat out hate Jesus, believe Christmas does not need Christ.  We see in the text that All things were made through Him, Yes Jesus created every things and without Him nothing would exist.  They don’t believe Jesus created them, they just can’t see how that is possible, but that does not change the fact.  I cannot see the air, but every second, I inhale believing that something will enter my lungs and keeps my body functioning.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men:

The phrase “and the life was the light of men” is in the Greek imperfect tense and means that “the life” began to be “the light of men” in the past and continues to be so in the present time.  In essence, Jesus is the source of all life and not only to physical life, but also to spiritual life.  In Jesus we find life, other scriptures let us know that it is abundant life, so we are not even capable of living without the Lord.  Life (Logos) is the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God.  When we are in Christ we receive His life, and His life is awesome (all power, knowledge, presence)!!!   This is what we now have access too.  Without Christ; you get nothing (and without Him nothing was made that was made).
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it:

So say we were to “remove” Christ from Christmas, what would be the result?   Christmas with Christ is just mas, mas in Spanish means “more;” more commercialism, stuff, debt, ungratefulness and just chaos.  According to the billboard the “true meaning,” includes charity, family, friends and food.  How in the world can they remove Christ if this is what they believe is the true meaning??   Let’s just look at their definition or Christmas:  “Charity” is love and (He who does not love does not know God, for God is love[2]), “family”(but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”[3]), friends (but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you[4]) and food (“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.[5]).  I would get upset at the people associated with this billboard, but remember the darkness did not comprehend it.  The dark will never comprehend Jesus, but Jesus will always shine, even on them (And the light shines in the darkness).  He will continue to love them, and put people around them to care for them, giving them time to “change their mind” about Him (The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance[6]).  Jesus died for each one of us and although we have accepted His wonderful act of love in our hearts, not everyone has and according to this John they are not living!!

This Christmas remember that Jesus is the “Center” of everything, because He created all things (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God[7]) and as we celebrate His love for us, coming as flesh and blood to stand in our place and redeem us from eternal damnation.  Remember that He did it for everyone, so when you come across those who don’t believe in Him, tell them know how much Jesus loves them.

Merry Christmas!!