The real Meaning of Christmas. Part three.

 

THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY

 

Bible Reading: John 1:14.

          “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

The real Meaning of Christmas. Part three.

 

I just want to share about the real meaning of Christmas.

 

4. The Pre-eminent Christ, “full of grace and truth.”

 

We have seen Christ in His pre-existence, in His presentation to humankind, and in the personal nature of His love. There is one more picture of Christ to be found in verse 14. It is found in the last five words of the verse. As sinful creatures, we cannot understand these words in their fullness. “Full” means “to be thoroughly permeated with.” Christ was filled up with both grace and truth.

 

A. His Grace.  

Grace is a wonderful word. 

A. We are saved by grace, kept by grace, and our faith is by grace. 

B. Grace is overwhelming kindness, good-will, and favour. 

C. Grace is a special kind of tenderness. 

And Christ was “full” of grace. You can see it in the Gospels as He deals with mankind. He heals and cures all manner of hurt.

Parents brought their children to Him and He accepted them. The leper came to Him and said, “If You will, You can make me clean.” To which He replied, “I will, be you clean.” 

God’s grace manifests itself in His love. “God is love.” There are those who teach and preach God as a condemning God and focus on His righteousness and judgment. Those truly are aspects of our great God, but so is His grace. Never forget He is “full of grace.”

 

B. His Truth.  

Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” He had no idea that he was looking at Truth personified. Jesus was “full of truth.” He was thoroughly infused with perfection, knowledge, wisdom, and excellence:

A. All that He spoke was truth.

B. All that He did was truth. 

C. All that He thought was truth. 

In the Gospel of John, this idea of truth is seen in the word “light.” “And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  That was the true Light, which lightest every man that cometh into the world” John 1:5, 9. Light reveals truth. Light illuminates where darkness has covered. The truth of Christ condemns and curses all that does not measure up to His perfection. Truth is objective; it does not favour one over another. The rule of law is a path that truth takes, and there can be no exceptions.

 

C. His Glory.  

How can both grace and truth co-exist in the same Being? How can they be balanced? 

How can one attribute not be overshadowed by the other? This is His glory! He is God! He is the perfect manifestation of God to mankind. We cannot fully understand His perfections. Christ’s grace and truth cannot be separated. They are wound together and cannot be unwound. Christ illustrates God’s tenderness and His severity, His love as well as His judgment, His grace as well as His truth. God is both love and light, both grace and truth.

 

Conclusion: 

 

And what do we take with us from this message? This Christmas let us focus, not only on the Christ child in the manger, but on the complete Christ. Let us focus on His rescue mission to fallen man. The child in the manger became the Godman on the Cross. 

Let us praise and worship Him in His fullness. And those who do not yet personally know Christ as saviour should realize that they will not be judged by a baby, but by a righteous and holy God.

We who know Him experience His Grace; those who die without Him will experience His truth. Check your hearts. Do you know Him?

The real Meaning of Christmas. Part two.

 

THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY

 

Bible Reading: John 1:14.

          “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

The real Meaning of Christmas. Part two.

 

I just want to share about the real meaning of Christmas.

 

2. The Presented Christ, “was made flesh.”

 

Christ is eternal; He was present in creation and throughout all history.  But there came a time in that history that this Eternal Presence would be “made flesh.” Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.” He was presented to the world in a manger in Bethlehem.

 

A. He entered the world. 

The greatest mystery of Christmas is why God would lower Himself to come into the world as a human, to partake of the pain and suffering of the human experience, to allow Himself to be mocked and ridiculed by His own created beings who did not even know Him for what He was. 

“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” We know in our minds that the answer to that mystery His love for us. But the mystery is still real. How could God love us so? It is immeasurable!

 

B. He was examined by witnesses. 

This was no trick or sleight of hand. While Christ was God, He was also just as many men. He was not 50% God and 50% man. He was both ALL God and the perfect sinless man.

1 John 1:1 tells us that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; His life was one of purpose and example. He showed humanity how it could have been had sin not corrupted it.

