Most of the world, and especially the business community, are celebrating Christmas. The malls are full of people, buying gifts (which will soon be exchanged, once Christmas is over). Scenes from the nativity are seen outside houses (in the snow) and in churches. It is all very picturesque.
There are church services on 24th evening. Just an hour. Kind of lipservice to the conscience. Christmas is fun and presents and food and frolic (with a clown called Santa Claus). Besides, in large parts of the U.S. now, it's a white Christmas and that is special.
White Christmas? The whiteness and pallor of death. They remember something that happened 2000 years ago and they don't really understand. They remember history, and most of it is garbled. They celebrate an ancient heathen festival under the guise of worshipping Christ.
Jesus Christ. He came into this world and lived among us. He was (and is) God and Man. He died for us. His death is more important than His birth, at least to the gospel writers. For us, He came to give us eternal life, and that life is in Himself. He gave us Himself. And we live the same kind of life that He lived, by faith in & utter dependence on a faithful & merciful & gracious & loving God, who is also our Father in heaven.
His birth is just one aspect. There is His earthly life (the 33 odd years, of which 30 are hidden from view); His death (the Cross and all its significance, especially our union with Him in that Cross); His resurrection; His ascension (& enthronement); His sending of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Jesus); His dwelling in the Church (His body); His coming again.
We celebrate Christmas as a traditional, ersatz, flavorless festival. But Christ is our life, our joy, our meaning, our strength, our wisdom, our victory. His life is our light. John 1.4 He came to give His life for us, and to show us how life is to be lived. Gal 2.20
He came 2000 years ago and the world rejected Him. He comes to us every day, as the gospel is preached faithfully by faithful men, and they still reject Him (or rather, they believe in another, an unreal, false, imitation Christ). And He is coming very soon...and then, too late, the world will realize that the Light of the world is also a Consuming Fire.
May we humble ourselves and accept Christ, not only as Savior, but also as Lord. Yes, Lord Jesus, come!