Grace to You: Radio Podcast

The Ugliness of Christmas

25 snips
Dec 11, 2025
Join John MacArthur, a renowned pastor-teacher and founder of the Grace to You ministry, as he unravels the darker truths behind the festive facade of Christmas. He contrasts the cheerful imagery of the season with the troubling realities of Christ's birth and the human cruelty that surrounded it. MacArthur emphasizes that Christmas is ultimately about salvation from sin, discussing its devastating effects on relationships and society. Through powerful illustrations, he warns of the dire consequences of sin and its rebellion against God.
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ANECDOTE

A Christmas Refocused By Loss

  • Katie Gillard shared a personal Christmas season marked by her father's illness and death.
  • She said MacArthur's sermon refocused her heart and realigned her joy in Christ.
INSIGHT

Beauty Needs Its Ugly Background

  • John MacArthur argues the beauty of Christmas only makes sense against the ugliness it cures: sin.
  • He insists Christ's coming is explained by sin's pervasive wreckage in human life.
INSIGHT

Christmas Imagery Vs. Harsh Reality

  • MacArthur contrasts festive imagery with the reality of a filthy stable and Herod's brutality.
  • He urges listeners to see beyond fantasy to the harsh context of Christ's birth.
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