The title is probably one of the most famous Christmas carols known to Christians. This article is not intended to offer a clichéd discussion of Christmas, but rather to delve deeper into the true meaning of the birth of Christ.

Christmas, the festival of love, the birth of Christ - actually the most beautiful thing there is in the year.

God became man. Where else is there such a thing? That is essentially the meaning of Christmas. God did not simply send his Son to earth, as one might understand it. No, he became man as part of the divine Trinity - in the form of Jesus Christ.

How marvellous we have it as Christians! The Creator exists in three forms, and yet we are far removed from polytheism. The fact that it was possible to proclaim such outstanding things over 2000 years ago already shows how great the truth is that is revealed in the Bible. Not to mention the more than 300 passages in the Old Testament that refer to Jesus and speak of events that came to pass in exactly the same way - things that contradict all mathematical probabilities.

But that is not the point here. I would like to talk about the supernatural gift that Christmas is - far removed from the material gifts that our commercialisation of this holiday often almost exclusively caters to today. In a way, however, it is also important that we humans come together once a year and give each other gifts. I find that very valuable. If you look closely, there is much more to all that Christmas offers.

It is about nothing less than the salvation of our soul - the salvation of ourselves. Because we humans, as you can see at every turn, can be very dangerous creatures. Imagine a father who has many children: some marvellous, almost angelic; others have lost their way a little; and still others can hardly be tamed. This father is faced with the almost impossible task of raising all his children to be good people in love and respect.

This is how I see the deepest meaning of life. When we are born, we take on the task of life - whether we like it or not. We have to prove ourselves from birth to the grave and try to mould the soul that we can take with us. After we are allowed to leave our bodies and return home - or perhaps not - it remains our task to master life and secure a divine existence. That makes sense. And meaning is ultimately the deeper meaning of life in this context.

We often hear the classic questions from people: "How can a loving God, who truly loves us above all else, allow all this suffering? How does that make sense?" Or: "How can God send his son into the world and then let him die on the cross like this?"

Two essential questions that have also occupied me a lot on my journey with Jesus and for which I have found the following answers:

At birth, we are bound to matter - to flesh and blood. Everything we can perceive is determined by two forces. You could describe it as a dual world: Good and evil, day and night. These forces are interwoven, and life is the boundary between being and non-being.

The Creator, the origin of everything, is probably faced with the challenge of allowing these forces to work in justice and freedom. The first fall of man, which separated us from God, symbolises the origin of the world.

The scientist Stephen Hawking once said that everything could only come into being because something didn't go as it should. If everything had gone perfectly, nothing would have come into being. Although he was not a believer, when I heard his words I immediately thought: that fits perfectly with Genesis and our lives.

The Creator has given us all freedom. This is comforting: we do not have a commanding God, but a God of freedom. We can do what we want in life - develop ourselves to the best of our ability or not. Human freedom is the greatest good that God gives us. But this freedom also means that bad things are also allowed to exist.

So why does God allow suffering? Because it is the purpose of the world. Freedom, development and improvement are essential. If God were to visibly intervene, evil would immediately hide behind good.

The greatness of God in connection with the freedom of our existence requires a place like the earth so that the truth can become visible. Life is like an invisible filter through which ultimately only the creative can pass.

And now to the question: How can he give his beloved son? The great gift of Christmas lies in the fact that he gives himself - in the form of Jesus.

Anyone who understands this has understood the most important thing in life. We have a God who takes on the same things we have to do. This is incredible, but it is a comforting truth. What's more, He even gave Himself in the flesh to an extreme - something that we fortunately no longer have to do in this form.

Blessed be the birth of the Saviour, thank you God Father, Son & Holy Spirit. 

I wish you a wonderful Christmas, lots of presents, lots of love and the power of good.

Damian Maxson, Christmas 2024 in the beautiful Swiss mountains.