Christmas Symbols Pointing to Christ

It’s December! Have we already brought out the boxes and totes that we use once a year—the Christmas decorations? Why do we put them up every year, only to take them down again a month later? Is there a purpose to these decorations or are they just a custom?
As Christians, we have a very good reason to get out the Christmas decorations every year. Many of the Christmas decorations we use to beautify our homes are symbols that point to Jesus Christ. Let us look at just a few of them.
Is your Christmas tree decorated yet? Just as the lights and many of the other decorations on that tree are symbols pointing to Christ, so is the tree itself. Legend says that about the year A.D. 1500, Martin Luther brought a small fir tree indoors and decorated it with candles in honor of Christ’s birth. Since that time, the Christmas tree has been used to remind us that Jesus was the promised branch of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), that Bethlehem’s Baby would die on the life-giving tree of Calvary after He had lived a perfect life for us (John 19) and that through faith in His death on the cross we have access to the tree of life in heaven (Revelation 22:2).
Whether you put them on oak trees, fir trees, or palm trees, Christmas lights remind us of our Savior’s words, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The white lights also symbolize the glory of Jesus as the Son of God and the glory of the angels who announced His birth to the shepherds.
Christmas and bells seem to go together. We sing the Carol of the Bells and Silver Bells, we make bell-shaped cookies and we wear Christmas dresses with bells attached to them. Although bells symbolize the joy of Christmas, they more importantly remind us that Jesus is our Great High Priest. The Old Testament high priest’s garments were adorned with golden bells (Exodus 28:31–35). Therefore, bells symbolize the purpose of Christ’s advent: “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself ” (Hebrews 7:26–27).
Did you put an angel on top of the tree, in the nativity, or on a shelf? God’s messengers played an important role in announcing the birth of Christ: Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of our Lord (Luke 1:26); an angel appeared to Joseph to assure him that Mary’s baby was the promised Messiah conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20); the angels proclaimed Christ’s birth to the shepherds: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring 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” (Luke 2:9–11).
When you were unpacking those boxes and totes, did you find the Christmas cookie cutters? Christmas cookies are more than sweet treats and unneeded calories. Christmas cookies symbolize the fact that Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:47–51) and that Bread of Life is offered to us at the Lord’s Supper where, in and with the bread and wine, you and I are given the same body and blood that were once born of Mary.
Of all the Christmas symbols that point to Christ, perhaps one is the most important—the star. During the Advent/Christmas season, Christians may be tempted to think that they are too busy to go to every Sunday morning service and Advent service. Activities can easily move the focus of Christmas away from Christ towards friends and family, parties and presents. Some people even justify this shift in focus by saying, “I’m surrounded with symbols that remind me Jesus is the reason for the season, and so if I miss one service, what’s the big deal?” Well, just as the Wise Men could not find Jesus by following the star alone, you cannot find the Christ Child with your Christmas symbols alone. The Wise Men found their Lord and Savior only when they turned to His Word, and you find your newborn Savior when you turn to His Word. In these services, we hear again that Jesus became poor and lowly to raise us to His divine, eternal glory. He took on our sin, death and hell, so we could have His perfection, life and heaven—the greatest gifts we could ever receive.
Friends, take the time during Christmas to meet God’s Son and Mary’s son in the means of grace, and once you have met Him there, enjoy all those Christmas symbols that point to Him. Merry Christmas!
Andrew Schmidt is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Lakeland, Florida.