During this advent season, we have been talking about waiting. How the Hebrew people waited for their messiah and how we wait for his return. We have also considered how we tend to take the ancient meaning of Christmas for granted. The stress that has to be there because Mary and Joseph’s said yes to God against the norms of the culture.
The Question for today is “What if the gift we celebrate at Christmas didn’t happen?
Let’s start with a few secular things.
The fruit cake industry would have never gotten off the ground. There would be a glut of all the candied fruit. Probably 6 or seven jobs would be lost. So personally, I haven’t got a problem so far.
How about this thought, the amount of stress this time of year at my house would drop at least 90%. All the discussion about gifts and getting something or enough for “everybody.” Add the stress of the cost of celebrating Christmas.
The “DISCUSSION” over the unfair holiday work distribution in shopping and preparations…
To me the reduction of stress might be another positive change if the Gift had never come.
Of course, our lives would be a bit more boring as well.
- How about changes toward a healthier life style:
Eggnog and other seasonal delicacies would probably disappear like the dinosaurs. Doctors would push ban them because of the sugar and cholesterol and people would live healthier because it was no longer consumed between November and January each year. Basically, Eggnog and certain other tasty deserts and candies are only protected by the spirit of the Christmas season.
Add to that the reduced likelihood of stuffing ourselves at the seasonal parties in our home and clubs and offices because of the parties.
Simply stated if the Gift never came we would avoid the seasonal weight gain and the guilt that goes with it.
Look at all the questions that would never be asked.
- Do reindeer really know how to fly?
- What magic is in that old silk hat?
- Santa and the whole chimney discussion that none of is able to explain anyway. - How long does it take to get the words to “Santa Clause is coming to town” or “Grandma got run over by a reindeer” out of your head?
I am sure that most of you remember the Christmas classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
George Bailey is standing on the bridge and is about to commit suicide when he meets Clarence Odbody – Angel Second Class.
He makes it so that George can see what would happen if he had never been born. The quaint little town of Bedford Falls turns into Potterville, a tuff dark place with a big city feel. He sees a town that is full of bars and corruption and crime. He sees a town with less love and none of then things he loves. The movie tells us that any one person makes a difference in ways that we may never know.
I definitely agree that one person can make an enormous difference in the lives of others. I believe that even the smallest gift of joy or kindness has an impact on people. There are many people that have made big differences for me personally. Difference that could have made me a completely differences person that I am today….Most of them for the good.
But the question we are looking at this morning is more specific,
“What If Jesus Never Came?”
I want to suggest that our world has been changed in such vast ways that none of us can even imagine what it would be like if He had not come.
We take a lot of things for granted in how our country and even our families operate. We claim Christian values make this a better place to live and I agree. As proof we connect the teaching of Jesus found in the Bible to be evidence of the way we think life should be.
So, I would like for us to consider some specific areas where Christ has had a significant impact on civilization, as we know it.
Some say that the world would be a better place without Christians, they use example if sins within church history to build their case. (Crusades, inquisition and witch hunts)
I am sure that there is plenty of moderns sins within the church could also be used the condemn Christians. However it is unfair to judge God/Jesus based on what every Christian says and does. Man tends to go to one extreme or the other and fail to mirror the actions and teachings of Jesus Christ.
However, there are plenty of good examples to celebrate as a result of the Gift.
It was the earliest Christians that rescued infants from the dump and opposed infanticide and human sacrifice - Christians have founded orphanages
The value of women on a world wide scale has improved the value and position of women in society as missionaries went to work.
Christians oppose euthanasia and were instrumental in founding homes for the aged.
Slavery was opposed by Christians like Wilberforce in England and Lincoln in our country
Christians founded colleges and advanced science.
The basic concepts of morality as something larger that anyone culture has been stressed.
Basically, the world that Jesus entered was one that had very little value for human life. For 2000 years people that have been influenced by the gift of his coming into the world have stood up and made dramatic changes in our world in his name.
Christians that are able to love their neighbors as they love themselves are people that make a difference for Christ.
Galatians 3:26-3:28
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This verse was written in a time and in a culture where Jews thought they were better than Greeks, the free thought they were better than slaves, and all men thought they were better than any woman.
But something amazing began to happen in the early church. The early church proclaimed the good news and accepted all kinds of people into the church. People of all walks of life were coming to faith and suddenly race, or social class, or gender didn’t matter. Not that they did not have problems
Jesus brought equality to this world that was nothing like people had ever known.
