What is Christmas about?

Christmas is about the coming of the Christ. But, what does “Christ” mean? And why does it matter? 

The word Christ comes from New Testament Greek. The Greek word is Christos (Χριστός), and it translates the Hebrew word Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ). Great. But what does Christ/Messiah mean? The simple answer is that Messiah means “anointed one.” But there is much more behind the meaning of the word Messiah than just “anointed one.” The Old Testament in various ways and in numerous writings promises that one would come and fulfill various promises. So, the expectation for the Messiah cannot be captured if we think it just means “anointed one.” It does mean that, but that is not all it means. 

Do you know what a “honey-do-list” is? Have you ever seen one? I currently have a few things on the list: fix the leaky faucet, refinish the chair, and paint my son’s bedroom. A “honey-do-list” is a checklist of expectations. My wife, Leah, gave me a list and expects me to get everything done on the list. I am glad my wife is understanding and gracious, so the list isn’t very long.

As we think about the Jewish expectations for the Promised One, we are looking at a “honey-do-list” of sorts. We see from Scripture and history the “honey-do list” was not as small and understanding as my wife’s. The Jewish people had a huge list. And different people had different lists, but any list would be difficult to check off.

I think of the messianic expectations like water and oil. You don’t expect them to go together. How can the promised one be a king (2 Sam. 7:12-13; 1 Chron. 17:11-14) and a servant (Is. 52:13-53:12)? “One like the son of man” (Dan. 7:13) and also “Everlasting Father” (Is. 9:6)? How could the promised one suffer and die for His people and yet bring an eternal righteous reign? You don’t think of those things as going together. But sometimes things that you wouldn’t think go together, work quite nicely. 

You wouldn’t think oil and vinegar make sense together. And you probably wouldn’t initially think it would make sense to have bacon with anything! It’s good enough on its own, right? But if you add spinach, candied pecans, cheese, oil, and vinegar (transformed into salad dressing), the bacon is elevated, and maybe even a little healthier. 

If unexpected combinations result in delicious food, how great would the impact be on a spiritual level? A king who is also a servant?! Someone who has all power but is also all good? We don’t often think of these combinations, but if they could happen, it would be amazing. 

The expectation presented in the Old Testament for the Promised One seems almost impossibly diverse. How could any one person fulfill the many expectations? How could it make sense for the “Ancient of Days” (Dan. 7:9, 13, 22) to be a descendant of king David (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Is. 11:1; Jer. 23:5-6)? 

The New Testament authors, over and over, argue that Jesus is the Promised One, the long-awaited Messiah, who fulfills the prophecies, patterns, pointers, and promises of the Old Testament (2 Cor. 1:20). He will crush the serpent of old (Gen. 3:15) and lead the way back into Eden, He will bless all the nations of the earth, and He will set up His righteous and eternal Kingdom. 

The messianic expectations appeared to be nothing more than unrelated and random shards of glass. But the New Testament helps us see they all work together to form an astounding, almost unbelievable, stained-glass picture of Jesus, the long-awaited, promised Messiah. That’s why understanding what Christ means matters. Without understanding the expectations for the Messiah, we’re left with broken glass, rather than a breath-taking mosaic.

Regarding prophecy, there are several Old Testament passages we could consider. I’ll give the Old Testament reference and then the New Testament reference. 

• His appearance will be disfigured (see Isaiah 52:14 and Matthew 26:67).
• He will be despised and rejected (see Isaiah 53:3 and John 11:47-50).
• He will take sin upon Himself (see Isaiah 53:4-6, 8 and 1 Corinthians 15:3).
• He will be silent before His oppressors (see Isaiah 53:7 and Matthew14:60-61).
• He will be assigned a grave with the wicked and the rich in His death (Isaiah 53:9 and Mark 15:27-28, 43-46).
• He will be a descendant of king David (see 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 and Luke 3:23, 31). 
• He will be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:1). 
• He will be preceded by a messenger (see Isaiah 40:3-5 and Matthew 3:1-2). 
• He will have a ministry of miracles (see Isaiah 35:5-6 and Matthew 9:35; 11:4-5). 
• He will enter Jerusalem on a Donkey (see Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:7-9). 
• His hands and feet will be pierced (see Psalm 22:16 and Luke 23:33). 
• He will be hated without reason (see Psalm 69:4 and John 15:25). 
• His garments will be divided and lots will be cast for them (see Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
• His bones will not be broken (see Psalm 34:20 and John 19: 33).
• His side will be pieced (see Zechariah 12:10 and Jn. 19:34).
• He, the Mighty God, will be born (see Isaiah 9:2-7 and Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-3, 14). 

Christmas—the real meaning of the season—is about Christ, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and all the many things that means. 

Photo by Jakob Owens