 

C. He is enthroned by the wise. 

This baby born in a manger was not just an example or an apparition of God, He came for a purpose. His presentation to this world was not complete at Bethlehem, it was only the beginning. It was completed on Calvary when Jesus said, “It is finished” and gave up His spirit to the Father. 

When Christ was “made flesh,” it started a process in which humankind could approach God and become His child. Verse 12 in our present chapter says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave The power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” So today, we must all answer a question. Will we receive Him as our Saviour?

 

3. The Personal Christ, “and dwelt among us.”

 

Psalm 8:4 says, “What is man, that You are mindful of him? And the son of man, that You visits him?” If God were to come down to visit man, surely, He would separate Himself from us; surely, He would distance Himself from such lowly beings. But no, Christ became flesh and dwelt among us, He took up residence right alongside us.

 

A. For Understanding. 

Christ dwelt among us so that we might understand more about the person of God. We are finite beings; spiritual things are hard for us to discern. Many times, in the Gospels, Jesus seeks the understanding of His disciples. “Do you not yet understand?” He spoke in parables and stories; He used illustrations of the wind, the sea, and the flowers of the field. 

Through His words to the disciples, He teaches us even that today. In John 14:25-26, Jesus promises us full understanding. “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, what so ever I have said unto you.”

 

B. For Friendship. 

G. Campbell Morgan, in a message from our text, says that the phrase, “and dwelt among us” can be rendered “pitched his tent by us.” What a beautiful picture of the personal Christ! The Christian is a pilgrim in this world, with darkness all around us. Our home is in heaven, as are our riches and treasures. We are strangers here, with no abiding place. But Christ has pitched his tent beside us! 

He goes with us on our pilgrim journey! Though we have no pleasures in this world, we have joy with the One who goes with us! Dr. Morgan says that this phrase is a figure of the Arab nation, where one promises to make to take the same journey with us, under the same conditions.

 

C. For Worship. 

This phrase also reveals another truth. It calls up an image of the tabernacle of the Old Testament. The word “dwelt” means “tabernacle.” The tabernacle was a place of worship. It was a place where God Himself met with His people and accepted their adoration. Christ tabernacles with us so that we might worship Him. We do not need to travel to Jerusalem or Bethlehem, He tabernacles with us. 

Therefore, we can worship Him anywhere! We remember His words to the Samaritan woman: “But the hour comes and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” John 4:23-24.

 

          End of part two, part three tomorrow.

The real Meaning of Christmas. Part one.

 

THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY

 

Bible Reading: John 1:14.

          “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

The real Meaning of Christmas. Part one.

 

I just want to share about the real meaning of Christmas.

There are many “Christmas stories” in TV and books. Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” is probably the best known and most read.  Scrooge and the Cratchett family are characters that almost everyone has either read about or seen on TV. 

Many generations have grown up watching these Christmas stories and almost everyone can identify with them in some way. Christmas is big business, and these stories bring huge audiences and great profits.

Of all the holidays, Christmas and Easter should be the most spiritual and religious. However, our culture has reduced them to cartoons, stereotypes, and profit machines. The REAL Christmas story has been forgotten in the name of pleasure and profit. 

I would like for us to examine together the REAL story; and may we gain spiritual strength from it. It is impossible for even the atheist to deny that a birth in a Bethlehem manger has changed the world and transformed the thinking of every generation since. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ are the central point of history, the apex of our past and our future. People are still searching for the truth.

Even the timeline of our culture is divided by it. (B.C. and A.D.)  You would not know anything of Christ just by feeding on the above-mentioned Christmas program of our day. His story can only accurately be found in the Bible. And we find an outline of the true Christmas story in John Chapter One.

 

1.    The Pre-Existent Christ, “The word.”

 

John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is obvious that “the Word” is Christ Himself. Words are expressions of thoughts and ideas. Words are revelations of one mind to another. The pre-existent Christ is the revelation to humankind of the thoughts and ideas of God Himself.

