God With Us
With every passing year Christmas seems to become more and more commercialized—every year Santa Claus, Christmas decorations, social engagements, and the daunting task of finding just the right gifts for our loved ones can easily overshadow the main reason, we as Christians have come to celebrate Christmas. We desperately try to express our love for each other by rushing out to Wal-Mart or logging onto Amazon and exchanging our money for some gift that will more than likely be returned or sit on a shelf unused. But 2,000 years ago, Jesus showed His love for us by doing much more than that. Jesus didn’t just reach down from His Throne in Glory; he came down. And He didn’t merely come down, but He actually laid down His Glory in heaven and became one of us! He subjected Himself to humiliation, persecution, betrayal and ultimately a cruel death, just so we might receive the gift of life... But sadly, even this gift is often times not appreciated or received—in fact, some people don’t even know that it exists.
The Christmas season brings with it an incredible opportunity to share with someone the good news that the greatest gift ever given has been delivered, and it’s inscribed with their name just waiting to be unwrapped! And that no matter their past or their present, the God who created them and knows them inside out loves them; He loves them so much in fact, that he gave Himself in order to save them. That’s what Christmas is all about.
But long ago, I realized, that during the Christmas season, a battle is being waged—a battle between materialism and spirituality. And it seems that for most of the world, materialism is winning over spirituality; receiving the things of this world is winning over receiving the precious gift of God. But no matter how hard the devil works to try and make this season about greed and self indulgence, there are always men and women of God working to lift up Christ.
Illustration: In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS featuring the Peanuts Characters. He agreed with one requirement, that they allow him to include the story of the birth of Jesus. Even back then, the station executives and producers didn't like that at all; and they tried their best to convince him that it wouldn’t be a good idea but Schulz stuck to his convictions and resolutely insisted. As a result, for almost 60 years, millions of people have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and heard the story of Jesus and “what Christmas should be all about.” [ Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVp5AGte_4Q ] Pay close attention to what is said and what is done in this short clip... [ PLAY VIDEO]
Over the years, I must have seen this movie a dozen times. But I never noticed a subtle, yet powerful spiritual lesson that brother Linus demonstrates in his little sermon. You’ve probably noticed that throughout this special and in every comic strip as well, Linus NEVER let’s go of that blanket. As everyone knows, he has some serious insecurity issues and that blanket is his security blanket. It helps him feel safe in a dangerous and uncertain world. But if you noticed in the clip we just watched, as he was quoting the angel Gabriel, Linus actually dropped his blanket and put his hand on his heart when he came to this passage: Luke 2:10,11 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [Illustration adapted from the story of Shultz and Charlie Brown Christmas I found on social media. Couldn’t locate the original sources]
In this quite deliberate scene Shultz was conveying a powerful message to everyone who would watch it. And that message is that we don’t have to rely on the things of this world to give us peace and security. As long as we accept the Gift of God in Jesus Christ, as long as He dwells in our hearts by faith, we have all we’ll ever need.
People may have tuned in to see a cute and funny Christmas movie, and they certainly saw one, but they also heard the best news ever given to fallen humanity! And that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:9,10 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
John 1:10-14: 10 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. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Even though almost no one was expecting Him—not even His own people, Jesus was born exactly WHEN He was supposed to be born. Hundreds of years before it happened, the prophecy of Daniel 8 and 9, precisely predicted the year of His birth.
And not only was Jesus born WHEN He was supposed to be born, He was also born WHERE He was supposed to be born…
Micah 5:2 says; 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephratha, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
And 700 years before His birth, the prophet Isaiah says this in Isaiah 7:14; “14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Yes, Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem—right there in room 714 of Bethlehem Memorial Hospital. He was delivered in a nice warm birthing center by a team of the world’s best pediatricians.. He was wrapped in a heated royal robe and fitted with a tiny golden wristband that said King of the Universe…. And all the world rejoiced…
Is that how it happened?? The harsh reality was that when the God of the Universe was delivered to mankind, that precious, priceless gift from heaven...there was no room for Him. He was born, not in a palace—or even a house, but in a dark, smelly cave or stable barely fit for camels and donkeys and sheep—much less fit for the King of Kings!
We can only speculate as to exactly why Jesus was born in these less than ideal circumstances and accommodations. But one thing we know; it was God’s will, and I think I know at least part of His reasoning for this...
You see, I believe that every single detail recorded in Scripture concerning the Lord carries with it something that was meant to inspire, engage and encourage us. So for just a moment, I want to draw a comparison between the stable where Jesus was born and the human heart.
