Heirloom: Jesus Is Not An Ornament

Christmas 2008

(This message was part of our annual Christmas program with drama and music. If you would like more information, email cgwallis@sbcglobal.net)

Wise Firemen: A young boy from Texas drew a picture showing three men, offering gifts to the baby Jesus in his manger. What made the picture unique is how the three wise men arrived – in a fire. Someone asked the boy why he drew the fire truck and the boy, in his heavy East-Texas accent, was quick to reply: “Well, the Bible says the wise men came from a-far.” (Sermon Central)

I. Jesus Came As A Baby: The Humanity of Christmas

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Any mother knows childbirth is both beautiful and painful. Kenneth Squires writes, “Mary was far from home, far from her family, and far from what she expected that first birth to be. But the whole setting for the child’s birth was apart of an elaborate plan to provide access for lost humanity into God’s family. Why did God experience such a humble birth? He became poor so we could be rich! He became humble so we could be lifted up! He became human so we could become perfect! He became man so we could become His friend!” (Sermon Central)

If you were going to save the world, how would you do it? Probably none of us would send a baby. But God is not one of us. His plans are above our plans. He thinks at a higher level. Jesus comes as a baby demonstrates to us the gift of life, new birth, and the deep interest that God places in us. No matter how much we try, we cannot get to God -He came to us.

When we celebrate Christmas, we need to remember that it all started with a baby in a manger. Not to make us coo and cuddle, but to demonstrate that the power of God that can be found in a child. There are many who doubt Jesus, then and now, but as we listen to children sing, we should remember that anyone who will come to God must come with the faith of a child. As we celebrate Christmas, may we all come to God as children. All our efforts are futile. We must have the faith of a child.

Life is Fragile, Handle with Care: Tom Ehrich: (1997) “...the (economic) crisis at hand goes beyond money. It is spiritual and it has to do with fragility. Despite our best efforts to control reality, life remains a fragile enterprise. How we handle that fragility will shape our futures more than stock values will.” “Wall Street and the spiritual crisis of our fragility.” Source: TOM EHRICH Religion News Service

From the mouths of children You have perfected praise.

II. Jesus Became a Man: We all have to grow up

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents’ house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his lungs: "I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE..." "I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO..." His older brother leaned over, nudged him and said, "Why are you shouting? God isn’t deaf." to which the little brother replied, "No, but Grandma is!" (Sermon Central)

Can you think back to some of your greatest childhood memories? One year, I got a motorcycle, then a bicycle for my birthday, then a 22 rifle for Christmas. So I set them all up and took a picture because I did not want to forget that moment. Someone stole my bicycle, and that motorcycle sat broke down for many years, and that rifle lies under our bed somewhere behind some boxes. We all have to grow up.

Perhaps the economy can teach us something…

Tom Ehrich “Economy puts Christ back into Christmas”

“so a lifestyle built on credit-funded excess doesn’t look like adult behavior. Large houses look different now. So do large wardrobes, large travel budgets, large parties. The question many are asking isn’t “When can I resume living large?” It is “What was I thinking?” The high point of Christmas, isn’t (large floral displays and costly pageants), but kneeling together for “Silent Night.” (Los Angeles Daily News, 122008, Religious News Service)

We all have to grow up. We get older and experience the ups and downs of life. I am sure you wouldn’t trade it away for all the ups in the world. Some people forget that Jesus experienced all of humanity. Not only was a he a baby, we lived as we do. God became one of us. A T-shirt said, “Religion is man trying to get to God. Christianity is God coming to man.” With all of our knowledge and technology, we still have not got any closer to reaching God on our own. He had to come to us.