“3 Things we can do to make this Christmas Meaningful – 1) Follow the true star of Christmas”
Gladstone Baptist Church – 17/12/06 am
S1 - What is Christmas about? Video “A Brief History of Christmas”
Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to be looking at 3 things we can do to make this Christmas meaningful. I don’t know about you, but Christmas, as fun as it is, is starting to become a bit empty for me. Maybe things will change this year with kids and all. But over the last couple of years, I’ve been getting disillusioned with all the commercialism of Christmas and all the things that distract us from its real meaning. Christmas is a wonderful celebration, but has lost much of its meaning. So over the next 2 weeks, we are going to look at 3 things we can do to make this Christmas meaningful.
By way of an introduction, I thought we should consider the history of Christmas – so take a look at this short video clip.
Pray. Lord as we come to you now, we pray you would help us to concentrate on you. We are in the midst of a busy time of year and many of us are tired. We have been guilty of running around like headless chooks chasing after tinsel and presents and food and breakups and the list goes on. We pray that here and now you would arrest our minds. Disengage them from the things that would distract us and help us to focus on you this morning and you alone. We pray this in your Son’s name, Amen.
S2 – Focussing on the wrong Star at Christmas.
You know as well as I do, that Christmas is probably one of the most busy times of the year. That is why we call it the silly season. Who here is sick of Christmas breakups? Who is sick of the Christmas Catalogues filling your letter boxes? Who is sick of the Christmas adds on TV?
Christmas is without doubt the busiest time of year. There is so many things happening. So many people vying for our attention. Bright lights, tinsel, glittering things. Toys, food, things in the shops that neither you or I want or need, but which we are told we can’t do without. So many voices out there with Christmas appeals and charity fund raisers. Then there is all the Christmas special events - final episodes of your favourite TV show, Christmas carols to go to. There are the Christmas sales and the presents to buy and wrap and distribute. There are the Christmas cards to write.
Even in the church, there is so much going on – breakups, farewell dinners for those leaving us, things to do before we go on holidays.
So many things and so little time. So many demands that we get swamped. Everything seems to be flashing in our face – look at me, attend to me, come to me. Countless things needing our attention – which to focus on is the dilemma.
Have you ever been out in the country and looked up at the stars in the night sky and been overwhelmed with how there are. Your eyes don’t know which ones to look at. I think that is what it is like at Christmas time – so many lights, you find it hard to focus on just one. And this is a problem, because at Christmas time, we are in danger of losing sight of the true star of Christmas – Jesus.
With all the competing interests, Jesus too often gets pushed to the background. Oh we think about his every now and then, but he doesn’t take centre stage. I want you to think about this for a moment. Rewind your week and play it over in your memory. How many things took up more of your time and more of your concentration and more of your energies than Jesus? I’m sure that if we were truly honest – this being 2 weeks out from Christmas and all, we would have to admit that for many of us – our present shopping or our Christmas lunch menu planning or our long list of Christmas engagements featured far more prominently in our minds this last week than did Jesus. What were some of the things in your past week that distracted you from focusing on Jesus? Write them down – name them. For me, it was …
S3 - The wise men, undoubtedly had many pressing items in their lives, but they never lost sight of their Christmas Star (they travelled far, made personal sacrifices and stepped out in faith and follow)
If you have your bibles open, I would like you to open them up to Matt 2:1-12
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 ”‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
While not many specifics are known about these Magi who visited Jesus, we do know some general information. The Magi were an ancient priestly caste in the Mede and then the Persian empires. They were around when Daniel was carried off to Babylon and some even think that Daniel was inducted into their group.
Originally, they were a hereditary priestly clan which had several key roles in the society in which they served. Firstly, they were responsible for the rituals and the cult of worship. Coming from a Gentile country, they weren’t Jews and didn’t believe in YHWH as God. They did not believe in one or in fact any god. Their religion was focussed around the worship of nature, but not physical objects per se, but the foundational elements of nature – that is fire, air, earth & water. The Magi were responsible for helping people to worship these elements.
Because they were focused on nature, it was natural for them to become experts in the natural order of things. They were the learned people and were respected for that – especially for their knowledge of astronomy and the natural sciences. But this knowledge also extended to astrology; the ability to divine meanings from dreams and the ability to tell the future. They therefore took on a second role in the ancient societies in which they ministered. They became advisors to the kings and rulers because some were able to discern the future.
As time went on, the term Magi was used of people learned in natural science and magic and astrology. They were the intellectuals in society.
We don’t know anything really specific about the Magi who visited Mary & Joseph. We don’t even know how many there were in this party. Some assume, 3, but the bible only talks about 3 gifts, not about the number of givers. The background out of which they came as likely to be out of the Persian roots, but this doesn’t tell us where they had been living up till this time. We are only told that they came from the East. This could have been from Persia, but it could have just as easily been from Arabia or Babylonia. Some favour Arabia, because gold, frankincense and myrrh were all plentiful and available in Arabia. Which ever guess was correct, we know that these guys walked or rode a distance of over 500 km – possibly even upto 1000 or 2000 km. That is a long, long way to walk. It would have taken a couple of months. While we don’t know exactly where they came from, it is likely that the Magi followed the star over many miles that first Christmas.
Another gap in our knowledge about the Magi is concerning their specific roles in life. What we do know is that they were astrologers and learned men. They made a keen study of the stars and identified a new star that moved. It to them was a clear sign that a king had been born, so they packed up their things and followed it. We also know that they were wealthy men given the gifts they brought.
