“SHOPPING FOR A SAVIOR”
SERMON #1: “I DON’T HAVE TIME”
LUKE 2:1-7
It was a few days before Christmas on the Oregon coast. Two men whose families lived next door opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected storm surprised the weekend sailors. Before long, the sea became angry, and the two had a difficult time keeping the sailboat under control. While heading toward the harbor, the craft hit a sandbar and grounded. Both men jumped overboard into the icy water and began to push and shove in an attempt to get the sailboat into deeper water. Knee-deep in mud and repeatedly bounced against the hull by unfriendly waves, the one said to the other, “Sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn’t it?”
This week we are starting a Christmas series entitled "Shopping for a Savior." You know one of the occupational hazards of being a pastor is that Sunday comes every seven days, whether I am ready or not. In like manner, Christmas comes on December 25 every 365 days, whether we are ready or not. Are you ready for Christmas? Or do you need a little more time to get ready? Along with Christmas is an assortment of obligations, duties, activities, observances, and traditions. These activities are compressed into our already frazzled lives. Christmas is going to come regardless if you have sent the cards, lighted the tree, wrapped the presents, or done all the shopping.
Not to worry, retail stores to the rescue. I remember when stores didn’t decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, now many stores are trimmed by Halloween. When our children are adults I suspect that stores will be decked out for Christmas by Labor Day. Stores open earlier and stay open later. And if that isn’t convenient one can shop online or over the phone. Or, the more fortunate and rich can hire a personal shopper to buy all their gifts.
I am reminded of a story I heard about a mother who was running frantically from store to store on Christmas Eve … trying to get those last-minute gifts. Suddenly she realized she’d lost track of her little 3-year-old son. In a panic, she retraced her steps and found him standing with his little nose pressed flatly against a frosty window. He was gazing at a Manger Scene. When he heard his mother call his name, he turned and shouted in innocent glee: “Look Mommy! It’s JESUS! Baby Jesus is in the hay!” The stressed mother grabbed his arm and jerked him away, snapping, “We don’t have time for all that! Can’t you see that Mommy’s trying to get ready for Christmas!?!”
With that story in mind why do we feel like it’s such a burden to go to Church around this time of year? How ironic is it to think of Worshiping Jesus as an interruption to His birthday celebration! But the sad truth is that each year I see more and more of this attitude. Each year many people as well as Christians, whether we realize it or not, is taking Christ out of Christmas by not making time for Him, by not making time for the very one that we are to be celebrating and worshipping.
Read Luke 2:1-7.
1. DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR CHRISTMAS?
Time is the new currency. Our society values time almost as much as money. People may be frivolous with their money, but not with their time. Ben Franklin said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.” Time is the one commodity that we can’t generate more of. We can make additional money. Energy can be enhanced. But we only have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 24 hours in a day. No more, no less.
In case you aren’t counting, presently, there are 30 days, or 720 hours, or 43,200 minutes, or 2,592,000 seconds till Christmas. The clock is ticking. Time is running out and before you know it Christmas will be upon us.
Isn’t it interesting that time is made for consumerism at Christmas, but is time made for the Christ of Christmas? Will you make time for Jesus this Christmas?
What if Joseph said, “I don’t care what Caesar Augustus ordered, I don’t have time to go to Bethlehem to pay my taxes. I’ve got some bookcases to build.” What if Mary said, “I’m too young to have a child, it will demand too much of my time, and, furthermore, I’m not married, I’ll have an abortion.” What if God said, “Send my Son to earth? You got to be kidding; I don’t have time for those God-forsaking people. And, anyway, it is a stinky, dirty planet.”
But Joseph didn’t make that statement, and neither did Mary or God say those things. Christmas is about a God who made time and came at the right time. Listen to these two verses. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” (Luke 2:6 NIV). “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4 NIV).