 

1.  His Being.  

What was the pre-existent Christ like?

A. He was an equal form and expression of God the Father.

B. He was there in the beginning.

C. When the heavens were framed, Christ was there. 

D. When the earth was made, Christ was there. 

E. When Adam and Eve were fashioned, Christ was there. 

F. When Noah's boat sailed, Christ was there. 

G. When Israel was born as a nation, Christ was there. 

Let no one say that the babe that was born in the Christmas manger began His existence there. John 1:1 tells us that he was there “in the beginning.”

 

2. His Union.  

Another side of our pre-existent Christ is His union with the Father. Verse one tells us “and the Word was with God.” In case there are any thoughts that Christ was somehow a disinterested observer or an angel of God, the text tells us that He was With God! That is:

A. He was with Him in purpose.

B. He was with Him in creation.

C. He was with Him in planning. 

When God looked over His creation and declared it to be “good,” Christ was there with Him, nodding in agreement.

 

3.  His Deity.  

The third thought in verse one is “and the Word was God.” Here we come to one of the most holy and deep truths of God's Word. Christ was not only with God, but He is also God. Many in the religious realm have doubted and denied this truth, but it is a basic doctrine.

The deity of Christ is fundamental to historic, biblical Christianity. There are many sects and groups who deny Christ's deity, but they are not Christian, and cannot point the way of salvation to a lost world. They are lost in their own lack of knowledge and unbelief.

 

          End of part one, part two tomorrow.

Finding ROOM for Jesus

Finding ROOM for Jesus

Text: Luke 2:1-7.

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” Luke 2:7.

“No room for them in the inn.” All these things suggest poverty, loneliness, and even rejection. But it probably did not happen that way. Let us read quickly Luke 2:1-7 again:

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered ... So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, ... to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, ... to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” Luke 2:1-7.

         

1.    THE BACKGROUND, THE NEED OF A ROOM.

Consider the setting, a busy census is taking place, and people have come from far and wide to Bethlehem to be counted by the Roman governor.

These inns are not hotels or bed and breakfast as we would think of today, where you are offered a comfortable bed, warm shower and a quick breakfast in the morning.

No, the inns of the first century were more like an eatery where rooms were available for those who may not be able to make it home that night after their meal. So when Joseph came to the door with his pregnant wife Mary during this incredibly busy night, the inn keeper probably did not want to deal with finding another room, but may have truthfully wanted to help out.

So when he referred them to the stable out the back, it was probably in his own way saying, “Those animals back there are probably a lot safer for your wife and the birth then in here.” Had they been rich, room would have been made for them; but, being poor, a stable was offered them. Someone said “He began in a borrowed manger, and ended on a Roman cross, a borrowed tomb, and along the way had nowhere to lay His head.”

2.    THE STABLE, BUT NO ROOM.

I feel sorry for the inn keeper in one way. Can you imagine telling the Saviour that there is no room for Him? Hard to believe! But, sadly, especially at this time of year, it is all too easy for us in many ways NOT to find room for the Saviour in our lives. 

This morning I want us to consider some possible reasons why this inn keeper could not find room for the Saviour, and why we may be in the same boat.

First of all:

1. Busyness.

It was a busy time for this inn keeper. Because of the census, a flood of people were now in this town for possibly the biggest event since the time of King David, and as a result the inns of the area were packed. This inn keeper who may have seen only a handful of guests over the years leading up to this, was now up to his eye balls in busyness.

Many today are so busy getting ready for Christmas, that they have no time for the CHRIST of Christmas.

2. Priorities.

Once again, with this big census taking place, and with more people that have ever been seen in a long time, there are more customers, more work, greater profits, and so much going on; some things just had to be more important than other things. Based on the little we know about this inn keeper, I can assume his two wrong priorities that kept him from finding room for the Saviour are similar to our own.
a. Money.

For possibly for the first time in a long time he was making a profit. While the census may have been an inconvenience to many, it was a windfall for the merchants of the day. Christmas is big business for the shops today. Amazon, Argos, etc. have more plans for Christmas, then the average church or Christian has.
b. Selfishness.

