Christmas Eve 2020
The greatest gift-presents or presence
John 1:1-5:12,14
Matthew Chapter 2:1-2:11
Prayer-
Introduction-
As we gather for this special service, this has been quite a year hasn’t it?
The times we are a living in are changing.
What was normal has become abnormal and what was not heard of has become the new normal.
We certainly need Jesus and we need Him now more than ever!
During the time of Jesus birth and the time that He ministered to us on this earth mankind and the world was at unrest.
He came when there was political unrest, social unrest, high taxes.
What had been normal to them was in their rearview mirror.
Any one feel like what was comforting and normal seems like it is in the rearview mirror instead of out front of you?
Like you have passed it bye and everything in front of you are roads that you are not familiar with? Jesus understood that, he made provisions for that.
Turn with me to the gospel of John
John 1:1-14 Read from Bible
Jesus the light of mankind was coming, He would be the light and He would be what is needed for a world that sunk so low that they could not save themselves.
The God who created everything, the God who was before time began would leave heaven so that a cruel and wicked mankind could again experience the presence of God.
Let’s this sink in to your Spirit tonight-
Jesus is the word- so everywhere you see the word …word in this passage, replace it with the word Jesus and you will better be able to grip this verse-
In the beginning was Jesus. Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. Jesus was in the beginning, before time began and everything was created by him and for Him. In Him is life and the light that shines in Him defeats darkness and darkness will not overcome the light of Jesus.
(14) The word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
Jesus became flesh and came to this earth
(12) To all who receive Him, who believe in His name…He gave the right to become a child of God.
The title of the message is “The greatest Gift- Presents or presence”
I want you to think about a few things:
Remember the birth of Christ-
Preparing for Christmas
Getting your stress level to where it needs to be so that you are not running around like a person who has just drank 10 cups of coffee and 10- 5 hour power boast drinks.
I want you to think about presents… not boxes or bags.
Presence…having a relationship with the Lord.”
Matthew 2:1- 2:11 Read from Bible
Christmas is a time of giving.
It is a time that we remember and want to thank those who have been a part of our lives.
It is a time of shopping.
Notice ever since the Magi came to see the Christ-child people have been giving gifts- most of the time exchanging gifts.
It has become a little more complicated than when the wise men from the East brought their finest gifts.
Just an observation- they didn’t bring a bag full of numerous gifts.
The bag that never seems to empty.
They each brought their finest gift to give to the Christ child.
They did not have to worry about returns and standing in long lines.
Their gift was their best to the Christ child.
The recorded words here was not focused on what they brought each other, it was on what they brought to Christ.
The most important gift we have ever been given was Jesus.
That baby Jesus who would fulfill all prophecy.
Jesus the one who could forgive our sins and could give us the gift of eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Most read that as…
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only forgotten Son.”
Christ is the greatest gift-
“I no longer call you servants, because servant does not know his masters business, instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you” John 15:15
That you and I may know the only true God….Jesus Christ …whom God sent for us as a gift.
2 Corinthians 9:15
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”
Question- How do you prepare for Christmas?
How do you keep from getting sucked up into the commercialized side of Christmas?
Here is probably what you do:
Clean the house
Put decorations up
Buy presents
Get food bought and made
Go buy presents that you forget.
Send Christmas cards
Send cards to people you forgot and they sent one to you
Make final preparation for guest.
Spend more money on presents you forgot.
That may not be exact, but I am close.
Some of you add office parties, youth activities, family parties, and by the end of it all…baau humbug! You cannot wait till it is over.
Your more like the Grinch than you think.
Ever notice, no one ever helps or volunteers to take the decorations down- because you have had enough Christmas.
Christ is the greatest gift- second point- overcoming the stress so that you can enjoy Christmas.
I love Christmas. As a pastor, it is one of the highlights of the year.
It is a stressful time of the year- this year has added some new dimensions to stressful.
Makes me tired just thinking about it. I could use the ten cups of coffee I talked about before- throw in the power drinks.
Stress:
Annoys you
Threatens you
Worries you
Hurries you
Angers you
Frustrates you
Everything you need to “Enjoy Christmas” right?
Here is some stress relief
Set realistic goals for yourself. You cannot be Superman or Wonder Women
Quote- Being unprepared on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part”
Remember why you are celebrating Christmas
Don’t lose focus
Don’t let the season of giving take you to the place of emptiness.
The last thought this evening- “Presents or Presence”
Back to the text- Matt 2:8-11
“And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they heard the King, they departed. And lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him, and when they opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.”
Did you catch verse 11?
They came to where Christ was.
They searched for Him and found Him.
They fell down and worshiped Him.
They opened their treasures and presented them to Christ.
They opened up their hearts and lives and gave Him their very best.
So don’t forget about God’s begotten Son, and make it God’s forgotten Son.
I am not telling you to not give gifts-
I am telling you to not forget Jesus in the process.
Ask a serviceman or women what they want this Christmas. It would not be a boxed present. It would be the presence of their family.
Illustration-
A little boy paid a visit to Santa in the department store and presented him with a list of requests. A bicycle, a train, a bat and ball, a rocket set, and an airplane. Santa was impressed. He says, thanks for the list. I’ll check between now and Christmas to see whether or not you’ve been a good boy. The little boy reached over to take the list back and said, “never mind, I’ll settle for the bicycle.”
It is presence over gifts.
The cradle without the cross means nothing.
The story does not end at the cradle.
But it does not end at the cross either. Each one shows the Agape love of God.
That Christ would come.
That Christ would die.
That Christ would resurrect.
That Christ would pay the price for each of us.
All this says how much God loves us. How much He loves You!
Closing
I know most of you have followed the news with the planets coming inline and being called the Christmas star. 2020 has been tough- To many I have told them as much as we want to throw 2020 out, we must learn some lesson that it has brought. This Sunday we will look at the coming of the New Year.
The Magi found Jesus by way of following the Star. We get a look again on how great and majestic and creative is our God- 3 planets coming together to form a Christmas star. Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. It has not happened since the time of Gilileo. Over 400 years ago. He was a mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist.
In a time when there was darkness, light was brought into the world. Jesus stepped into the chaos and brought peace and light.
December 21st- the first day of winter is the longest day and the shortest night. It is literally the darkest day of the year.
But this year, on the darkest day Jesus aligned the stars to show us the Christmas star- we may all not been able to see it because of the clouds, but we know it was there and we know who put it there.
Do you know that Jesus tonight? Are you able like those shepherds able to say let’s go see this thing that God has shown us? To find Jesus in 2020 or to reconnect with Him would make this challenging year the best year.
Would you be able to say to Jesus- you can have my room? There was no room at the Inn but there is room in my heart for you Jesus. May we all take time to tell Jesus that we have room in our heart and life for Him.
Prayer and ready for candlelite service.
