During the holiday season, a profusion of red, green, white, silver, and gold pervades our homes, yards, stores, televisions, and the internet. Have you ever wondered how these colors became symbolic of Christmas? Perhaps the choices were purely aesthetic. After all, green and red complement one another on the color wheel. Gold and silver strike a natural balance between fire and ice. Snowy white pairs well with any color. Whatever the origin of the traditional Christmas colors, they serve to remind us about the character of Jesus.Red: Jesus’ Blood and Unwavering LoveLong associated with love, red also reminds us that Jesus’ affection for us never wavers. Human love may wax and wane, depending on circumstances, but God is love. He can never change His nature. If you have been forgiven and accepted into God’s circle of love through Jesus, nothing can snatch you from Him. “No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).When we picture baby Jesus nestled in a humble manger, bloodshed is far from our thoughts. The gory end of Jesus’ life intrudes on the cozy atmosphere we imagine at Christmas. Yet unwavering love for people compelled Him to enter earth’s realm as a human for the primary purpose of death on a cross.The author of Hebrews wrote, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22b). Sin demands a penalty — death. The compassionate nature of Jesus prompted Him to pay that penalty with His own life. His life was given in lieu of mine, and yours.What response can we give for the incomprehensible sacrifice of Jesus? “So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:6-7).This season, as we decorate our homes with touches of red, let’s pause and thank God for love that compelled Jesus to come as a child destined to spill His blood at the cross for our salvation.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Nastco