What we don’t know however, is what they left behind. But I am supposing that they left behind a lot. Being learned and wealthy and all that. Maybe they were employed as advisors to the king, or teachers in a school. Maybe they had responsibilities in the local religious observances as respected members of the community. Maybe they had families that they left behind. Presumably as wealthy men, they had homes, servants, businesses they left behind. I don’t know the specifics, but what I do know is that they did have a life that they left behind. They had dreams and ambitions. They had priorities and important responsibilities. But when these Magi, saw the Christmas star, they left many things behind and followed it.
Why? because they had faith that the star was going to reveal to them a king. A powerful king worthy or praise and honour. That takes faith doesn’t it. Amazing faith. And it was rewarded as they knelt before Jesus that wonderful day. By faith, they found the king they were searching for.
The Magi followed the star. They were single focussed. And this focus led them along mile after mile. This focus allowed them to put things in their correct priority and leave unimportant things undone. This focus allowed them to step out in faith and resulted in them meet with a great king.
S4 - God wants us this Christmas to keep our eyes fixed on the star of Christmas (to follow Him, to sacrifice our personal ambitions and to step out in faith and meet with him)
What a fantastic example for us to follow this Christmas. The Magi – focussed, determined, concentrating on just one star – the Star of Christmas – Jesus’ star. They followed it, they made it a priority and they did it in faith and were rewarded by meeting Jesus.
In our busy world, particularly at Christmas time, there are many bright lights. Many things vying for our attention. But we need to be focused on one thing – Jesus. It is too easy for us to be caught up in all the celebrations, in the tinsel, in the presents, in the food, in the TV specials, in the Christmas sales and New Year sales and push Jesus out of the picture this Christmas.
Jesus is the reason for the season though and if we want ti make this Christmas season meaningful we need to follow the star of Christmas – Jesus.
I’m sure that the first Christmas day, many people saw that new star. But few people stopped to really focus on it and consider its implications for their lives. If they had, there may have been a very large group of people making the pilgrimage to Bethlehem that first Christmas.
Instead, just a few Magi, made the journey. Just like those around them, they saw the star, but unlike those around them, they considered its implications and then followed it.
I think in our society, that many people recognise Jesus today. By that, I mean, they know of him – they see his star, but they don’t pause to really consider what he has to do with them. They don’t respond with their feet and hearts like the Magi. But if we want to put meaning back into Christmas, we have to focus on the true Christmas star, recognise His call on our lives and follow Him.
There are many stars asking us to follow them this Christmas, but none will put true meaning into this Christmas season except Jesus. We need to be willing to follow him.
In practice, this involves risks doesn’t it. I don’t think the Magi knew where this star was leading them. I don’t think they realised how long they’d be away from home for. We also don’t know what the journey will be like that Jesus will lead us on. It may be long. It may be difficult. It may take us through some very tough places. But God has a destination in mind for you – a destination where one day you will see Jesus Christ face to face. And at that moment, all the hardships and the calouses and the exhaustion will pale into insignificance.
Are you prepared to follow Jesus this Christmas time? To hear his voice and to follow his lead?
How can you focus on Jesus this Christmas? Any ideas
• Maybe you could buy an advent calendar to use with your family.
• Maybe you could read a part of the Christmas story through each night.
• Maybe at your Christmas dinner, you could have a birthday cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus.
• Maybe you could read through the words of some carols and meditate on them.
• Maybe you could go to the new movie out this year – The Nativity Story
• Arrange your Christmas decorations so your manger scene is in the most prominent place instead of the presents & santas, etc. If you don’t own a manger scene – go and buy one.
• How about setting up a manger scene around your Christmas tree this year instead of putting all your presents there.
• Maybe you could give Jesus some gifts this Christmas instead of just each other.
There are plenty of things you could do this Christmas to keep the focus on the true Star of Christmas and follow him.
If you are doing these, you can expect that Jesus might well ask you to leave behind some things – jus tlike the Magi had to. You can’t focus on two things at the same time. So you have to take your gaze off all the other stars and fix it on the true star of Jesus. This might mean you have to take your focus off some things that in the past have been near and dear to you. They might be things that you have always considered to be very important. But in the end of the day, they are likely to be distractions for many of us.
If we are to follow Jesus and put him first, we may need to reassess our priorities this Christmas time. Even simple things. For example - What are you planning on doing Christmas day? I know for many it is a hectic day running from one family gathering to another. It is so hectic for some, that they decide they haven’t got time to even go to church and celebrate the birthday of the real star of Christmas. If we are serious about following Jesus and putting him first this Christmas, maybe some of your plans have to change. Where ever you are, make it a priority to get to church and worship our Lord – make that your priority!!! This might mean that you are not able to attend all the family gatherings you are expected to. It might put you in the bad books and be seen as a black sheep of the family. But when we are called to follow Jesus, we are called to leave some things behind. What personal sacrifices are you willing to make to follow the star this Christmas.
The Magi were singularly focussed. They followed the star and refused to let themselves be distracted by other demands on them. They stepped out in faith and this faith was rewarded as they knelt before the king of kings and lord of lords.
Many others who had seen the star, but refused to follow it and give up their other priorities, missed out on meeting with Jesus that day. Unfortunately, the same occurs for people today. When we do not choose to focus on Jesus. When we choose not to follow him, but rather get consumed by all manner of other priorities, we miss out on meeting with the King of Kings.
I know that he is always with us, but you know, when we focus on Him, actively step out in faith to follow Him and put Him first in our lives, He has this habit of making himself real to us and meeting us in a wonderfully intimate way.
Are you looking for meaning this Christmas? Then I encourage you to seek to meet with this stable-born king in an intimate way. Commit to focussing on him this Christmas. Commit to following Him and commit to putting Him first in all your celebrations and activities. I know then you will have the opportunity to meet with him intimately. You will then find that Christmas becomes a time full of meaning.
