CHRISTMAS SERIES
CHRISTMAS PARTY: THE PROTESTORS
MATTHEW 2:1-23, #ChristmasParty
CHRISTMAS SERIES
12/1 Christmas Party: The Angels
12/8 Christmas Party: The Shepherds
12/15 Christmas Party: The Protesters (Herod)
12/22 Christmas Party: The Birthday Boy
INTRODUCTION… Not Everyone Likes Christmas
It has been our aim this December to focus our minds and hearts on Christmas in a proper way in focusing on Jesus as the reason for the season. We have talked about the angels in Luke 2 and the wonderful message of the Savior they shared. The party in heaven spilled out onto earth as they announced the birth of Jesus. We have talked about the shepherds in Luke 2 and their reverent fear and witness of the events of the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus turned everything upside down and brought the plan of salvation to the forefront.
In the midst of the birth of Jesus, not everyone was happy. Not everyone marveled at what they heard. Not everyone judged the Son of God being born as a baby as a good, holy, and righteous event. There were those who rejected the coming of Jesus. John 1:10-11 says poetically, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.” There were protesters to the coming of Christ. There were rejectors of Jesus. There were adversaries to Christmas.
VIDEO ILLUSTRATION … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34w8xqFz3eU (1:13)
READ MATTHEW 2:1-23
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. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
THE KING WHO TRIED TO KILL CHRISTMAS
Immediately as we read this chapter, we find King Herod being disturbed at the birth of a child. The English word “disturbed” is a little tame for what Herod was feeling. The words “in turmoil,” “terrified,” and “greatly agitated” are probably better descriptions. The magi came and said a king had been born to the Jews. King Herod was known for being threatened by all who sought leadership over the Jews. At minimum, he killed two of his brother-in-laws, his wife, his mother-in-law, and two sons all because he was protective of his throne. The birth of this child threatened him especially when the magi call this baby “the king of the Jews.”
These verses also tell us the people of Jerusalem were also troubled. We aren’t sure why they are disturbed, but I can imagine that when King Herod got disturbed everyone around him took out a life insurance policy or went into hiding.
King Herod is definitely threatened by this baby. He should have been overjoyed that the Christ, the Messiah, the Promised King was born. And yet, he was not. King Herod decided to be in direct opposition to the plan that God had been weaving together since the Garden of Eden. Herod decides to send his visitors on their way and use them to find the Christ child.
His plan is not to bring them diapers.
His plan is not to bring them a crib for the baby.
His plan is not to extend warm well wishes for the baby and the family.
The magi leave the king and use their sky gazing skills to find Jesus. The magi find Jesus and His family and they do the opposite of what King Herod wants to do. The Magi bow down and worship Jesus. They give due to Jesus what is due Him as the Christ and the Son of God. Herod’s plan is not to bow down and worship, but to seek and destroy.
His plan is to kill the baby.
His plan is to hunt down the parents and get rid of them.
His plan is to secure his place on the throne by any means necessary.
The situation seems to be that a half-crazed king is outwitted by those he would use as pawns and he is angry. Herod enacts a plan to try and kill the baby who was born. The magi told him when the star appeared and Herod kills all the baby boys in and around Bethlehem that are toddlers and newborns. He kills them all. I did some digging and there is no way to know how many children were killed. Bethlehem was a small town and the countryside was not populated. Some said 20 children. Some said a little more. In the end, the numbers really do not matter. King Herod in trying to get rid of Jesus killed any child that fit His description or was even close.
Herod knew who Jesus was, the Messiah, and chose to try and kill Him rather than worship Him. Herod chose to try and derail the plan of God rather than accept it. Herod chose himself and his desires instead of God’s plan. Please understand that Satan is all over the advent of Jesus. Herod is taken in by the will of Satan and wants to kill what God is doing. Herod is serving the Enemy. Herod is serving darkness.
VIDEO ILLUSTRATION…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTFlPbVRJuc (2:37)
PEOPLE WHO HATE CHRISTMAS
There are definitely people who do not like the holiday season of Christmas or do not like what is celebrated at Christmas time… which is the birth of Jesus.
Why don’t people like Christmas?
Why don’t people like celebrating the birth of Jesus?
Why is December and the holiday of Christmas difficult for people?
We just might encounter people who are hostile to Christmas and even protest it a bit. We may encounter people who keep Christmas at arm’s length and I happen to believe there are several reasons why this is so.
DEATH
When you find someone who hates Christmas, you have no idea that their mother or father died on Christmas. You have no idea this was the month a drunk driver hit their car and a sibling died. Not liking Christmas can also be ‘temporary’ in that it might be the first Christmas without a loved one and grief is fresh in their heart. Death brings grief and that grief can be associated with Christmas.
DEPLORABLE
It could be that a person works retail and Christmas time is when people act their worst and they are frequently mistreated. Another person might feel that Christmas has become commercialized and it makes them sick. Christmas ends up not being jolly and folly but deplorable and harsh because of how people act.
DISAPPOINTMENT & DISCOURAGEMENT
It might be that a great hurt exists around Christmas that leads them to feel only disappointment. Perhaps their parents announced divorce close to Christmas. Maybe a parent is deployed overseas or a parent always takes the holiday shifts and Christmas is nothing special. Maybe their birthday is also on Christmas and they feel forgotten each year. Disappointment can come from so many sources.