Have you ever considered that Peter the redneck fisherman struggled with being prejudice?
Remember how he was so shocked that the Centurion Cornelius and family received the Holy Spirit in the book of acts. They were gentiles. Whoa, how did that happen?
He seems to forget his unclean life on the fishing boats when Jesus came to him.
To his credit, he recognized the hand of God and accepted that it was God’s work. Although according to scripture he had trouble remembering what God has showed him from time to time.
Paul had a problem with young people that make mistakes. It took him years to be able to forgive John Mark for getting home sick. He sometimes forgot that your own mistakes and bad choices can allow you to hurt over what you did. Like his persecution of the followers of the way.
When God sent the physical gift of Jesus Christ, He was sending a person that removed the dramatic differences between people.
If God sent the Gift to close the gap between Him and Us, between our sinful, disobedient nature and his holiness, then we should be able to over look what we see as differences in the people around us.
The neighborhood, the grocery store… The differences that we make up between us and “those” people.
You know, like blacks, Hispanics, Indians or perhaps oriental people or any other separation that we can think of. -- We think we KNOW what they are like.
But, this is what Christ does….Faith in Christ eliminates the differences and puts all people on an even footing in the eyes God. We don’t have a choice in the matter.
Folks, without the gift of Jesus Christ, financial, racial, sexual discrimination would be the normal practice and there would be no limits to the number of categories and no one would have any protection by law.
If Christ had never come no one would be safe from persecution. Power and money would be the rule and Grace and Mercy would probably not be as strong in our lives.
It is easy to look a people in a variety of life situations and with real need and write them off based on appearance. We see today’s slavery as welfare or any visual separation such as quality of clothing or their car.
In a way we judge people by class situations as if the ones trapped in the low end job or on welfare or other hard situation as being different from us, perhaps beneath us.
But Jesus didn’t, he found value in people that most of the world wrote off and rejected. (Tax collectors, the sick, people with limiting disabilities, adulteresses, Gentiles) If we look at His actions, people that we see as socially unacceptable or challenged were not beyond his touch.
In John 1, the angel tells Joseph that Mary was with child and Joseph should take her as his wife. He says in verse 21,
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,
because he will save His people from their sins.” John 1:21
Notice it says “His People”. Aren’t His people the Jews? Well that’s what Jesus’ closest followers thought. But they over time would learn that “His people” included anyone that would put their faith in Him.
Now did some Jews receive the gift? Sure they did.
The first disciples were Jewish. Jews are still being saved today still receiving the gift.
The Gift we celebrate a Christmas, God sent his son for much more than the Jews. HE sent his gift to the whole world.
Jesus says this in Matthew 28:18-20
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
There is no favoritism for salvation with God.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe that there is a single person in this room that is not guilty of seeing a person that is different than ourselves and gets a scared feeling or think some degrading thought.
Folks, prejudice and pride and superiority are not new. It has always been around and I am sure as long as this world exist it will be alive and well.
It is a part of the fallen nature.
It is a part of the sinful world and it is something that the children of God must constantly fight first within ourselves and ultimately in our community for the Gift to really live in us. Some will and do fight it nationally and internationally.
-- An extremely proud young man walked into a restaurant looking for his friend. Immediately he noticed two beautiful young ladies near the door who appeared to be checking him out. Just then they both looked at each other and at the same time said, “NINE”! and began to giggle.
The prideful young man puffed out his chest, drew a big smile, and then walked over to his waiting friend. “You won’t believe what just happened. When I walked in those two ladies looked me over and me and said “NINE!”
His friend started laughing and said, “Their from Germany. They don’t speak English. Nine means, “NO WAY! Zero! Zilch! Nada!”
In Jesus there is no racial, gender or social discrimination. For in Jesus we are all set free from bondage and oppression.
The Barriers between God and man are destroyed in Christmas.
The dividing wall that sets men against men should be destroyed in Christmas.
(Luke 2:10-11)
Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.
At the end of It’s a wonderful life,” George runs back to the bridge again and prays. God I want to live again, I want to live again no matter what happens to me.
Folks we need to have a similar prayer. Lord let Christ live again in each of us. Let him live through our actions and what we stand up for. Father help s to live for Christ again.
All Glory be to God!
