THE CHRISTMAS X-PERIENCE
Text: John 1:1-14
(Suggested opening video: Christmas With A Capital C)
There are many beautiful traditions and practices that have come to be associated with Christmas. And many of them aren’t what you would call “Christian traditions or practices” - but we’ve adopted them and made them a part of our annual celebration anyway.
Take the Christmas tree, for example. Now, nowhere in the scriptures will you find where Joseph and Mary put one up in the stable where Christ was born. Some historians trace this practice back to an ancient pagan ritual that marked the celebration of the winter solstice. But over the centuries it has shed its pagan symbolism – and now stands as a beautiful reminder of life and God’s creation to you and me today. We generally use evergreen trees to remind us of everlasting life in Christ. And that’s why I have a Christmas tree standing in my living room. If I thought it was undermining the sacredness of this Christian holiday – I’d throw it out. But, I think in a very meaningful way – it adds to it.
And there are lots of other traditions which have grown up over the years that don’t really have any particular Christian or scriptural foundation. Like: hanging up stockings. . .putting up lights. . .sending cards. . .drinking eggnog. . .eating fruitcake. For some people – these things are Christmas. They are the beginning and the ending of the meaning of it. For Christians, though, those things are only a harmless addition to the real meaning of it. And so long as we keep our eyes on the celebration of the birth of Christ – those things don’t contradict the truest expression of the holiday.
But you know, there is one practice that I can think of that is probably the most annoying and offensive holiday habit I’ve ever seen. And that’s when we take “Christ” out of “Christmas” – and replace him with an “X”. It’s such a common thing anymore – on highway billboards, on store fronts, in people’s homes. To see splattered up there a big “MERRY XMAS.” Now, some people say that it’s just a harmless abbreviation for when you don’t have room to write the whole thing. But I say – if you don’t have room to include Christ in it, it’s better to write nothing at all.
I’ve heard others claim that it’s really not an X. They claim that it’s the Greek letter “chi” – which is the first letter in the name of Christ. So that “X” really stands for “Christ.” Just out of curiosity – how many of you can speak or write Greek? (Show of hands) That’s what I sort of suspected. So, who are we kidding?
Do you realize what you’re wishing people whenever you wish them a “Merry Xmas”? You’re actually wishing them a “Merry Nothing-mas!” Whenever you take Christ out of Christmas – you have nothing left to celebrate!
It shouldn’t really be that surprising, though, that so many would desire to take Christ out of Christmas. For in John 1:10-11, it says, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (KJV) And even hundreds of years before his coming, the prophet Isaiah foretold what his reception here on earth would be. He said, “. . .he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3, KJV)
Instead of Christ – all that some people have ever had is a big “X”. And because of it, their whole Christmas holiday is filled with “Xs”. And I thought I’d share what some of those “Xs” are that follow whenever you take Christ out of Christmas. First, three negative “Xs” from the world’s perspective. And then, three positive “Xs” for Christians.
1. FOR SOME PEOPLE, ALL CHRISTMAS MEANS IS EX-CESSES.
It becomes a holiday for going overboard on just about everything. Too much partying, too much drinking, too much eating, too much spending. It has to be bigger, better, louder, and longer than it was last year – in order to be considered successful and enjoyable. For so many people, who have taken Christ out of their Christmas celebration – Christmas has become excessively hectic, excessively expensive, excessively demanding, and excessively indulgent.
Somehow, I think it’s shameful whenever we have more alcohol-related traffic fatalities between the week of Christmas and New Year than any other single week in the year. And whenever multitudes of people still haven’t finished paying-off last year’s Christmas credit card bills – before they start adding to it this year.
You know, church historians tell us that Christians didn’t start observing Christmas until about 60 years after the death of Christ. And when they did begin observing the day – it was a day of worship and praise. Later, there evolved the idea of exchanging small gifts on his birthday. But always – worship was kept the foremost function of that day. And I sometimes wonder how taken back our 1st century brothers and sisters would be if they could just see how the world celebrates this holy day today? I’m sure they would probably shake their heads in disbelief and despair if they could see the way Christ is so often pushed aside and neglected completely – on HIS day! That’s because Christmas become a time for eX-cesses whenever you take Christ out of it.
2. Then we could also note that FOR SOME PEOPLE, ALL CHRISTMAS MEANS IS EX-HAUSTION.
Many are the poor, battered, and abused sales clerks who barely make it through this season with their sanity. Many are the weary mothers and grandmothers who spend endless hours in the kitchen turning out the treats and the goodies that most of us love – but none of us really need. Many are the beleaguered fathers who stay up all night giving Santa a hand by trying to put together children’s toys that take an engineering degree to figure out. And many are the restless travelers who clog the roads and pack the airports trying to get home to spend a few precious days with the family.
Considering what we often go through in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas – it’s no wonder that so many people suffer from what psychologists describe as the “Holiday Blues.” So often, it’s more a physical reaction than an emotional one. We’re just “plumb tuckered out” – as the old expression goes. And our mind keeps on saying, “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” But out body’s saying, “Time out, time out, time out!” And when those two aren’t in agreement – they usually compromise by making you feel lousy all over!
I don’t have the definitive answer this morning for how to best cope with holiday exhaustion. But I’m sure that part of the solution lies in worrying a little less about worldly expectations – and concentrating a little more on a heavenly celebration. Maybe it would help if we stopped watching Madison Avenue – and started being a little more concerned about worshipping a baby in the manger. For whenever you take Christ out of Christmas – it becomes little more than a time for eX–haustion.
