“Love Came Down at Christmas” was originally a poem written by Christina Rossetti in 1885. She lived in London where her entire family studied literature, music, and art. Her brother Dante Rossetti was famous for his paintings.

Christina’s inspiration for this poem came from 1 John 4, a passage that describes how great God’s love is and how he calls us, his people, to love others like he loves us. Christina wanted people to realize that Christmas was the greatest demonstration of God’s love, as he sent his Son, Jesus, to this world. John 3:16 speaks to this love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” We often think of this verse during Easter remembering how Jesus was sent to die for us, but this could actually be a Christmas verse, as it speaks of the time when Jesus was sent to this world. He was sent as a baby, for us, because of God’s love for mankind. Two lines of “Love Came Down at Christmas” read:

Worship we the Godhead

Love incarnate, Love divine.²

God loves every person, and his desire is for all to know Him. We were sinners, and God knew that no matter how hard we tried, we would fall short of his glory. It was necessary for a sinless life to be sacrificed once and for all, and this life was Jesus. He was the perfect depiction of love incarnate. It is Jesus’ example that we are meant to imitate. The world will know we are children of God by the love we show to one another.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, your love is honestly too great for my human mind to comprehend, but I ask that you use me as a vessel to show your love to others. May this Christmas be remembered, not because of the gifts and celebrations, but because of the lives changed by Your love given to us in Jesus. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT).

2. “Love Came Down at Christmas” written by Christina Rossetti 1885.

Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.