Some would say, “Every day is Christmas,” and I agree! Everything Christmas represents is at the core of Christianity, and we should celebrate that fact every day. However, having a dedicated day or season to celebrate it is great, too. It is an intentional pulling together of ourselves to apportion a little more time than we generally would, both in our routine and in our consciousness, to focus on the meaning and the depth of what happened at Christmas and how it touches you and me today.

If we peel back the festivities, Christmas really is a commemoration of God leaving His heavenly abode and throne and coming to dwell with human beings as a human Himself. God born as a helpless baby, swaddled in cloths by His earthly parents tired after a long journey, laid in a trough and likely surrounded by animals—the best conditions they could find at that time (Luke 2:7). God coming to the earth in human form is not a new or unique concept. Other cultures and religions around the world and across time have something comparable in their depository of myths and stories. Many gods in Hinduism reincarnate and come to earth multiple times, in human and non-human forms, to restore cosmic order, preserve dharma or pursue other ends. With Hinduism being a major religion in Asia, especially India, and many non-Hindu Asians being at least superficially familiar with Hindu mythology, one may ask, “So what sets Jesus apart?”

What is unique is the reason Jesus came to earth—“thou camest to earth for me,” as the song puts it. Jesus’ incarnation was focused on us, lost human beings. All religions are in one way or the other human beings seeking God. Only in Jesus do we have God seeking human beings. It is an act purely motivated by love (John 3:16). This seeking God is the same God who walked the garden of Eden looking for Adam and Eve, calling out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). Entering our world as one of us, Jesus demonstrates for us through His life what it means to be a restored human being living in obedience to and full communion with God, and He takes our place in His death, paying the price for our sin. His birth is meaningful because He lived the life we want and need to live and willingly died in our stead.

Although the Christmas event took place 2,000 years ago, Jesus is still being born in the hearts and lives of women and men around the world, redeeming from sin and showing the way to those who would follow. Is there room in our hearts and lives for Jesus this Christmas? Maybe we are not in the best of places in our lives this Christmas. That is all right. Jesus wants to be present where we are, in whatever situation we find ourselves. There is no pomp and show required. The heavenly King is happy to be in a lowly manger with us. Yes, He “camest to earth for me.”

As we approach Christmas, let us intentionally recall the lengths to which God went to be with us, expressed aptly in the words of Saint Augustine of Hippo:

Man’s maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.

This Christmas, no matter where we are, Christ is here for us. If what you need is love and empathy, Jesus, the God who became a human, seeks you. If what you need is a powerful God, remember that Jesus who came now sits enthroned and no power on earth or in heaven can challenge Him. He is neither alarmed nor threatened by what you are going through. He is perfectly in control of your situation, and He is with you this Christmas.