What is Christmas really about?
When we think of Christmas, we often think of gifts, lights, family gatherings, or maybe even that warm feeling of joy in the air. But beyond the decorations, beyond the carols, and beyond the celebration — Christmas is about one thing: a Savior who came to take something away.
The greatest gift Jesus ever gives you is not just what He gives, but what He takes away.
Matthew 18:11 says, “The Son of Man came to save that which was lost.”
That’s the heart of Christmas. God saw us — lost, broken, burdened — and He came down, not to condemn us, but to carry away everything that kept us from Him.
We Were Lost — But Not Forgotten
Every one of us knows what it feels like to be lost. Maybe not lost on a map, but lost in life — a deep sense of not knowing who we are anymore.
We’ve all felt the weight of:
- Sin — the choices that separate us from God.
- Shame — the voice that says we’re not enough.
- Guilt — the memory that won’t let go.
- Fear — the anxiety that grips our hearts.
- Loneliness — the ache of feeling unseen.
- Exhaustion — the weariness of trying to hold it all together.
We were lost — but not forgotten.
Jesus came searching for us. Even when we weren’t looking for Him, He was looking for us.
And every day, we still wrestle with three enemies: sin, Satan, and self. But the good news is — Jesus came to take them all away.
- Sin — The Weight We Carry
Sin isn’t only about doing wrong things; it’s also about not doing what is right. It’s the inward attitude that says, “I’ll do life my way instead of God’s way.”
Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin is heavy. It separates us from God’s presence and peace. It whispers, “You can handle life on your own.”
But Jesus came to lift that weight. He didn’t come to make bad people good — He came to make dead people alive.
Colossians 2:14 says, “The cross didn’t just cover sin; it canceled its record.”
And 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us.”
That means your past doesn’t define you anymore. The weight you’ve been carrying — He carried it to the cross. The guilt you’ve been holding — He nailed it there.
When Jesus came, He came to take away the sin that was crushing you.
- Satan — The Thief of Identity
Our second enemy is Satan — the deceiver. His greatest weapon isn’t just temptation; it’s deception.
He lies about who you are. He tells you you’re worthless, that you’ll never change, that you’re beyond forgiveness.
But Jesus came to destroy those lies.
John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Here’s the truth:
- The enemy knows your name but calls you by your sin.
- Jesus knows your sin but calls you by your name.
Satan reminds you of your past, but Jesus reminds you of your future.
When Jesus came, He came to silence the voice of the enemy — to restore your true identity as a child of God.
Self — The Battle Within
Sometimes the hardest battle isn’t out there — it’s in here.
Our thoughts, our doubts, our insecurities — they can be louder than any outside voice. But Jesus came to make your self new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
And Galatians 2:20 reminds us, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Jesus didn’t come to improve your old self — He came to give you a new one.
Your identity isn’t what you’ve done; it’s what He’s done for you. You’re not defined by your failures, but by His faithfulness
So what is the greatest gift of Christmas?
It’s this: Jesus came to take it all away — sin, Satan, and self.
He carried your guilt. He broke the power of darkness. He silenced the lies that kept you bound.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
That means you are:
- Found — no longer lost.
- Free — no longer bound.
- Forgiven — no longer condemned.
You can live free from sin’s burden. You can walk in peace that passes understanding. You can rest in love, not strive for it. You can live from acceptance, not for approval.
That’s the miracle of Christmas — not just that Jesus came, but that He came for you.
Let Jesus Take It Away
This Christmas, let Jesus do what He came to do.
Let Him take away your sin.
Let Him silence Satan’s lies.
Let Him renew your self with His truth and peace.
And that’s the greatest gift you could ever receive — not something under a tree, but Someone who hung on a tree, so you could be free.
Our Ela Koinonia family would like to wish you and your family a blessed Christmas and purposefully 2026!
