Christmas Day -Cause For Celebration.

LK 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

LK 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

LK 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

LK 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

LK 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Why celebrate??

Today millions all over planet earth celebrate Christmas.

Millions apon millions will spend billions and billions on gifts – decorations – alcohol and many variations simply to celebrate Christmas.

We will discus the means of his birth the miracle of it’s prediction and the heavenly interruption in human history. But will we grasp the importance of the moment the effect of His birth on human history.

In many ways people will say we are celebrating the coming of Jesus as King and saviour of the world – God with us - He came to bring us peace.

All of that is correct.

But sometimes I wonder if we have really got to the heart of the cause of celebration.

I want for a moment to go down a different path.

Here is a story – not true – from the American Wild West.

The Wild West Bandit Wild Bert Marshall rode carefully into the small Western town of Dodge.

Shouts and laughter were erupting from the centre of town.

Gunshots were fired into the air.

“Yeeha” shouted a cowboy as he rode up to Wild Bert “Guess what stranger? They just hung that terrible villan who terrorised all the stage coaches round here!!!”

“Who was that cowboy/” Asked wild Bert.

“Ya’ll never guess stranger – So I’ll tell ya.”

“It was not Jesse James - it was none other that the dirty lowlife – miserable villan Wild Bert Marshall – yup we caught him creeping into town disguised as a preacher.

Would you believe that??”

“”Well no I wouldn’t – You say you killed a preacher??” asked Wild Bert who had gone terribly white.

“Yup.” Replied the cowboy – “Say you gone a little white – Hey – you look the dead ringer of that dead bandit that we just hung. Who are you??”

“I’m Wild Bert Marshall the dirty lowlife – miserable villan – you just hung my identical twin brother – the preacher – He has died in my place – It’s not fair it should have been me.”

“Golly stranger – that man who died on the tree – he has died in your place – they won’t hang two men – I hate to say it but the sherriff shore will – You will be free to go. Don’t seem fair really.”

Improbable story???

I guess it could happen.

In many ways it is a parable.

A parable of what happened two thousand years ago.

Two thousand years ago – Jesus Christ entered town – Bethlehem was the town and he came in remarkable circumstances.

About 33 years later he was hung on a tree made into a cross punished because of the sins committed by his Brothers and sisters.

MK 3:33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.

MK 3:34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother."

Can I ask a question – Who did Jesus come to earth for?

The answer :

John chapter 6: 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.