For me the emphasis of Christmas centers on the fact that Jesus (as God) came to earth as man, whereas Easter (in my mind anyway) stresses that Jesus (a man) was acting as only God could–and therefore was truly God.  I know you can’t divide the two that easily–i.e. the age-old 100% man-God paradox persists, but that’s still how I view the two holidays in terms of emphasis.

I guess that’s why Christmas has always been so important to me.  We can see Jesus’ humanity begin.  Being a human myself (if a hairy one) I can relate to humanity.  Funny how that works.

Jesus coming in human flesh automatically begins a redemptive process.  It’s almost as if God taking on our flesh and bones, housing Himself in DNA and epidermis, tabernacling in the dust he animated, intrinsically transfers goodness back into our fallen state.  Similar to a blood transfusion He is pumping the good stuff in.  But it doesn’t stop there does it.  Jesus goes on to live a life of goodness (of perfection) within that faulty vessel of weakness with such propensity towards sin.  And we know He remains sinless.  Momentum is built over the years of His life until He finally achieves the ultimate redemption of humanity on the cross…and in His resurrection defeats mankind’s greatest enemy–death.

I LOVE redemption stories.  I love ’em.  I especially love stories where people find themselves in positions to move towards redemption and they willingly choose to (like in A Christmas Carol).  I also like stories where people’s redemptive nature, character, or decisions reap unexpected redemptive benefits in their life, community, and world (like in It’s A Wonderful Life).

A Christmas Carol and It’s A Wonderful Life are two of my absolute all-time favorite Christmas movies because of this humanity-in-redemption theme.  I watch these movies every year and at certain points (like clockwork) I find myself weeping like a baby.  I’m not ashamed to admit it!  It’s funny how these emotional moments happen at predictable times…

With Scrooge, it’s when he wakes up from his nightmare (i.e. the life he’s chosen to live) and realizes that it’s not too late to change.  He’s so ecstatic he can hardly contain his pleasure.  No matter how many times I see this scene my heart wells up within me (like the Grinch’s heart–probably 3 sizes) and I can relate to his repentance and gratitude for the second chance he is given to make things right… The loonier the Scrooge IS in his excitement, the more I like him AND the more it makes me want to cry tears of joy.

With George Bailey it’s the tender scene at the end of the movie when he realizes that the life of sacrifice that he has lived for others has redeemed his community in ways he could never imagine.  He realizes his integral importance in the world and that that responsibility (to be George Bailey) should be viewed, not as a burden, but as a gift.  It is that gift of selflessness that teaches his community what it means to love their neighbor and to give freely to others in times of need.  I appreciate that (much like Christ does for us) George Bailey is let off-the-hook for the "crimes" he’s supposedly committed and he is lavished with love and abundance greatly beyond his current needs.  We are individually and corporately important to our Father.  He will take care of us.  That’s what makes me get all teary-eyed when I watch this film.  I just want to go hug someone.

So as the holidays approach, I hope that you can dwell on the redemptive humanity of Christ AND on the redemptive possibilities in your own lives and in our world.

It’s a wonderful life…