How Christmas Rewrote History
December 24, 2018
Did you know that the original Rocky movie had a different original ending? During Rocky’s fight with Apollo Creed, he was supposed to throw the fight so he could get money so he could buy Adrian a pet shop. They changed the ending because that’s not what a noble character would do.
In the Star Wars movies, did you know Luke Skywalker's name was originally Luke Starkiller. And the name of the third installment was originally Revenge of the Jedi, not Return of the Jedi.
There were even posters printed and you can buy an original for $6,000 on Ebay. Or copies for $10.
Did you know that George Lucas intended for Hans Solo to die at the end of the 3rd movie. Instead it ended with a big Ewok celebration.
Sometimes the writer’s original idea gets changed over time. The end of the story changes. As the story is rewritten it gets better. For most stories, the first draft, isn’t the final draft. There’s rewriting and editing and more.
Yet, when we read the Bible, when we listen to the Christmas story, that story was never rewritten. It was just right the way it was written, the way it was planned out, was perfect.
What’s changed - - - is our story. Our story has changed over time, and continues to change as time moves on.
You see, the message of Christmas is about how Jesus entered the world for you and me. And by entering the world, He changed the world. He changed my world and yours. He changed my life and yours. We didn’t know it, we didn’t expect it, maybe we didn’t even want it, but here we are.
Yesterday I referred to what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17. The fact that when we embrace Jesus our hearts change. The old person changes. We put them behind us. In a sense, we’re like a caterpillar. Just like a caterpillar, we change, and we become this beautiful butterfly.
That’s similar to what happens to us when we embrace Christ. But we need to know the story. We need to know that God sent His Son into the world for us. All too often, we don’t read the story, again, we assume we know it. So, tonight I thought I would read more of the story than we normally do. I’m wanting to tie together the gospel stories.
As we lit the candles, we read part of the story from Luke 1 ~
Now let’s read the rest of the story ~
18 Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, 19 and her husband Joseph,
being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus. – Matthew 1
As the time for the birth of Jesus arrived - -
1 A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea,
to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn. – Luke 2
So, that’s the story of the birth of Jesus. I want to focus for just a few minutes on a couple of verses, then we’ll light the candles.
We can read the story, and we can read it quickly because we know it. But when we read it too fast, we miss a couples of things. Of course, we say we know it, but we need to be reminded again and again.
In verse 21, Matthew tells us
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Literally, that’s what the name Jesus means. Jesus comes from the Hebrew name Joshua! The name means Yahweh saves! Or God saves. That’s exactly what Jesus came to do. That’s exactly what Matthew is telling us the great overall purpose and mission of the coming of Jesus was and is. He came to save people from their sins.
He offers us redemption, forgiveness, healing, peace, grace, mercy, power, strength, acceptance, love . . . we could go on and on with that list, but that’s what Jesus came to do for us. He offers us the gift of salvation. There is no better gift than to know you have been totally, 100% forgiven, to know that you are loved . . . 100% no strings attached. Too many people love with conditions, NOT God! His love is pure and never ending.
To show us that, He sent His Son into the world. This is why Matthew tells us ~
23 and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
God with us! How sweet is that! God with us! God with me! God with you! God with you everywhere you go. Always, always, always with you. Never bailing out on you when you mess up, but promising us that He will be our constant companion.
That’s what God did. It’s what we read yesterday. The great verses from John 3 ~
6 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. – John 3:16-17
Those are some of the greatest words we can hear! God didn’t send Jesus to condemn you, He sent Him to give you life.
You see, Christ coming into the world rewrites our story. God’s story never changes. Our story does.
We learn, we grow, we believe we are saved, we find faith, we find purpose, we find acceptance. We experience joy and hope . . .
All because God sent His Son into this world to love you. Never to condemn you. That’s why in the end, God reminds us over and over, that He will forgive us of our sins. He tells us He will not remember our sins.
Isn’t that amazing! I can remember when people hurt me. We all do! Yet, God says, I’m going to wipe your slate clean. I’m going to release you, to set you free.
He does that because He is the Savior of the world! He is the Lord, He is our Lord!
Friends, He came for you and me. To rescue and redeem! How amazing is that!
So, as we prepare to light the Christ candle and to sing . . . I want to remind you, I want to encourage you . . . if you don’t know Jesus. If you’ve never said YES to Him as your Lord and Savior, do it tonight.
If you know Him, but you’ve grown a little distant, come back to Him. Embrace Jesus again, celebrate Him.
Accept His love, His presence. Then as we light these candles, go into the world, and as Jesus is the light of the world, you become the light as well.
Show the world who Jesus is. In fact, be Jesus to a world who desperately needs Him!
