There is something very special about taking Holy Communion at Christmas. It’s not because of the choirs of angels singing carols, nor because of the sweet innocents dressed as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds or kings, nor even because of the feeling of unity and love that swells the congregation.

 It’s because: ‘No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man,’ (John 3:31).

 And because ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,’ (John 3:16).

 We not only celebrate Christ’s birth at Christmas, we also celebrate the fact that we, ourselves, are given new birth as we repent of our sins and are washed in His blood, all of our sins are washed away. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary says: ‘This new birth is from heaven and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves.’

 Not only that though. There is something very special about taking Holy Communion at Christmas because at the point when the dry bread touches your mouth and the sweet wine slides down your throat, you are acknowledging the fact that Christ died for you personally, for your sins so that you can live in a close relationship with God.

 Taking the bread and the wine is a sign that you accept God’s gift and are forgiven.