These two places have much more in common than you might think. First, they are both places that God has chosen for Jesus to be born into.
In John 15:16 Jesus says; “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”
Ephesians.3:16,17 “16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
John 17:25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Now we all know that stables and barns where animals are kept are typically not the cleanest places. They tend to be dark, dirty, smelly and defiled places. The Scriptures tell us that our hearts can also be described in much the same way..
Jeremiah 17:9 says; “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can understand it?”
Isa.64:6 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
1 Timothy 1:15,16 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
Let’s face it, no one deep-cleaned that stable in preparation for the birth of our Lord; yet this dirty, smelly, defiled place was the gateway through which the world met its Savior for the first time!
That’s important to realize because many people falsely believe they have a lot of cleaning up to do BEFORE they can accept Christ into their heart and commit their lives fully to Him.. Believe me when I tell you that this is a lie of the devil! Because the reality is that the only way we can ever be cleaned up in the first place, is for Jesus to take up residence in our hearts...
The Bible is clear that Jesus always met people where they were and He will eagerly meet you no matter where you may be—In Mark 2:17 Jesus says; “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
In Revelation 3:20 the Bible tells us that even now Jesus is passing through these pews, knocking on your heart’s door. No matter who we are, where we’ve been, or what we’ve done, our Creator has laid this priceless Gift at our door. That’s the Christmas message; the Christmas question is, will you open your door and receive the Gift?
Some of us are concerned about the fact that the date we celebrate Christmas was, centuries ago associated with a pagan festival commemorating the rebirth of the sun. And there are even some Christians today that strongly believe, that by taking part in or acknowledging the Christmas season, we are somehow taking part in sun worship. Now I certainly respect anyone who may sincerely hold those convictions, because I know those convictions are held out of love for God, and a desire to please Him. But I’ve studied this pretty extensively, and I personally don’t share those convictions. And I’d like to briefly explain why.
1 Corinthians 8:4-8 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came, and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
Romans 14:5,6 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
Yes, centuries ago, December 25th was associated with a pagan festival celebrating the “rebirth” of the sun. But today, 99 out of 100 people don’t know that. Virtually everyone, if they recognize Christmas as being associated with any deity at all, they associate it with the birth of Jesus Christ. And why is that? Think about it, Christians took something that was totally pagan and was designed to lead others to the pagan worship of the SUN, and we turned it into a celebration of the birth of the SON of God..... And by commandeering this date, we’ve removed a critical platform for lifting up the idolatrous god of the son, and we lifted up in its place, the Son of God—and this was perhaps the death knell of sun worship. I don’t know about you, but I consider that a win, win for the kingdom of God! The victory was so decisive that the only reason most anyone today knows about the pagan connection is because some well-meaning Christians keep bringing it up. That’s the only reason I know about it—and it’s likely the only reason most of you know about it.
In the transformation of December 25th from a day of SUN worship to a day to when the birth of the Son of God is celebrated is a great example of what Paul actually instructs us to do in Romans 12:21 where he says, “strive not to be overcome by evil, but rather overcome evil with good.”
I’m convinced that, despite the best efforts of the devil, this is what happened with Christmas, evil was overcome with good.
That said, I do realize that Christmas, the way in which many celebrate it today, is rife with materialism, commercialism, and a few more spiritually dangerous isms.….
For instance, and I’m just going to be honest here, I don’t think we should lie to our children—especially when that lie attributes supernatural, God-like qualities to someone other than God. I believe this and certain other common customs associated with Christmas should certainly be addressed and reformed by Christians who choose to celebrate it… But once again, these impurities of the Christmas season do not negate the tremendous victory for the kingdom of God that was won by dethroning the god of the sun and exalting the Son of God!
Jesus is the Light of the world, and the church (our church) is supposed to be the candlestick that holds that Light high so everyone can be drawn to the Light. I’ll say it again, Christmas is an incredible opportunity to do just that.
As we celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, we should also remember that His coming 2,000 years ago was not only the fulfillment of a promise of God first given in Genesis 3, but His birth as a little baby in Bethlehem is very strong evidence that He will also keep His promise that He will return the second time.
John 14:1–4 : 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Inevidably, every year someone will remind us that if we’re really celebrating Jesus’s birth, why is everyone but Him receiving gifts?
But what could we possibly get the One who created and owns the entire universe?? You know what makes the absolute best and most meaningful gift? Something that someone really wants, but cannot get for themselves. Did you know there is something Jesus wants badly enough to die for, but He cannot have unless you give it to Him??
It’s your heart.
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