For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
– John 3:16 (NIV)
As a child, I always looked forward to watching the beloved story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In the movie, we see the Grinch filled with bitterness and resentment toward a joyous holiday season and happy people, in general. The Grinch’s heart is “two sizes too small,” and he believes that by stealing all the Christmas gifts, decorations, and food from the Whos in Whoville, he can stop Christmas from coming—that he can strip them of their happiness and make them “boo hoo.”
A LITTLE BIT MORE
But when Christmas arrives, the Grinch hears the Whos singing joyfully despite having none of their material gifts. This is not at all what he expected. The story beautifully resembles the message found in scripture about the true meaning of Christmas—that it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, not just an excuse to throw parties and give gifts.
The Grinch suddenly realizes that Christmas “means a little bit more.” This moment of revelation is similar to the transformation we experience when we understand the true impact of Jesus’ birth. Just as the Grinch’s heart grows, our hearts can open to the realization of what Christ did for us. We can become filled with love and joy when we embrace the message of Christ.
FORGIVENESS AND ACCEPTANCE
The gift of Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love for us, and it is this love that we celebrate during Christmas.
The Grinch’s change of heart and the Whos willingness to forgive and show him grace leads him to return all the stolen items and join the Whos in their celebration. This act of repentance and reconciliation mirrors the Christian call to love and serve others. In Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV), Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,” which the Whos illustrated with their forgiveness and acceptance of the Grinch.
Let’s remember that the true essence of Christmas lies in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. It is not about the material things, but about the joy of knowing that God gave us his Son to bring hope and salvation to the world.
Reflect: If all the fancy decorations and gifts under the tree were taken away, would it still be Christmas at your house?
