The lead-up to Christmas, at least as far as advertising and decorations go, seems to get earlier every year. It is, of course, a major revenue stream for retailers and services worldwide.
The first Christmas, however, was marked by poverty and privation; the only accommodation on booking.com, for example, was an outhouse with the livestock. Yet the night sky lit up with angels for the shepherds, and expensive gifts were brought by wise men from afar.
Christians believe the greatest gift of them all was this baby, God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. St Paul calls this, ‘God’s indescribable gift.’ Christians celebrate Christmas because of these events and because of the life Jesus lived that showed us what God is like, including Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
