By Brother 

There once was a ten-year-old girl whose grandmother was teaching her about the Bible. One day at Christmas time, she asked, “Which virgin was the mother of Jesus? The virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?”

So many people have become confused about the details of Christmas. Jesus is completely absent from every commercial I see on television. You’d think the holiday was all about the Grinch. People have stopped looking for the true meaning of Christmas.

But we know what it is, and on this Christmas, 2024, we celebrate the salvation that has come to us through a manger in Bethlehem.

Simeon had been looking for God’s salvation. Once seeing the infant Jesus, he said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32, ESV).

Seeing God’s salvation. That’s odd to hear those words like that. Usually, we think of experiencing salvation.

The Book of Isaiah, as well as the Psalmist, said, “and all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Isaiah 52:10 and Psalm 93:3).

How do we see salvation? Look at what prophet and psalmist longed to look at, and what Simeon finally saw.

Salvation in the Greek is the word sōtēria. It is the usual translation of the Hebrew word yesh’ua. Sound that word out. Is it familiar? It is what Jews call Jesus, and it means “salvation.”

Jesus’ name means salvation. His birth brings salvation. His words taught salvation. His death delivered salvation. His resurrection confirmed salvation. His ascension guarantees salvation.

This Christmas, remember the true meaning of Christmas: salvation. And let us see that salvation.