It is way too easy to become self focused during this time of year, and forget that when it is all said and done it is not about us. 

Buying our gifts, trimming up our houses, feasting on our food, etc. When we should be celebrating the birth of Jesus in a stable. It’s not OUR birthday, but CHRIST’s.

How do you keep your priorities in order? Simply, keep the things of God and His kingdom, at the top of your priority list. 

3. Stress.

People everywhere, all wanting or needing something from this inn keeper. You know this inn keeper’s stress level had to be pretty high. I am sure if you took his blood pressure when Joseph and Mary knocked at his door, it would have probably blown the gauge. 

We focus so much attention, and often unneeded, energy on something small and petty that it just grows and grows and eventually takes over our lives, giving us stress. And in doing so, it keeps us from seeing the Saviour and what really matters. 

Do not let the stress keep the Saviour from taking His much deserved place in your heart and life this Christmas. Remember “Christ is not just for Christmas, but for life, and eternity.”

Busyness, wrong priorities, stress, and one final issue that may have weighed down this inn keeper so that he did not have room for the Saviour; and may weigh you down also.

4. Bad judgment.

I imagine this inn keeper, surrounded by people and being hounded by what they needed, having to deal with even more people wanting a room, and now he had to send a pregnant woman to the barn. His busyness, priorities and stress were crying out for a saviour. He should have cried “Will someone save me from all of this!”

The sad reality of it is that what the inn keeper needed the most was knocking at his door. He needed someone to save him, and the Saviour was right outside, soon to be born in his barn, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and celebrated by shepherds, angels and wise men. 

He knew what he wanted and thought he knew what he needed, but he was wrong!!!! And we are guilty of the same thing.

We think:
a.  If I had a little bit more money.
b. If I had a better job or a better boss.
c. If only my family and friends understood me (my selfish wants) better.
d. If, if, if ....... how would you finish it?

We need to look for the real answers to our problems, and the answer may be knocking on our door right now. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” Revelation 3:20. The Saviour is knocking.

CONCLUSION: HAVE WE MADE ROOM FOR JESUS?

We are now only 1 week away from Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Lord. If you are like this inn keeper this morning and cannot find room for the Saviour. I want to give you the opportunity to open the door and let Him in.

If you are a born again believer, you also can be affected from not finding room for the Saviour, and you may be guilty of that already this Christmas season. So I want to give you the opportunity to open the door and let Him in also.

An old fashion Christmas

An old fashion Christmas

Text: Luke 2:8-14.

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Christmas keeps changing!

Today the Christmases of the past are nothing like the Christmases of today, sadly Christmas has changed for the worst, we have lost many of its valves and its true source.

1.    AN OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS.

So today I want to speak about “an old fashion Christmas.” For an example I want to speak to you about one of the old fashion Christmases I and maybe I expect you experienced. Here is an old fashion stocking we would have had. A stocking, one main gift (train set), and the yearly annual, and maybe some small gifts from grand-parents or an aunty. It would take up about ten minutes to open our Christmas gifts.

2.    A SAD CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE.

Let me know tell you how Christmas can change in a moment. On Christmas Eve I would finish work early, go home have a bath, and spent the afternoon and evening with the family setting out the treats (sweets, chocolate, etc.) and watching T.V. chilling out for Christmas.

One Christmas Eve I came home, something was very different. My stepfather had a heart attack that Christmas morning, while I was in work. Soon the ambulance came and took him into hospital with the knowledge that we could lose him that Christmas. Over the next few days, we spent our days in hospital visiting, and praying for my stepfather’s life. Christmas was so different that year, there was no joy, fun, etc. Christmas Eve was so painful; would he survive the night?

Christmas morning began with phoning the hospital for news. No one wanted to open gifts, no one wanted a Christmas dinner, no one wanted to celebrate Christmas at all. We spent most of Christmas in the hospital, trying our best to cheer up our stepfather, yet, we had no joy. He did survive that year, and finally came home.

