Why the World Needs Christmas
Introduction
Christmas brings a lot of stress – emotional and financial Decorations, gifts, gatherings, travel. Sometimes we might be tempted to just skip it. John Grisham’s book Skipping Christmas was made into a movie called Christmas With the Kranks. The lesson learned was that Even if you were to try – you probably can’t skip Christmas. I don’t think we ought to. If there ever was a time when the world needs Christmas, it is now. Not the commercial trappings of the season- the reality and wonder of the truth of the season.
“I find this a great mystery and a great wonder. God has been here on this planet in person. What we are celebrating is not the feast of jolly old Father Christmas or good King Wenceslaus, or a beautiful fairy tale. We are celebrating the visit of God. How marvelous!” ~ J. B. Philips
There are many reasons why the world needs Christmas – the true meaning of Christmas. The world needs Christmas because the world needs to know that…
1. God Came Looking For Us.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Many world religious have a concept of God that is elusive – try really hard, follow the steps and perhaps one day you will find him. Even if you miss him in this life you can find him in the next life. Christianity presents a very different idea. God is looking for you. He revealed himself to us. He came before we could even look for him. He is not hiding – he wants to be known, found.
2. God Loves Us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
If we ever wondered what the motive of God was in sending his son, here it is. He loves us. He wants to live with us forever. So many feel unloved and alone. I know life can be hard and leave us feeling empty. But always know that if Christmas teaches us anything, it lets us know that we are not alone, we are loved deeply. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. - Max Lucado
3. God Understands Us.
Whatever we experience in this life is understood by God because he has been here … been one of us.
Hebrews 4:14-15 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
When we feel lonely, that others are not treating us right, that temptation is so strong, that we are struggling – Jesus can say, “I know what that’s like.” His very name … Immanuel – means “God With Us”
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
4. God Can Do Anything
Gabriel said to Mary, "And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:35-37)
Luke 1:37 NIV For no word from God will ever fail.
The story of the birth of John Baptist is an amazing miracle. Elizabeth was barren, yet Mary is told that Elizabeth is going to have a child. Her husband didn’t believe it and was unable to speak until John was born!
Also amazing is the virgin birth of Jesus. A virgin birth is physically, naturally impossible. This is one of the most significant signs that God ever gave his people.
Today in the church we are often burdened down with so many religious things that we forget to believe that God is at work among us. What is He doing? I don’t know. How is He going to see us through? I don’t know. Can God use us to accomplish His will? Our God can do anything !
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
5. God Keeps His Promises
The theme of Zechariah’s song was that God keeps his promises to save and be merciful to his people.
Luke 1:68-75
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Even with best intentions, humans are unreliable. I read about a grandmother who decided that it was easier to just write a check to her grandchildren for Christmas, rather than try to buy gifts. She wrote out checks for them to put in their Christmas cards. In each card she carefully wrote, "Buy your own present" and then sent them off. After the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks under a pile of papers on her desk! Everyone on her gift list had received a beautiful Christmas card from her with "Buy your own present" written inside, but no checks!
God’s promises are not empty Christmas cards! God came looking for us, He saves us, Understands us, God can do anything, God keeps his promises… and …
6. God Wants To Save Us
Luke 2:8-15
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Angels confessed that this was the Messiah. A “Savior” has been born. No doubt the human race is in need of saving. It should be evident that God has gone to extravagant means – eternal planning – to save us. God isn’t looking for an opportunity to squash us – He has had plenty of opportunity! God is looking for opportunities to save us – He wants us to live eternally with him.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Conclusion
Why Does the World Need Christmas? Why do you need Christmas? Because we need to know….
When you feel lost, God came looking for you.
When you feel unloved, God loves you.
When you feel alone, God understands you.
When you feel powerless, God Can Do Anything
When everything seems like a lie, God Keeps His Promises
When we wonder why we are here, God Wants To Save Us
It seems to me that the world needs Christmas more than ever … and so do we.
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Discussion Questions
1. What is the most stressful thing about Christmas to you?
2. God is near, but it doesn’t always feel like it. What makes God seem distant at times?
3. What reminders of God’s nearness are especially evident at Christmas time?
4. What does the virgin birth teach us about God’s ability to carry out His promises? What does it teach us about God’s timing verses our timing? What does it teach us about God’s mission?
5. What have you done to try to remember the real meaning of Christmas?
6. The legend of Santa Claus springs from a real-life Saint Nicholas. In what ways is Santa Claus like God? In what ways is Santa not like God?
7. What are some of the messages of Christmas that should remain with us all year long?