These verses are tied together referring to the birth of Jesus. “The baby” refers to Mary’s baby, Jesus. A very human baby from a very human mother. “His Son” refers to God’s Son. A very divine baby from a very divine father. In these two verses the whole theology of the incarnation is unveiled: this baby of Mary’s, God’s only Son, was totally human, yet totally divine.
2. GOD MADE TIME FOR US.
The reference to “time” in both verses catches my attention. “The time came” and “When the time had fully come.” God made the time and at the right time in history Jesus came.
God didn’t say, “I don’t have the time.” Rather, he said, “I’ll make the time.” God’s Son was born on that first Christmas morning. And, it was all for us. God made the time and sent his Son at just the right time out of his love for you and me. He gave us the ultimate gift and just the right time.
3. WILL WE MAKE TIME FOR JESUS?
Jesus came to a world that he created, to a people that had long awaited his arrival, but they didn’t have time for him. Who were these people who didn’t have time for Jesus that first Christmas?
A. THE INNKEEPER – TO BUSY
While he is not mentioned by name in the Bible, an innkeeper was confronted by a man and his pregnant wife. He turned them away saying he had no room for them. He didn’t have time for the Savior, because he was too busy. It was the census. The tiny village was crowded and his was the only place for lodging. He had rooms to clean, food to serve, decorations to put up, towels to wash, people to care for. He wasn’t an evil man or unsympathetic, he was just busy, that’s all.
The innkeeper reminds me of people who become so consumed with the commotion of Christmas that they miss the Christ of Christmas. They are addicted to activity, not necessarily sinful activity, just things that keep one occupied. The clutter of shopping, parties, concerts, dinners preoccupy their day. They are too busy for the Son of God.
B. KING HEROD – SELF-ABSORBED
Standing in sharp contrast to the innkeeper is another man who didn’t have time for the Savior. Herod, the King of the Jews, was very old, very sick, and nearly dead. He was a dying man floundering on an unstable throne. Like all tyrants, he held tightly to the reins of power and brutally removed anyone who got in his way. Over the years he killed his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and even his own wife. The notion of a baby “born” king of the Jews was a direct threat to his throne. No wonder he tried to kill Jesus. In his eyes, he had no choice. It was kill or be killed. He didn’t have time for another rival. He was ready to kill anyone who was a threat, even a tiny, helpless baby.
Herod is a lot like the men and women of today who won’t allow anything to interfere with their career, position in life, ambition, plans, or lifestyle. They won’t let someone else be king of their lives. They see Jesus as a threat so they don’t make time for him. Allegiance to someone else other than themselves is unthinkable.
C. RELIGIOUS LEADERS - UNCARING
A whole group of people, called the chief priest and scribes, didn’t have time for Jesus. And, if there were a group of people who should have been aware of the timing of Jesus arrival, it was the chief priests and scribes. They were the theologians, the religious elite of Israel. They had studied the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah. They were encouraged to read the signs of the times for his arrival. They preached of a Deliverer, the Anointed One, which would come to eliminate the bullies from their country.
They were the theological experts, the guardians of spiritual truth, yet they never bothered to travel the five miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to find out for themselves if the Messiah had indeed been born. Surely they, too, saw the star. They heard the news about the infant born in Bethlehem. Why did they not make time for Jesus?
Uncaring. They didn’t care. They had all the facts but the Messiah was not really important to them. They didn’t have time for the Savior because they felt they didn’t need him. They were self-righteous, believing they were already all that God could ever want of them. They were sickeningly arrogant. They had no time for the Savior. In fact, when Jesus began his public ministry, it was these same men that despised Jesus and ultimately plotted his murder.
I know people like that, don’t you? People who just don’t care about Jesus. People who had rather not fool with him. Sadly, many of those people are in the church. Have you learned yet that familiarity breeds contempt? Familiar with the Bible, the prophecies, the teachings of Jesus, but when it comes to the Savior they’re uncaring. Uncaring people are arrogant. It’s a deadly sin not to care. It is typical of people, including religious people, who don’t think they need a Savior. Jesus came to people who had a problem—sin—and knew it. Uncaring people ignore their sin and Jesus. They don’t care about the remedy because they don’t believe they have the disease.
