Christmas is the ultimate story of the best result coming from the worst problem. To understand what’s so important about the birth of Christ, we have to trace our way back to the very beginning — to the Garden of Eden, where the Christmas problem began.
The Question of Who Christmas Means the Most To
When we gather together for Christmas, someone is going to get more out of that celebration than other people. You might think of the standard Christmas characters — Mary, Joseph, the Magi, or the Shepherds. But here’s a surprising answer: the birth of Christ meant the most to Eve.
This was Pastor Mike McFadden’s favorite Christmas sermon, and he shared it again with the congregation on December 22, 2024, at Grace Bible Church. The message traces the Christmas story all the way back to Genesis to show how the birth of Christ is the solution to a problem that began with the very first humans.
The Great Chicago Fire: A Modern Example
To illustrate how tragedy can lead to triumph, Pastor Mike shared the story of the Great Chicago Fire. In October 1871, a fire began when a family’s cow knocked over a lighted lantern. The fire quickly grew out of control and burned for three days, leaving an estimated 300 people dead, 100,000 homeless, and more than 177,000 buildings destroyed.
Yet something positive came from this devastating tragedy. Within twenty years, Chicago exploded with growth — from a population of 324,000 to over a million people. Architects laid the foundation for a modern city featuring the world’s first skyscrapers. The great tragedy was traced back to its origin: a clumsy cow, and ultimately to the choices of human beings.
This is how we approach problems — we trace them back to their source. And the greatest problem we face as human beings can be traced back to the very beginning.
The Christmas Problem Begins in the Garden
In Genesis 1, we see God’s perfect creation. God created man in His image, gave them dominion over the Earth, and placed them in a perfect garden with only one restriction: they could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'”
— Genesis 1:26-28
Up until this point, Adam and Eve lived in perfect relationship with their Heavenly Father. There had been no death, no sin, no problems, no suffering, no pain. It was perfect.
But then someone “kicked over the lantern.” In Genesis 3, we read that Eve took of the fruit of the tree and ate it, and gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.”
— Genesis 3:6-7
Everything changed. Death entered the world. Suffering began. Pain, agony, and conflict became part of human existence. And Eve knew — every time someone died, every time there was pain or suffering, she knew it was because of her disobedience.
Eve’s Shame and the First Gospel Promise
What did Eve think and feel throughout the rest of her existence? Every time someone died, she knew they died because she ate. Anytime someone suffered, anytime there was pain, anytime something went wrong, anytime a relationship had conflict in it — Eve must have thought, “That’s my fault. I’m the one who was deceived. I’m the one who brought sin into the world.”
All of Eve’s children throughout history can say those stinging words: “It’s Eve’s fault.” For any mother to know that her children whom she’s supposed to protect and bring life to can blame her — that’s a shame and a pain that no one else in human history can share.
But even though Eve disobeyed, God’s great love for Eve continued. In the very moment of pronouncing judgment, God gave hope. Genesis 3:15 contains what is called the Proto evangelium — the first gospel:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
— Genesis 3:15
This is the first glimpse in the Bible that God had a plan to reverse the damage of sin. And through whom does God say He will deliver this great hope? Through Eve — through her offspring.
Born of a Woman: The Promise Fulfilled
Fast forward 4,000 years to Galatians 4:4-5:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
— Galatians 4:4-5
This is probably the best Christmas verse in the Bible. “Born of a woman” — what a remarkable phrase! It emphasizes that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would come through Eve’s lineage. God didn’t just release us from our slavery to sin; He receives us and buys us back so that we are His own children, His beloved dear children.
The Bible has both a technical side to its truths and a relational side. God did specific things to redeem us, but He also did specific things because He genuinely loves us.
The Two First Mothers: Eve and Mary
Pastor Mike shared a painting from 2001 showing the two first mothers — Eve and Mary. In the picture, you can see the shame on Eve’s face. She knows she brought sin into the world. She knows what she did. All the pain and suffering exists because she was deceived.
But you can also see the hope in Eve’s expression as she reaches out her hand and places it on the womb of Mary. She knows that with the birth of that child, God is going to take away Eve’s shame. God is going to fix the problem.
The birth of Christ couldn’t mean anything more to any other human being than it meant to Eve. And as much as the birth of Christ means to us, to Eve it was God the Father saying, “I love you, Eve. Now I’m removing your shame. I’m redeeming all My children.”
What Does the Birth of Christ Mean to You?
For Eve, the birth of Christ was personal in a way that we can’t fully relate to. But we’re no different than Eve because our sins condemn us. We are all guilty before a holy God.
The Christmas story is deep and complex, which is why there are different Christmas sermons every year covering the same topic but with different layers. But the first layer belongs to Eve — our mother, God’s first daughter. And it’s not for her alone; it’s for all of us, all her offspring.
If you’re here today and you’ve never put your hope in the Messiah — the one who Mary bore, the one who came to fix the problem that Eve brought into the world — Jesus is your only hope. Right now, you can pray to God and say:
“God, I believe I am a sinner. I believe You sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I believe You raised Him back from the dead so that I can have the hope of eternal life. I put my faith in Jesus Christ.”
A problem came into the world, but God always had a solution. When the time had fully come, God sent His Son born of a woman to redeem us. That’s what we celebrate at Christmas.
Scripture References
- Genesis 1:26-28 — Creation of man in God’s image
- Genesis 3:6-7 — The fall of mankind
- Genesis 3:15 — The first gospel promise
- Romans 8:18-22 — Creation’s bondage and future liberation
- Galatians 4:4-5 — The birth of Christ and our adoption as sons