I shared this because the “things” around us can lose their value and can become so unimportant when we are in our deepest need. We need more than trees, decorations, and coloured lights, and even costly gifts to value the true meaning of Christmas.

3.    THE FIRST EVER CHRISTMAS.

I want now to take you back over 2,000 years and that “first Christmas.” A young teenage girl called Mary was told by an angel of God, that she was going to be the mother of God’s child.

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” Luke 1:26-33.

 Remember, in those days being an unwed mother, brought great shame on a girl and her family, and she could also face the risk of being stoned. Joseph had just announced their engagement to marry Mary. Now that was at risk, he had the right to walk away from her, leaving her without a husband, and a future.

But an angel of the Lord now spoke to Joseph, that Mary was carrying the child of God. So, Joseph supported Mary.

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. … So, all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” Luke 2:1-7.

Within a few months Joseph and Mary (now at least eight/nine months pregnant), had to travel many miles to Joseph’s home village and land. It was a long dirty, and dusty journey, more so with Mary heavy with child riding on a donkey.

When they arrived at Bethlehem, there was no room for them. Mary now knew that within hours she was to give birth to her child. There was no maternity ward for her, no mid-wife standing by, not even a clean bed was made ready for her. Finally, there was a stable found, straw for a bed covering, and Mary brought forth her child, there she laid him in a manger bed.

There was no palace found, no riches, no fine clothes for the baby Jesus, yet, latter He would be called the “King of the Jews” and latter still the “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”

His only visitors would be the shepherds of the field, and the beasts in their stalls. Latter others would come, bearing their gifts and praise to the new-born king.

Here is the Christmas story. See Christmases have changed. No longer does the baby Jesus matter in the lives of so many today!

So simple was that first Christmas! A young woman and her child, having to bring forth a birth in a stable. Christmas today has now been replaced by so much merriment that the child is almost forgotten altogether by most!

Conclusion:

May you and your family have an old fashion Christmas, as we all remember the “reason for the season.”

Jesus, the son of David

Jesus, the son of David

Text: Matthew 22:42.

“Saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

          Whenever a new baby is born, someone is sure to say “He looks just like his father?” At other times, a new baby may call every passing man, daddy. Now that we are in the season of the “Birth of Christ,” I want to ask the question “Who was Jesus the Son of?”

Here is this text they called Jesus the “Son of David,” others over time called Jesus the “son of Joseph,” that was a mistake. The Bible points out the difference between the physical relationship of Joseph and Mary to the Lord in Luke 2:33 “And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.”

Even the Bible calls Jesus:

          1. The son of David.

          2. The son of Mary.

          3. The son of Man.

          4. The Son of God.

         

I want to look at those four titles, and point out four different quantities of Jesus the Christ-child.

1.    AS THE “SON OF DAVID,” HE WAS THE SOVEREIGN CHILD.

1. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” Matthew 1:1.

          The method of the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham is similar to the expression in Genesis 5:1: “This is the book of the genealogy of Adam.”

1.    Genesis, introduces the first Adam. The first Adam was head of the first, or physical, creation of God.

2.    Matthew, introduces the last Adam. Christ, as the last Adam, is Head of the new, or spiritual, creation.

The name “Jesus” presents Him as Jehovah-Saviour; the title “Christ” (“Anointed”), as the long awaited Messiah of Israel. The title “Son of David” is associated with the roles of both Messiah and King in the Old Testament.

         

2. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” Luke 1:31-33.

Notice the important truths which are preserved in this announcement:

1. The real humanity of the Messiah— “you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son.”

2. His deity and His mission as Saviour— “and shall call His name JESUS” (meaning Jehovah is the Saviour).

3. His important greatness— “He will be great,” both as to His Person and His work.

4. His identity as the Son of God— “and will be called the Son of the Highest.”

5. His title to the throne of David— “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” This establishes Him as the Messiah.