We don’t know that when someone was a kid, their parents would take their Christmas gifts given by family members and sell them to pay for drugs. Does that happen? Yep. It could be that their family never had much money growing up and Christmas never meant anything to them. It could be everyone else gets time off and they don’t. Depression is common at holidays because of these very things.
DRAMA
We don’t know that maybe growing up their father would get stressed about money at Christmas time and beat them more than normal. It could be that Christmas time is when family gets together and some families do not get along well and so arguing and tension and raised voices is the norm. Maybe the person doesn’t want another conversation with extended family about why they are single or why they are still in college or why their grades are still bad. Christmas can mean hurtful drama.
DON’T BELIEVE
Someone might be hostile towards Christmas because Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus who is the Son of God and some people are against God. Some people are lost in darkness and want to live in sin. Please understand that Satan is as much alive and well today as he was at the birth of Jesus. Darkness hates light. People in darkness hate the light. Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the light. Christmas is about the coming of the light and some people just want to live their lives in darkness and so they will not want to celebrate Christmas.
John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
John 3:19, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
John 12:46, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.”
WHAT DO WE DO?
So, what are we supposed to do about someone who hates Christmas or doesn’t want to celebrate the birth of Jesus? What should our attitude be with harshness in the holidays and those that act like Scrooge? What should our focus be with a protest of Christmas? What should be our reaction? What do we do when we who are children of the light come upon darkness? There is only one thing we should do.
Yell at them. Nope that’s not it.
Ignore them. Nope, that’s not it.
Shy away from saying “Merry Christmas.” Nope that’s not it.
Put down others’ religious beliefs and make jokes. Nope that’s not it.
Keep our religious opinions to ourselves. Nope that’s not it.
Boycott certain stores. Nope that’s not it.
Send them a Christmas card with a drop of Jesus’ blood in it. Nope that’s not it.
Write a rant on Facebook or Twitter to make ourselves feel better. Nope that’s not it.
Start an argument every chance we get to try and prove we are right. Nope that’s not it.
Start a debate every chance we get to try and prove we are right. Nope that’s not it.
Stop talking about Jesus around Christmas time. Nope that’s not it.
Change our Christmas party to holiday party. Nope that’s not it.
Change our Christmas tree to a holiday tree. Nope that’s not it.
Make up a song and sing “Dredel Dredel Santa Kwanzaa.” Nope that’s not it.
Stop praying before our meal around Christmas. Nope that’s not it.
The one thing that we can do when faced with death, deplorable actions, disappointment, discouragement, depression, drama, and even those who don’t believe is to be the best representative of the light that we possibly can in word, attitude, and deed. We must be the best representative of the light that we possibly can in word, attitude, and deed. When you and I are faced with someone who hates Christmas, we are called to be faithful. That’s it.
Be the light.
Live the light.
Talk about the light.
I want to encourage you to not shrink back from who you are as a child of the light. By being faithful in word and attitude and deed, we are acknowledging our Savior in the midst of darkness and He is glorified. Now is not the time to be squeamish about living out our Christian faith. Christianity will always be under attack because Jesus is the light in a dark world. We are called to be faithful and be the light.
Acts 26:17b-18, “I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'”
Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5, “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
If I may be so bold, the practical application of our time in the Scriptures today is exactly what the practical application was last week. This all may sound familiar because it is exactly what we talked about last week. If it doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because you either weren’t here or you were asleep during the end of the sermon.
BE A WITNESS OF THE LIGHT
#1 Don’t say “Happy Holidays” or even “Merry Christmas,” but train yourself to say “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” or “Happy Jesus’ Birthday.” I was thinking this might come off as obnoxious, but there must be some way where we can verbally state that Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Be creative!
#2 Do not send secular Christmas cards, but rather send overtly religious Christmas cards and include Scripture in them to everyone no matter if they go to church or not. Maybe even include a sheet with your favorite Bible verses with your Christmas card instead of a Christmas letter or in addition to it.
#3 Buy a gift for someone you are praying for that will plant seeds of the Gospel. Maybe buying them “More than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell or “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel will lead them to read something that might move their heart towards God. They won’t read it if you don’t send it.
#4 Invite someone to the Christmas Eve service (12/24, 7pm). People are more likely to go to church on Christmas and Easter than other times of the year because as a collective society we know those are religious holidays even if we don’t celebrate them. They may accept and they will hear the Gospel.
#5 Post Christmas Bible verses from Matthew and Luke on your Facebook and other social media pages all throughout December. This allows you to reflect on them and is a witness as people read them.
#6 Invite someone over. Lunch or dinner is a great time to show that you care about your not-yet-Christian friends and want to share time with them. It is also a great, light-hearted environment to talk to them about what Christmas means for Christians. They might open up about their lack of faith.
#7 Read the Christmas Story from Luke on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for whomever is in your home. They are in your home! You get to decide what kind of Christmas you have regardless if everyone who is under your roof is a believer. Read Luke 1-2 proudly.
GOSPEL PRESENTATION
. At the beginning of our time, I mentioned John 1:10-11 which says poetically, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.”
John 1 says earlier, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (verses 4-5). Jesus is light.
If you are suffering under the darkness of guilt, Jesus is the light out from under guilt.
If you are suffering under the darkness of lost and purposelessness, Jesus is the light of being found.
If you are suffering under the darkness of a lifetime of bad decisions, Jesus is light to rebuild.
If you are suffering under the darkness of despair, Jesus is light and will bring meaning.
I would love to share with you today how you can accept the light of Jesus and become adopted as a child of God!
CONCLUSION