There’s an old story about a man who said to his friend, “I’ve heard that the two major problems in America today are ignorance and apathy. What do you think?” His friend responded, “I don’t know and I don’t care!” How many of us have not taken the time for the Savior simply because we don’t care? Apathy and ignorance leads to one’s own failure.
D. PROCRASTINATORS – PLENTY OF TIME.
One other group of people was present who didn’t have time for Jesus. They are not mentioned in this text, but they exist. They live in every age. They are the people who don’t have time for Jesus because of delay. We have a name for them—procrastinators. The procrastinators saw the star, heard of the baby, knew that something strange and wonderful was happening, and wanted to check it out, but never got around to it. They were going to do it—just later. They had the opportunity of a lifetime. The very Savior of the world was within their grasp, but they put off going to the manger to see the baby Jesus.
Procrastinators are in each generation. They know what they should do but fail to act because of a lack of urgency. “There’s no hurry,” they say. There is always tomorrow. It is communicated in such phrases as, “I’ll buy the gift after Christmas, when it goes on sale.” “I’ll write the thank you note after things slow down.” “I’ll see my Dad when the holidays are over. I’ll have more time then.” “I’ll give my heart to Jesus next Sunday.” But tomorrow never comes. The opportunity is lost.
A legend recounts a company of demons before Satan’s throne. Satan barks in a loud voice, “Who will go to earth to convince people not to give their lives to Jesus.” One said, “I’ll go and tell them there is no heaven.” “That won’t work,” Satan protested. “The conviction of a better life is too deep-seated in the hearts of men.” “Then, I’ll go,” said another. “I’ll tell them there is no hell.” “Won’t work,” Satan thundered. “Man’s conscience will witness against such mockery.” Just then a dark spirit glided forward, “Satan, I’ll go.” “And what will you tell them?” “I will tell them,” answered the spirit, “you have plenty of time to trust in Jesus, tomorrow will be soon enough to give you heart to the Savior. There’s no hurry.” According to the legend that was the demon sent and is still abroad the earth whispering to the hearts of men and women: “There’s plenty of time for Christ. There’s no hurry to get religious. Just have fun while you can. Tomorrow is soon enough.”
Do you have time for Jesus? May I ask you a personal question? Of the five types of people which do you most identify with?
Do you identify with Joseph and Mary? It wasn’t easy or convenient, but they made time for Jesus. Are you like the innkeeper? Do you not have time for Jesus because you are too busy? Maybe you are like Herod. You don’t have time for Jesus because you are self-absorbed in your own agenda. Or, perhaps, you most identify with the religious leaders. Your familiar with Jesus, but your heart is covered with calluses. You’ve heard the story so many times that you don’t hear it anymore and you just don’t care. So you’re saying, “Why bother?”
Does the procrastinator group resonate with you? You know the need and realize the danger, but would rather wait? Are you whispering to yourself, “There’s no hurry? I’ll make time for Jesus later.”
If God made time for us, can’t we make time for him this Christmas? Let’s get ready for Christmas and make time for Jesus beginning now. Christmas is going to come whether we are ready or not. And Jesus is going to come again, whether we are ready or not. While there is still time let’s get ready for Christmas and for Jesus. And if you have to choose one over the other, it’s best to be ready for Jesus.
“SHOPPING FOR A SAVIOR”
SERMON #1: “I DON’T HAVE TIME”
LUKE 2:1-7
1. DO YOU HAVE __________ FOR ________________?
2. GOD MADE ___________ FOR _____________!
3. WILL WE MAKE ____________ FOR ______________?
WHO DIDN’T MAKE TIME FOR JESUS ON THAT FIRST
CHRISTMAS DAY?
A. _________________ - _______________
B. _________________ - _______________
C. _________________ - _______________
D. _________________ - _______________
WHICH GROUP DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH?
