Christmas is a celebration of God’s profound love and humility, as revealed through the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It marks the beginning of hope, transformation, and the promise of redemption for all. We pray these short reflections by ABTS faculty members encourage you during this season.

Grace Al-Zoughbi

Bethlehem, a humble and seemingly insignificant town, was chosen as the birthplace of the Savior—a place overlooked by the grand empires of its time. Yet it was here, in this small and quiet setting, that the most powerful act of love and humility unfolded. Jesus, the Son of God, entered the world not in earthly splendor but in simplicity, eluding human expectations of power and influence. His birth marked the beginning of a new era, one that turned worldly values and structures on their heads.

Christ’s coming brought transformation, both spiritually and socially. He offered hope to the weak, exalted the lowly, and restored dignity to the marginalized. The world often glorifies power, wealth, and status; yet, Christ uplifted those on the fringes—shepherds received the good news first, and His cradle was a manger, not a throne. In this way, His incarnation laid the foundation of an eternal kingdom built not on human merit, but on grace, mercy, and divine love. The light that dawned in Bethlehem continues to shine, dispelling the darkness of human hearts and calling all to experience true renewal.

Still today, the serene hills of Bethlehem evoke peace amidst a troubled land, while within their silence lies a deep reminder of God’s redemptive work. As the world moves forward in its busyness, those who pause to reflect on Christ’s birth are drawn into its eternal significance. His incarnation is not just a past event, but a living reality that inspires and transforms lives today. He remains the source of hope for the weary and burdened, offering the promise of rest, renewal, and restoration.

As I contemplate the glimmers of city lights over modern Bethlehem, I see how today’s light symbolizes not just physical illumination but the spiritual light Christ brought into the world—a light that overcomes darkness and offers new life. His kingdom advances not through earthly conquest, but through love, humility, and sacrifice. This deep truth echoes through history, inviting us to participate in His ongoing work of transformation—lifting the lowly and strengthening the weak in His name.

Reflecting on the birth of Jesus also challenges us to confront systems of power and domination that deny the fullness of life to many. Jesus was humble in His approach, loving in His ways, and in being holy he refused to bow down to sin. The story of Christ’s birth is not only a celebration of God’s love, but a call to action, especially in a region like the Middle East, still marked by oppression and injustice. As we open our hearts to Christ, Who brings true freedom—spiritually and holistically—may we ask how His birth continues to inspire us to challenge injustice and bring hope to the oppressed.

Abed Zien El Dien

In Christ, we encounter God as the God of sufferers—the wounded healer who meets humanity in its deepest pain. Christmas is more than a celebration of a birth; it is the unveiling of God’s solidarity with a broken and hurting world. Through the Incarnation, the Word became flesh (John 1:14), stepping into our reality marred by sin, suffering, and despair. For those in today’s Middle East enduring the horrors of war, displacement, and loss, Christmas declares the nearness of Emmanuel—”God with us” (Matt 1:23).

The child born in Bethlehem is no stranger to suffering. Christ became a refugee soon after he entered the world (Matt 2:13-15), fleeing Herod’s violence, and later bore humanity’s deepest anguish on the cross. As Henri Nouwen explains, Christmas reveals a God who heals by embracing suffering, not avoiding it (Phil 2:6-11). His wounds are not signs of defeat, but the means of redemption, offering hope and resurrection to the weary.

In Lebanon, and across lands marked by despair, the Incarnation proclaims that pain is neither forgotten nor meaningless. God steps into suffering to transform it, turning despair into hope and death into life (Isaiah 53:3).

Christmas calls Christians to embody this hope as well. Just as Christ came to dwell among us, we are called to bring His light to others. Amid conflict and sorrow, Christmas invites us to trust God’s promise of restoration and to become agents of His healing. As the Arabic hymn declares: “When we offer a thirsty soul a cup of water, we dwell in the spirit of Christmas. When we clothe the naked in garments of love, we embody the essence of Christmas. When we wipe tears from weary eyes, we walk the path of Christmas. When we fill hearts with hope, we live the truth of Christmas.”[1]

Loulwa El Maalouf 

Christmas reminds us of the extraordinary lengths God goes to in order to pursue a personal and loving relationship with each of us. Despite the challenges and the evil we see in the world around us, we are reassured that He is Emmanuel—God with us. Whether we are living in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, the Holy Land, or any other place where suffering is a daily reality, we can hold onto the truth that Christ left His glory and the splendor of heaven to come as a humble child. He was born on earth, lived, suffered, and was crucified so that we might have eternal life with Him. 

Today, we celebrate Emmanuel through decorations, festivities, gifts, food, Christmas events, caroling, and more. Over 2,000 years ago, one person deeply understood the extent of God’s love and call: the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Living in an occupied land that was hostile to an unmarried pregnant young woman, Mary knew the challenges she would face; yet she chose to rejoice in God’s love and fulfill His purpose for her life. 

⁴⁶And Mary said: 

“My soul glorifies the Lord 
⁴⁷    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
⁴⁸for he has been mindful 
    of the humble state of his servant. 
From now on all generations will call me blessed, 
⁴⁹    for the Mighty One has done great things for me— 
    holy is his name. 
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him, 
    from generation to generation. 
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; 
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones 
    but has lifted up the humble. 
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things 
    but has sent the rich away empty. 
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, 
    remembering to be merciful 
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever, 
    just as he promised our ancestors.” 

Let Mary’s song remind us in this fallen world that we can rejoice in the Lord our God, even amid this dark time, because He is our Savior and He extends His mercy to those who fear Him. 

Christmas invites us to reflect on the humility, love, and hope embodied in Christ’s birth. May His light guide us to bring healing, justice, and renewal to a broken world.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5whiXsw_FY