Christmas Day
The Incarnation — that God became human.
Bibelsk grunnlag
The prologue to the Gospel of John: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory' (John 1:1-18). Hebrews 1:1-6 about the Son as the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being. Titus 2:11: 'For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.'
Betydning
While Christmas Eve focuses on the birth narrative, Christmas Day lifts our gaze to the cosmic: the Creator himself enters creation. The Word who was with God from eternity takes on human form. This is not just a birth — it is a cosmic event where eternity breaks into time.
GT-forbindelser
The creative power of the Word: 'God said, Let there be light! And there was light' (Gen 1:3) — the same Word who now dwells among us. Isaiah 52:7-10: 'All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation from our God.' The personification of God's wisdom in Wisdom literature (Prov 8:22-31) as a foreshadowing of Logos theology.
Liturgisk kontekst
White color. Solemn service. The prologue of John is the classic Christmas Day text that lifts the perspective from the stable door to the cosmic incarnation. Many traditions have dawn services (morning worship) with the Luke 2 text and high mass with John 1.
Historie
Christmas Day on December 25 became the official celebration day in the Western Church from the 4th century. The time of Emperor Constantine gave a boost to Christmas celebrations. Throughout the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were expanded with dramatic presentations of the birth narrative (nativity plays).