God With Us: The Revolutionary Message of Christmas
There's something profoundly beautiful about the phrase "God with us." Not God against us. Not God far from us. Not God indifferent to us. But God with us—Emmanuel.
This simple truth lies at the heart of Christmas, yet it's a truth that can feel distant or irrelevant when we're carrying the weight of past mistakes, nursing old wounds, or simply feeling too far gone for grace. Many of us have wondered at some point: Is there room for someone like me?
The answer that echoes through the Christmas story is an resounding yes.
When God Stopped the Guessing
For centuries, humanity guessed about what God was like. Religious leaders speculated. Priests theorized. Philosophers debated. But at Christmas, God decided we wouldn't have to guess anymore.
The Apostle Paul captured this perfectly when he wrote: "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those under the law that we might be adopted as children" (Galatians 4:4-5).
Notice that phrase: "when the set time had fully come." God waited for the perfect moment in history—when Roman roads connected the known world, when port cities dotted the Mediterranean, when news could travel and spread. At precisely that moment, God revealed himself in a way that would remove much of the mystery and make the path forward clear.
This wasn't just another prophet with another message. This was God himself, stepping into human flesh, demonstrating what divine love looks like with skin on.
The God Who Doesn't Count Sins
One of the most revolutionary aspects of the Christmas message is found in these words: "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Not counting our sins against us.
Let that sink in for a moment. Many of us spend years counting our sins against ourselves—replaying our failures, reliving our regrets, carrying the weight of ways we've hurt others. We struggle to imagine a God who doesn't do the same.
But Christmas declares something different. The God who became human came to show us that reconciliation is possible, that barriers can be removed, that adoption into God's family is available to anyone who receives it.
A fourth-century church leader named Augustine captured this paradox beautifully when he reflected on the incarnation: "He lies in a manger but he holds the world. He nurses at his mother's breast but he feeds the angels. He's wrapped in swaddling clothes but he gives us the garment of immortality. He finds no room at the inn but he builds a temple for himself in the hearts of those who believe."
The Details Matter
When we read Luke's account of Jesus's birth, we might wonder why he includes so much historical detail—Caesar Augustus, Governor Quirinius, specific towns and regions. It's because this isn't a fairy tale or a "once upon a time" story. This happened in real time, in a real place, to real people.
Luke interviewed eyewitnesses and carefully investigated everything. He wanted us to know that Christmas is anchored in history, not mythology.
And the details reveal something else: God's radical inclusivity.
God announced his arrival first to a woman—Mary—in a culture where women had little social status. Then he announced it to shepherds—men who were considered ceremonially unclean and excluded from temple worship. These were people on the outside looking in, and God made sure they were among the first to know.
The message was clear: You're included. All of you.
Good News of Great Joy
When the angel appeared to those shepherds, terrified in the fields, the message was simple but profound: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people" (Luke 2:10).
Good news. Great joy. For all people.
If the Christian message doesn't strike you as good news, if it doesn't elicit some sense of joy, perhaps the version you encountered doesn't match the real Christmas version.
Joy isn't the same as thrills or happiness. Those come and go with circumstances. Joy is something constant—a deep sense that everything will ultimately be okay because we're connected to our Father in heaven. Joy transcends the ups and downs, the unexpected diagnoses, the seasons of loss, the disappointments.
The presence of Jesus brings joy because it's anchored to a reality that doesn't change: God loves you.
Four Truths to Hold
The Christmas story can be summarized in four simple statements:
God loves you. Before you ever thought of God, he thought of you. His first thought about you is love, and he sent his Son to prove it.
God is for you. He didn't send Jesus to condemn the world but to save it. He's not against you; he's on your side.
God is pursuing you. He stepped out of eternity into flesh, into a broken world. You don't have to go find God—he's already come to you and continues to pursue you.
God is relentless. He will not stop pursuing you in love for all of your days.
There's a beautiful insight from psychiatrist Kurt Thompson: "We are born into the world looking for someone looking for us." From our first moments, we're searching for connection, for someone who sees us. Ultimately, we're looking for God looking for us.
When we realize that God is pursuing us, that he came at Christmas specifically to find us, something shifts in our souls. That old carol suddenly rings true: "Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth."
The Invitation
Christmas isn't just a historical event to remember. It's an invitation to respond.
Mary's response to the angel's announcement was simple: "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled" (Luke 1:38). In other words: I don't understand all of this, but yes.
That's all any of us can offer—a simple yes to the God who loves us, who is for us, who pursues us relentlessly.
Whether you're celebrating Christmas for the first time with new understanding, or you're returning to truths that once felt more real, or you're simply curious about what all of this means—the invitation remains the same.
There's room for you. There's room for someone exactly like you. And there's room for someone nothing like you. That's the revolutionary message of Christmas: God with us. God for us. God pursuing us. Always.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Meaning of Christmas
What does “God with us” really mean at Christmas?
“God with us” means that God didn’t stay distant or detached, but chose to enter our world and our humanity. Christmas tells the story of God drawing near to real people with real pain and questions. It’s a reminder that no matter where you find yourself, you are not alone. God is present, involved, and close.
Does God still want me if I feel far from him or ashamed of my past?
The Christmas story answers that question with a clear yes. Scripture tells us that God came not to count our sins against us, but to reconcile us to himself. Even when we struggle to forgive ourselves, God is already moving toward us with grace. Christmas is good news for imperfect people.
Why does it matter that Jesus was born in a real time and place?
The historical details of Jesus’ birth remind us that Christmas isn’t a myth or a symbolic story—it happened in real history. God chose a specific moment, culture, and set of circumstances to reveal himself. That means our faith is rooted in reality, not wishful thinking. God shows up in the ordinary, not just the ideal.
Who is the Christmas message actually for?
The first people to hear the news were those on the margins—Mary, a young woman with little status, and shepherds who were often overlooked. This shows that Christmas is for everyone, especially those who feel excluded or unseen. God’s joy and love aren’t limited to a select few. There is room for you, just as you are.
How can Christmas bring joy when life still feels hard?
Christmas joy isn’t about ignoring pain or pretending everything is fine. It’s the deeper assurance that God loves you, is for you, and is with you no matter what season you’re in. That kind of joy remains steady even when circumstances change. It rests on the unshakable truth that God has come near.
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At Harvest Vineyard, we believe we are better together, in community. We're glad you're here.
ENCOUNTER CHRIST.
EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY.
LOVE THE WORLD.
We believe that experiencing the love and mercy of God is more effective in bringing change to people's lives than rules, guilt, and condemnation. We have attempted to make our community a place where people can come as they are and still experience love and mercy. At the same time, we desire to learn and apply the truth of God to our lives and learn how to speak truth to one another.