What is Christmas?
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. 1. CHRISTMAS IS REMEMBERING!
As I think about Christmas remembering.
I see again the candles my grandma put in the windows bringing warmth within.
I remember the home made garlands by my Grandma. The fresh cooked popcorn & cranberries seasoned by little fingers & threaded with laughter as we would help her. The bright eyes as we looked as it went on the tree.
I remembered the tree that was topped with the angel. Grandma telling us the story how the angels were all around the manger the day Jesus was born, & how they were all around the cross the day Jesus died for us.
How the star was hung over the door way. Grandma telling else it was a reminder that we are to be a light just as Jesus was the light of the world.
I remember all the pretty lights on the tree. So bright & shinning, & the glass bulbs placed on the tree just right for all to see.
I remembered the taste of snow as it fell from the sky. We would all be outside with our tongue out to taste the new snow falling from heaven. (For me not all was good)
Christmas to me is remembering the Good & not the bad. Christmas to me is remembering a promise from God in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. That through this little Baby Jesus the world would be saved from their sins.
2. Christmas is Listening!
To the Christmas songs being sung every where you went.
It was in the streets, at the stores, in the homes. In every ones heart was the sound of Christmas.
To the satisfying grunt of the snow worn out by the sliding of boots. From sodden gloves as we crushed it to make snowballs.
The sound of laughter as we hurled snowballs through the air form our snow fronts that we built.
Listeng to the sound that came from lying on the ground as we would move our legs & arms to make a snow angel.
The sound of shoving snow from the driveway & sidewalks.
The sound of the city trucks coming through to clear the roads of snow.
Listening to the Church Bells at midnight ringing in the night air. How it filled the air. The story of the star & the shepherds in the field.
The story of the manger how there was no room for God in the inn. The story of the 3 kings & their gifts to the Lord.
The story of a little town of Bethlehem & the baby Jesus was born there.
Luke 1:26-35 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Yes Christmas is Remembering.
It is Listening.
3. Christmas is Giving!
Mot only the gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh that were laid at the feet of Jesus.
It was more than the gifts on Christmas morning. (Which many a time I never got due to being poor.)
As a Christian it was more about being an encouragement of sympathy & understanding. (As I would find families in need & give)
As a dad it was seeing the faces light up as my children would open up their gifts.
The faces of those who you gave them a gift & were not expecting anything.
Seeing my Pastor cry when we would bring gifts to him & his family.
Going down to the streets to the homeless & taking food, & blankets & seeing their faces.
Not only giving the gifts of this world.
More about the gift that God gave to us.
Luke 2:11-12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. No greater gift could have been given to mankind than God’s only begotten Son. JESUS!!!!!!!!
Yes Christmas is remembering.
Yes it is listening.
Yeas it is giving
4. Christmas is Christ!
a. In Remembering:
Can be bitter without the cleansing of His precious blood for our sins.
Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
b. In Listening:
As minor it may be indeed.
But think without Christ where would the joy be? Where would the hope be?
That came from His Presence into this world.
c. In Giving:
This began with God’s outstretched hands holding forgiveness & love to thrust into hands ready to receive.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
5. To me Christmas is:
What does Christmas mean to me?
a. God’s Love towards me in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
What does Christmas mean to me?
b. Jesus willing to come to earth to die for my sins.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
What does Christmas mean to me?
c. What Jesus did for me even before the Cross.
I’m talking of the crown of thrones place in his skull.
The plunking of the bread from his cheeks by the hand full’s.
The slapping & the spitting.
The beating he took for me. The cat of nine tails ripping his flesh. The mocking He went through because of me.
Isaiah 53:5-8 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isaiah 53:9-10 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
What does Christmas mean to me?
d. What He did on the cross!
The stripped Him naked in front of the whole world. Then gambled His clothes away as if it were some kind of sport. (Which by the way if you gamble or even play the lotto.) SHAME ON YOU! Somebody say Amen so I don’t have too!
They gave Him vinegar to drink in which He refused.
His bones were out of joint. Not broken just every single bone in His body of joint.
They wagged their hand at Him. They laughed Him to scorn.
His own father turn His back on His only begotten son.
WHY?
Because my sin was place on Him. God being holy could not even look at His Son.
They denied Him! He was suspended between Heaven & Hell. Between man & God.
In His death Jesus took time out to save a sinner from a burning Hell.
You know the story He told the thief
“Today thou shalt be with me in glory!” Somebody say AMEN!
Hey He gave His life for us. He shed His blood upon Calvary for us.
What does Christmas mean to me?
e. What He did after the cross!
1. He went to Hell for 3 days & 3 nights to pay the full price for me. It was not enough what he went through already for me. He went to Hell my friends. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. He had to be there in order to get the keys. Somebody say AMAN! It you’re saved on your way to Heaven say AMAN! Hey, this is shouting time my friends. THE FULL PRICE WAS PAID FOR US. He paid a debt He did not owe. I in return owe a debt I can not pay.
2. He rose on the 3rd day.
He promised this in Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Do you realize with out the resurrection we would still be dead in our sins.
1 Corinthians 15:13-14 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Corinthians 15:17-18 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
3. He ascended into Heaven!
In which He is sitting on the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In which He is also interceding for us to His Father.
Romans 8:34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
4. He is waiting for Daddy too tell Him
“SON GO GET YOU’RE CHILDREN:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Believe me He is coming back. We have His word on it in John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
I will be with Him 4ever more. For all eternity. Somebody say AMAN. We should be shouting. Go ahead ladies say AMAN.
Why let the Holy rollers have all the fun. Baptist were shouting long before they were. Let’s get happy for awhile in the Lord!
Conclusion:
THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS TO ME. JESUS!!!!!!!
WHAT IS IT TO YOU?
MERRY CHRISTMAS & I LOVE YOU. MORE THAN THAT JESUS LOVES YOU. MORE THAN THAT GOD THE FATHER LOVES YOU. HE GAVE THE GREATEST GIFT TO YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHAT CHRISTMNAS IS TO GOD & JESUS? SOULS! MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN.
John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
