“Christmas Bells”
When researching the meaning behind all of the classic Christmas decorations and imagery, I was surprised to find the meaning behind the Christmas bells. It is not something typically thought of in the traditional Christmas story, but in the parable of the lost sheep. In the article, Christmas symbols and their traditional meaning, Gallik states, “This Christmas symbol signifies the love of the Shepherd to all His sheep. The ringing of bells by the shepherd signals the ushering of lost sheep back to its home. Christmas bells call us to go back to our Shepherd and celebrate his birth” (Gallik, 2024). Upon further reflection, it makes perfect sense that this parable would be associated with the story of Christmas. Christ came to the world to save his lost sheep, not being able to bear the thought of even one from his flock perishing.
The parable of the lost sheep, found in Luke 15:4-7, is a story of redemption. Although the sheep may have wandered far, often going the opposite direction of its shepherd, this shepherd left the ninety-nine that remain in his pasture to go after the one that is lost. The shepherd then carries this lost sheep home and rejoices, for he has found the sheep that was lost. He equates this lost sheep to a sinner who repents; whom Jesus has saved and redeemed. Charles Spurgeon beautifully explains the meaning of this parable when he states:
“And so the Saviour looks upon his hands, and sees the marks of his purchase; he looks upon his side, and sees the token of the effectual redemption of his own elect unto himself by the pouring out of his own heart’s blood before the living God. This thought, therefore, presses upon him, “One of my sheep is lost.”…What! lose one whom his Father gave him to be his own? Lose one whom he has bought with his own life? He will not endure the thought. That word— “if he lose one of them” sets his soul on fire. It shall not be. You know how much the Lord has valued each one of his chosen, laying down his life for his redemption. You know how dearly he loves every one of his people: it is no new passion with him, neither can it grow old. He has loved his own and must love them to the end. From eternity that love has endured already, and it must continue throughout the ages, for he changeth not. Will he lose one of those so dearly loved? Never; never. He has eternal possession of them by a covenant of salt, wherein the Father hath given them to him: this it is which in great measure stirs his soul so that he thinks of nothing but this fact, — One of my sheep is lost” (Spurgeon, 1884).
Although we all have run away from the Lord at some point, going through life aimlessly, he will never stop pursuing. The Good Shepherd rings the bells as a call to the lost, ushering them home to Himself. His endless love for each and every one of us will never grow old and his heart breaks for every one of his sheep that are lost. The God of the universe sent his only son to the world to live a perfect life, die a death that He did not deserve, and to bear the sin and burdens of all mankind. Jesus then defeats death, rising again three days later. He would have done all of this if it was only for you, for God cannot bear the thought of even one of his sheep remaining lost. There is nothing that we can do to earn the gift of salvation, but this is a priceless gift that God gives freely. All we must do is repent and believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again to life eternal. The meaning of Christmas is this: to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s only son, coming down to earth to save us.
References
Gallik, D. (2024, January 9). Christmas symbols and their traditional meaning. Christian.net. https://christian.net/resources/christmas-symbols-and-their-traditional-meaning/#google_vignette
Spurgeon, C. (1884, September 28). The parable of the lost sheep. The Spurgeon Center. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-parable-of-the-lost-sheep/#flipbook/