3. And I’ve also noticed through personal experience, that FOR STILL OTHER PEOPLE, ALL CHRISTMAS MEANS IS EX-CHANGES.
One of the most enjoyable jobs I ever had before entering the ministry was when I worked for Sears as a salesman in the Men’s Department. I worked there while I was in high school, and part of the time while I was in college. And always the most memorable night of the year to be scheduled to work was on Christmas Eve. Now, people who show on Christmas Eve are desperate! They’re panic buyers. You can show people the oldest, ugliest thing you have in stock on Christmas Eve – and they’ll take it without arguing a bit. It doesn’t matter if it’s the wrong size, or the wrong color. It doesn’t matter if it’s mismatched, or if the entire sleeve is missing! People will usually take it and say, “That’s alright – I’m going to have to exchange everything after Christmas anyway! I just need something to put under the tree.” You would not believe how many people shop like that.
And if the most memorable day of the year to work is the day before Christmas – then the most dreaded day to work, hands down, is the day after Christmas. People stand in line from opening time to closing waiting to exchange and return all of those ill-advised purchases. And many of them can be awful mean and nasty about it – if you dare to ask them for so much as a receipt. You always see an amazing absence of “Joy to the World”. . . “Peace on Earth”. . . “Good Will to Men” on that day. People are impatient and irritable when they’re waiting to make their exchanges. And that’s one of the natural reflections of a Christ-less Christmas.
Whenever you take Christ out of Christmas – it only leaves a bunch of “Xs”. You have a lot of eX-cesses. A lot of eX-haustion. And a lot of joyless eX-changes. But there are also some positive “Xs” for Christians – whenever Jesus Christ is made the central figure of that day. And since I’ve only concentrated on the negative “Xs” of Christmas to this point – let me also share with you what some of the positive “Xs” are of Christmas – for Christians.
4. FOR CHRISTIANS, CHRISTMAS MEANS EX-PECTATION.
For you and me, it means the wonderful fulfillment of all the promises and all the prophecies of God. Isaiah prophesied, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6) And to the shepherds keeping watch over their sheep, the angel proclaimed, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
I look back at the nail-biting expectation and all of the anticipation I experienced in waiting only 9 months for my daughter, Amanda, and my son, Cameron, to be born. And I start to appreciate a little bit more how the Israelites felt in having to wait over 4,000 years for the birth of this child. He was the fulfillment of centuries of watching, and praying, and waiting.
And though we’re not watching and waiting for his birth today, I believe Christmas still fills Christians with a wonderful sense of expectation about his return today. For if God kept his word, and fulfilled his prophesies when he sent Jesus into the world the first time – we have every reason to believe he’ll do the same when he said, “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.” (John 14:3)
God keeps his word. It may not be in our time, or in the way of our choosing – but he’s never failed to keep a promise. Christmas reminds us not only of how he did it before – but also, of how he’ll do it again! Christians should be filled with a wonderful sense of eX-pectation about our Lord’s return during Christmas.
5. And FOR CHRISTIANS, CHRISTMAS ALSO MEANS EX-ALTATION.
On that starry night, so long ago, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
Our Lord deserves to be exalted by his people, on his day, more than we exalt anything or anyone else. We sing, “O, come let us adore Him.” Not – “O, come let us spend ourselves into the poor house.” “O, come let us adore Him.” Not – “O, come let us wear ourselves completely out.” “O, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
You know, we claim that it’s Christ’s birthday we’re celebrating. But who gets all the presents? Most of us would never dream of going to a birthday party with a gift for everyone but the guest of honor. Yet, that’s exactly what we do whenever we exclude Christ from our celebration. And no, he doesn’t want you to wrap him a present and put it under the tree. You see, what he wants can’t be put in a box. And it can’t be tied-up with a ribbon. He wants your praise. He wants your worship. He wants your heart. He wants your life. That’s the most precious gifts that we can present to Christ today. For him to know, at this special time of year, how much his children truly love and adore him.
If Christ is the center of our Christmas – then it should result in the highest eX-altation among Christians.
6. And FOR CHRISTIANS (AND NON-CHRISTIANS ALIKE), CHRISTMAS IS A GOOD TIME FOR EX-AMINATION.
The angel of the Lord told Joseph, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Christ came to recover what was lost. And this a most appropriate time of the year to ask ourselves where we stand. Do you know that all of your sins have been forgiven? Do you have the assurance that you’re living in right relationship with Christ? You can – if you’ve accepted him as Lord, and received him into your heart by faith. For Christians, and for sinners alike, the Christmas season is a great time for personal eX-amination.
I read a poem that I’d like to close with entitled “No Room.” I apologize for not knowing who to attribute this poem to. But it said:
There was no room for Christ the Infant King.
There was no room, amazing truth to sing.
Though He was Lord of all,
There was no room but in a cattle stall.
The world was blind, we must assume.
For on that night, there was no room.
There was no love for Him displayed,
No welcome given, no homage paid.
Here in the world that He had made,
For Him, there was no room.
Please make room for Christ in your Christmas this year. Don’t put an “X” where Christ belongs. Don’t crowd him out with eXcesses, with eXhaustion, or eXchanges. If there are any “Xs” in your Christmas this year – make one of them eXpectation. Make another eXaltation. And make one eXamination. And have a very Merry CHRIST-mas!
