Did you know it’s a tradition in some Asian countries to eat KFC for Christmas dinner? Fried chicken is truly universal.
If you took the time and looked at all the different celebrations and traditions all over the world, you would find a lot of familiar themes. Themes like generosity, family, warmth, hope, peace, joy, and love are fairly universal. Even if Jesus himself isn’t at the center of these traditions, Gospel themes often emerge, and people all across the world love to celebrate those things!
The angel in Luke declares to the shepherds, “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people (emphasis added)” (see also Revelation 7). One thing we often hear from missionaries in countries where the Gospel cannot be openly proclaimed is that, every year, Christmas is one of their greatest opportunities to talk about Jesus.
But for the people they’re serving, even if they’ve never heard about Jesus, they often already know and love Christmas. They’ll host Christmas parties and celebrate all without even thinking about Jesus. Yet, a natural question emerges—a question that’s a powerful tool for the spread of the gospel: what is Christmas about?
Christmas is about the God of the universe caring enough about his creation, you and me, to step into our world to bring light into our darkness. It’s about Jesus, the hope of the whole world.
Conversation Starter: Are there any missionaries we could be praying for this Christmas