John Piper Quote on the Essence of Christmas

A bit from Piper:

What is the essence of Christmas purity? Christmas purity is not essentially the removal of sin, but the restoration of righteousness. Christ never takes away from his people one thing which he does not replace with something better. Dennis Smith said a great thing at the Pastor's Prayer and Study group yesterday morning: "If you lose your wallet on the way to collect a million dollars, you don't get angry." Every sin you forsake out of love to Christ is replaced with a deeper and purer joy. The aim of God at Christmas is to make the goodies of the world lose all their attraction in comparison to the surpassing glory of the divine Name. The essence of Christmas purity is not what you stand against, but what you stand in awe of, the glorious name of God.