Christmas In Its Christian Context

Christmas In Its Christian Context

Text: Isa.7: 14; Luke 2: 6-7

Intro: We Christians often complain that Christmas has become so commercialized that its real meaning has become all but totally obscured. That complaint is certainly warranted, for in the secular world, Christmas seems to be far more about sales than about the Savior. Today’s society as a whole tends to ignore the fact that the object of Christmas is Christ. We give to one another at this time of year to honor the reality of God’s great gift to a lost world—His Son.

But sometimes even we Christians fail to consider the whole picture, when it comes to Christmas. We must be careful not to limit our concept of Christmas to merely a baby in a manger. Perhaps my meaning can be illustrated with this story:

A girl of ten years went with a group of family and friends to see the Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out to look more closely at a beautifully done nativity scene.

“Isn’t that beautiful?” said the little girl’s grandmother. “Look at all the animals, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.”

“Yes, Grandma,” replied the granddaughter. “It is really nice. But there is only one thing that bothers me. Isn’t baby Jesus ever going to grow up…he’s the same size he was last year”

From http://www.sermons.org/xmasillus2.html

The birth of Christ was only the beginning of God’s great plan. God had a goal in mind, and that goal extended infinitely farther than a babe in a manger and the creation of an annual holiday.

Today, I want us to look at the whole picture. I want us to lay out all the components involved in Christmas, and look at them a little more clearly. Perhaps our appreciation for this celebration of Christ’s birth will be enhanced.

Theme: The Christian context of Christmas should include:

I. THE CRADLE—GOD RELATING TO US

A. Christ Understands Our Humanity.

Gal.4: 4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

John 1: 14a “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...”

John 2: 24 “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

NOTE: Dear friend, whatever is going on in your life today, Christ is all you need, for He understands you completely. This poem says it well:

Christ for sickness, Christ for health,

Christ for poverty, Christ for wealth,

Christ for joy, Christ for sorrow,

Christ today and Christ tomorrow;

Christ my Life, and Christ my Light,

Christ for morning, noon and night,

Christ when all around gives way,

Christ my everlasting Stay;

Christ my Rest, and Christ my Food,

Christ above my highest good,

Christ my Well-beloved Friend,

Christ my Pleasure without end;

Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord,

Christ my Portion, Christ my God,

Christ my Shepherd, I His sheep,

Christ Himself my soul to keep;

Christ my Leader, Christ my Peace,

Christ hath wrought my soul’s release,

Christ my Righteousness divine,

Christ for me, for He is mine;

Christ my Wisdom, Christ my Meat,

Christ restores my wandering feet,

Christ my Advocate and Priest,

Christ who ne’er forgets the least;

Christ my Teacher, Christ my Guide,

Christ my Rock, in Christ I hide,

Christ the Ever-living Bread,

Christ His precious Blood hath shed;

Christ hath brought me nigh to God,

Christ the everlasting Word;

Christ my Master, Christ my Head,

Christ who for my sins hath bled;

Christ my Glory, Christ my Crown,

Christ the Plant of great renown;

Christ my Comforter on high,

Christ my Hope, draws ever nigh.

Source Unknown.

B. Christ Understands Our Hardships.

Heb.4: 15a “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”

1. Jesus experienced hunger.

Luke 4: 1 “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.”

2. Jesus experienced weariness.

John 4: 6 “Now Jacob’s well was there (Sychar, Samaria). Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.”

3. Jesus experienced poverty.

Matt.8: 20 “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

4. Jesus even experienced temptation.

Heb.2: 18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”