Kodak Moments In The Life Of Christ (Christmas)

The statistics tell us that suicides rank high at this time of the year.

WHY IS THIS A SAD TIME OF THE YEAR FOR SOME FOLKS?

It is especially sad for some folks for two reasons:

(1) SOME HAVE SUFFERED A DIVORCE

This Christmas is the first year they have had without their marriage partner. THIS IS TRULY A SAD TIME FOR THEM.

(2) SOME HAVE SUFFERED A DEATH

This is the first Christmas for some who have lost a companion to death. While we are rejoicing in the true meaning of Christmas, our hearts and prayers go out to those who have lost a companion to divorce or death. THIS TRULY IS A SAD TIME FOR THEM.

I mention these things, not to make you sad, but because we who are here today, want you to know that you are not forgotten. And if we can be of help to you in any way, please do not hesitate to call on us.

But for the majority, Christmas is the happiest time of the year. Especially those who know that Christmas is not just a happy holiday as the lost world tries to portray it, it is because they know that HE IS TRULY THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Today, let us take some time and look at SOME KODAK MOMENTS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

In Luke chapter two, I would like to show you some snapshots of His marvelous life.

I. BEHOLD THE BABY

Look at verses 8-11, we read, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

What a beautiful snapshot this is of the Lord Jesus.

Illus: There is a song called, “The Wonder of Wonders!” The song expresses this thought: she held in her arms the one who created her.

Childbirth is absolutely amazing. If you get a group of mothers together, they all would have some exciting stories they could tell of their experience with childbirth. But so could some of the dads.

Illus: Such is the case of the man who rushed his wife to the hospital when she was having a baby. The father-to-be drove his wife, Betty, quickly to the hospital, speeding past the admitting entrance. "Bill, that's where we're supposed to go," Betty said. "No, Honey," Bill said. "I saw a sign that said ALL DELIVERIES IN THE REAR OF THE BUILDING." (Robin Greenspan, Chester, Massachusetts, Christian Reader, "Lite Fare.)

Yes, you can put all the mothers who have ever lived in one room, and they all could share their experiences with childbirth. Some would say:

* “I had my child in the back seat of a taxi.”

* “I had my child on an elevator.”

* “I had my child at home.”

* Many would say, “I had my baby in the hospital.” And many could say, “Yes, so did we,” to all these things.”

But if you had all the mothers in one room sharing their childbirth experiences, when Mary began to tell how she gave birth to baby Jesus, they all would have to hush and listen with awe! Not a mother on the face of this earth could say to Mary, “Yes, the way you gave birth to baby Jesus is the same way I gave birth to my child.”

Never has there ever been a birth like His, nor will there ever be.

The first snapshot of the Lord Jesus in the Bible is a snapshot of him as a Baby. The Bible gives us this KODAK MOMENT in His life.

* Look at Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

* Look at Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Never has there ever been a birth, nor will there ever be, like the birth of the Lord Jesus.

We have looked at BEHOLD THE BABY, but let us look at the next snapshot of Him -

II. BEHOLD THE SON

The Bible does not give us a lot of snapshots of his growing up, but it does give us some. The Bible is a photo album of the life of Christ.