On December 24, 1856, at 29 years old, Ellen G. White preached her first Christmas sermon. From that point on, for the next 57 years, until two years before her death, she continued preaching and writing extensively about Christmas. In at least 76 instances, we find references to this topic in her letters, articles, magazines, books, and more. Sometimes, entire articles were dedicated to Christmas, other times it was referenced in simple letters to her children, or she included brief mentions of what she did on that special day. Regardless of the format, everything she wrote and lived during Christmas can be summarized in three words: she exalted Jesus! She did so in at least two ways:

1. Pointing to Jesus as the Ultimate Gift

Ellen G. White wrote: “The Christmas season is the occasion of making gifts one to another, but the richest gifts Christ has given to the world in Himself, that the world through Him might not perish but have eternal life” (Manuscript 53-1890). She also stated: “In giving to us his Son, God has poured out to us all Heaven in one gift” (Signs of the Times, December 8, 1887). Yes, all of heaven has been given to us in the person of Jesus, our Savior, “the priceless gift of God’s son” (Signs of the Times, December 8, 1887).

Among the heavenly gifts available in Christ, some of the most evident are the grace of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life. But there are many more, such as the Bible, physical health, the beauty of nature, peace, hope, joy, and all spiritual gifts.

The birth of Jesus is the greatest gift that can never be matched. None of the gifts from all the Christmases combined can compare. Even though Christmas is an occasion for giving and receiving, no gift overshadows Jesus, the greatest of all. Therefore, we must exalt His name, as “Only by exalting Jesus and abasing self can we celebrate aright the birth of the Son of God” (Signs of the Times, December 8, 1887).

2. Inspiring Liberality through the Generosity of Jesus

Ellen G. White also exalted Jesus by highlighting that His generosity should inspire our liberality. She wrote: “The infinite sacrifice which Christ has made to free us from the guilt and woe of sin, should work in every heart a spirit of gratitude and self-denial which is not manifested by the world.” (Review and Herald, December 11, 1879).  In line with this, she recommended that we express our gratitude through offerings for the cause of God. “Let the evergreen Christmas trees yield a rich harvest for God” (Review and Herald, December 7, 1886).

She also noted the difference between the fruits hanging from “every tree in Satan’s garden” (vanity, pride, self-importance, evil desire, extravagance) and the fruits of benevolence and gratitude that God accepts as an expression of our faith and love for the gift of His Son. She asked: “Shall we not have such a Christmas as Heaven can approve?” (Review and Herald, December 9, 1884).

The essence of Christmas is in the supreme offering that Jesus made, giving Himself to live a life of suffering and humiliation for a world lost in sin. Jesus is the ultimate reason for Christmas! All our acts of thanksgiving and sacrifices pale in comparison to His self-denial (Philippians 2:5-10). In the end, only one question remains: “How much do you owe to Him who gave His life for you?” (Manuscript 73, 1900).

It is His divine grace, His great love, and His undeserved mercy that lead us, like the wise men from the East, to bring our gifts to Jesus, always remembering that “the offering most sweet and acceptable in God’s sight is a heart made humble by self-denial, by lifting the cross and following Jesus” (Evangelism, page 510).

A Legacy of Christmas Generosity

Nineteenth-century Adventist churches embraced this message and established the tradition of celebrating Christmas each year with generous offerings to support the work and build the 

kingdom of God. These offerings helped pay for churches, build hospitals, and expand missions. This legacy of generosity and sacrifice inspires us today to give cheerfully to the Lord.

Christmas and the Church

Christmas has inspired some of the greatest works of human creativity in the arts. From music to painting and sculpture, it has been the central theme of great masterpieces. If the world celebrates Christmas, even imperfectly and often with other motives, what should those who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ—the true reason for Christmas—do? Ignore it? No! From its beginnings, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has united its efforts to celebrate the most important event in history: the birth of Jesus, the day God sent His Son to bring salvation to a lost world.

The Adventist church has always celebrated Christmas. Its hymnals from the very beginning have included Christmas carols, and each year Adventist churches all over the world join their voices with heavenly choirs to direct the world’s attention to Jesus. Cantatas, dramas, concerts, 13th Sabbaths, Christmas trees, and special offerings have long been part of our Christmas tradition. May this year be recorded in the heavenly books as a Christmas filled with praise, joy, and gratitude, inspiring love for humanity, devotion to God, and above all, exalting Jesus.

This blog references chapters 1 and 4 of the Spanish book A Christmas with Ellen: Exalting Jesus by Jaime A. Heras.