6. His everlasting and universal kingdom— “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

A. He was the rightful King. Acknowledgment of the King!

B. He was the rejected King. Denial of the King!

C. He is the returning King! Amen! Looking for the King!

2.    AS THE “SON OF MARY,” HE WAS THE SUPERNATURAL CHILD.

1. “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him” Mark 6:3.

           Doubts about Jesus break out from those who could never accept Him as more than a carpenter. Facts about His family seemed to confirm their judgment. Among the four half-brothers of Christ, two are well known. James oversaw over the Jerusalem church and wrote the book bearing His name, and Judas or Jude wrote the last New Testament epistle.

The summing up response, “they were offended,” is unbelievable. For He had come to “seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10, to draw all men to Himself (John 12:32), and to provide abundant life (John 10:10), and yet those who lived near Him the longest “stumbled” before His presence.

The people, astonished, could not deny the wisdom of His teaching or the wonder of His miracles. But there was a deep unwillingness to acknowledge Him as the Son of God. Had He returned to Nazareth as a mighty conquering Hero, they might have accepted Him more readily. But He came in lowly grace and humility. This offended them.

2. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14.

The child Immanuel (Heb., lit. “God with us”) was a sign to the whole world.

A. This birth was seemingly impossible.

B. This birth was steadfastly investigated.

        1. By Joseph.

        2. By the shepherds.

        3. By the wise men.

        4. By Herod.

        5. By angels.

        6. By the devil.

        7. By God Almighty.

C. This birth was totally important.

3.    AS THE “SON OF MAN,” HE WAS THE SERVANT CHILD.

1. “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” --then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” Matthew 9:6.

Though these leaders might deny His ability, or right, to forgive sins, the outward physical healing could not be denied. Neither physical, nor spiritual healing, stood any difficulty for God’s Son.

2. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” Philippians 2:5-8.

As the SERVANT child, the Lord Jesus Christ

A. Shared the problems of the flesh.

        1. Physical weariness.

        2. Hunger and thirst.

        3. Physical pain.

        4. However, He never SINNED!

B. Submitted to the purpose of the Father.

C. Showed a pattern for us to follow.

        1. Obedience.

        2. Patience.

        3. Ministry to others.

4.    AS THE “SON OF GOD,” HE WAS THE SAVIOUR CHILD.

1. “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54.

A. He was the only sinless man who ever lived.

B. He was the only sacrifice that could TAKE AWAY sins.

C. He is the only Saviour who can take you to heaven.

          “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6.

2. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

As the Son of God

CONCLUSION:

          “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
Isaiah 9:6.

Jesus, is the Son of God that laid down His life for you and me.

The real meaning of Christmas

The real meaning of Christmas

Text: Luke 2:4-19.

“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” Luke 2:4-19.

1.    But what is the real meaning of Christmas?

December has come around again and with it all the joys of Christmas.

Is it the Christmas gifts under the tree?

The Christmas lights in the windows?

The Christmas cards in the post?

Snow on the ground?

Stockings hanging in the living room.

Shouts of “Merry Christmas” to those who pass us by in the streets?

Turkey dinners with family and friends?

Yet, for many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They do not have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some.

2.    Is this the real Christmas?

Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world.

Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

See, Jesus is the Reason for the Season! It is not “Happy Holidays” but, “Happy Christ’s-birth.”

The true meaning of Christmas is love John 3:16-17 says, “For 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this amazing act of love. The real Christmas story is the story of God taking on human form in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us!

3.    Why was Christmas necessary?

If Christmas is about Christ birth. Why did Jesus come? Because we needed a Saviour!

Jesus was born so that one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. We are all born with a sin nature. We do a thing that does not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed.

Why does God love us so much? Because He is love itself “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” 1 John 4:8. God loved His own and provided a way—the only Way—for us to spend eternity with Him.

He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.

4.    The true meaning of Christmas is love.

Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of thankfulness for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially aware of the poor and needy round about us.

Conclusion:

  

Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a “Happy Christmas.” The joy and peace that you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season! Rejoice!