Jared rightly reminds us not to "thingamitize Christmas." Christmas is about a person.

It has long bugged me the way that people can talk about "the real meaning of Christmas" without mentioning Jesus. Here are some examples:

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things -- not the great occasions -- give off the greatest glow of happiness. -Bob Hope

There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. Erma Bombeck

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'. -Bing Crosby

Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends. -Margaret Thatcher

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. -Calvin Coolidge

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? -Bob Hope

I love Christmas movies. They make me laugh. However, there’s one part of every Christmas movie that I always dread. Near the end, when all the comedy is over, some character makes a speech about the true meaning of Christmas. They never get it right. Here are some examples:

"Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing." - The Santa Clause
“Christmas is the season of perpetual hope” – Home Alone
“Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind...” – Miracle on 34th Street
"It's Christmas Eve... it's the one night of the year we all act a little nicer. We smile a little easier. We cheer a little more. For a couple hours out of the whole year... we are the people that we always hoped we would be. It's a miracle!” – Scrooged

For the Christian, these kinds of statements can sound good because in the back of our minds we’re thinking about Jesus. But for many Christmas is a secular holiday, and it’s very tempting to find the common denominator. We might call it “the spirit of giving”, “love”, “hope” or even family. But without the source, these things are like fallen leaves that die after they are separated from the tree. So far, only Linus got it right.
Charlie Brown yells, “Can someone please tell me what Christmas is all about?” And Linus responds from Luke 2.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmas is about a person. It’s about Jesus. And not just because it’s a nice story. It’s about Jesus because he was born with a mission. “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20b-21). Without the crucifixion and the resurrection, the Christmas story means nothing. (Islam affirms the virgin birth too by the way. It's the crucifixion and resurrection they deny.)

I suppose in a way Bart Simpson had it right when he said, "Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ."

People of all religions or none can come together at Christmas by watering down or redefining the "true meaning of Christmas" so that everyone can agree to it. I mean who doesn't agree with "the spirit of peace", "the spirit of hope" or some other nice sounding sentimentality? Of course, then we're not worshiping Jesus anymore, are we?

Christmas is not about a thing, an idea or even a spirit. It's about a person "Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father."

Merry JESUS CHRISTmas!