WHAT CHRISTMAS CHANGED – Following Jesus as a expectant Shepherd from the Edges.

What CHRISTMAS CHANGED –

Pastor Calvin Cook –

December 26, 2025

Taking some time to realize, pray about and receive what the birth of Jesus changed.

All through the Advent and into the Christmas season, there has become a realization for me what has to change. Not just in our own lives, but in the community, the church and the very existence of everything. That after the celebration of Christmas are over, the dinner is put away, and the presents exchanged become a what to do next with the extra stuff, we need to pause.

We know that Christmas is not just about all of the cultural and consumeristic ideas, that there is something more, but do we receive that. For a few moments over Christmas there is something powerful about the quietness of Bethlehem. A stable. A manager. A newborn child wrapped in cloth, so simple yet earth shattering. In this moment, everything changed.

One of the turning points in this Christmas season, happened when the Praise Team from KCMC, sang the song, “We Have A Savior”.  It was for me like hearing it for the first time – “We Have a Savior.” I listened again last night to our recorded services on the YouTube channel and felt a deep awareness of appreciating what Christmas and the birth of Jesus changed for us all.

The birth of Jesus was not just a verse of Away in the Manger which we did in all of our Christmas Eve services. This was an event that changed everything. It was God stepping into humanity for our redemption.

Scripture reminds us: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14 (NIV)

God does not love us from a distance, God came close. The Creator became like the created, (referred to as fully God and fully human) not to condemn us, but to rescue and restore what sin had separated.

Jesus’ birth began a new relationship between God and humanity. No longer would God be seen only as distant or unreachable. Through Christ, we can know Him personally. We can walk with Him, talk with Him, and be embraced by His love.

When the angel spoke to Joseph, he said, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (ESV)

Salvation was born that night. Hope lying in a manger wrapped in strips of cloth. Grace lying among straw for the Shepherds, the common ordinary people like Shepherds and like you and me to see and to experience.

There was something different about this King.  The Messiah came not to the throne first, but to the manger, so that no one would feel too low or lost to come to Him. We now have a Savior who was born humbly experiencing some of the thing’s life has thrown at us.

Because Jesus was born:

We have peace with God. “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” — Luke 2:14

We are God’s children, not strangers. “To all who believed… He gave the right to become children of God.” — John 1:12

We have a heavenly father that we can become so intimate with that we call Abba – Daddy.

We have access to the Father. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. We have a God who loves us so much that knows our need before we ever ask.

This Christmas, as we reflect on the nativity, may we remember God moved toward us first. He came into the world so we might come into His presence.

As I consider and am lost a bit in my thoughts, I want to return to a question I asked – can we ponder all that we have experienced? Can we like the Shepherds leave this experience, returning to our lives “glorifying and praising God for all the things …. heard and seen, which were just the way they had been told” (Luke 2:19-20)

Can we once again have a holy expectancy as the Shepherds did when meeting Jesus be willing to spread the word concerning what has been told us about Jesus.

The manger reminds us that God keeps His promises. The cross reminds us of His sacrifice. The empty tomb reminds us of victory.

But it all began in Bethlehem, with a baby who would change everything.

Yes ! Christmas did change everything. Now all we have to do is receive it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming near. Thank You for stepping into our brokenness, for bringing peace, forgiveness, and new life. Help us receive You again — fresh, humble, and with wonder — just as the shepherds did on that holy night. Amen.