"The Day The King was Born!”
Thesis: Christmas time is a very special time when we should be focused in on day The King was born. His name is not Elvis or Santa Claus but Jesus Christ!
Illustration:
The Mysterious Visitor
’Twas just before Christmas. A pastor sat in his study meditating upon the words, "The knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Looking out the window, he saw people scurrying hither, thither and yon, like ants disturbed on an anthill. He asked himself, "What knowledge of Christ do these hurrying people have? What knowledge of Him do the people to whom I preach have? What are their innermost attitudes toward Him?" As he pondered these searching questions, he seemed to see in vision a caller who asked, "Shall I tell you what Christ means to your people?" The caller spoke calmly and quietly, "Can you?" asked the pastor; "and how did you know what I was thinking about?"
The caller began "Some of your people think of Christ as they would think of a generous rich uncle. Ceaselessly they ask Him for things. Others think of Him as a great teacher. They are stimulated intellectually to hear learned discourses about Him. Some think of Him as an errand boy whom they flippantly order to help them."
"Oh, mysterious caller, is this an accurate picture of my people?" asked the minister.
"Yes," said the caller sadly but firmly. Then he concluded, "But to some He is an ever-present, never-failing friend and confident! To some, He is the fairest among ten thousands and the altogether lovely One!" As the caller said this, he receded and vanished, disappearing as mysteriously as he had appeared.
"Was I asleep?" asked the startled pastor, "Or has an angel visited me, or has Christ Himself been here?"
n W.B.K.
Reference to “Touched by an Angel.”
Introduction: The question is addressed to you today, "Is Christ the center of your attention at this Christmas season?"
Do you know what Christmas stands for? It means Christ, simple enough, and mas means, in us. So Christmas means Christ in us!
I have watched over the last ten years how Christmas is becoming more and more commercialized and it is disheartening to me. It is shocking to see how people who even confess Christianity view this holy season. Christmas is not something that can be considered as a casual event in the world’s history. It is the birth of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, it is the celebration of His birthday. The day the King of Kings was born so that you and me could be set free.
I believe that we should address this season with reverence and awe for Christ our Savior. But instead, I see among our communities, disrespect and ignorance toward Christ, "The King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
I see many putting an X over Christ name in Christmas. They are trying to x him out of the season and the day. Christ should be our focus at this time. We should not focus in on gifts but on the Supreme Gift Giver. We should not focus in on fairy tales but reality. We should not become wrapped up in wrapping paper but become wrapped up in Christ’s arms. We need to focus in on Christ our Redeemer, our Rose of Sharon, our Lilly of the Valley, our Wonderful Counselor. Remember Christmas is about the birth of The King.
I want to challenge you to search your heart and ask yourself, "How do I view this Christmas Season? Then ask yourself, “ Am I aware that the King was born so that he could give me the greatest gift of all." That gift being “Eternal life!’
I. CHRIST IS TO BE OUR CENTRAL FOCUS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
A. Christ is to be number one in our lives at this time. (Matt. 6:33; Rev. 2:1-7)
1. Matt. 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
a. Do not let the things come first these being the presents, the cards, the lights, the TV shows, the myths, the glitter, the trees, the you fill in the blank. They are not to over run God if they do, then you have forsaken your first love.
b. Have you heard of the song grandma got run over by a reindeer? I believe Jesus has gotten run over by many reindeer this season.
2. Rev.2:1-7
"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ` These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 "Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first love. 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. 6 "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ’
· This church forgot its first love and it angered God. He even warned that if they did not repent, he would remove them.
· Christ deserves holiness and to be our first love!
B. I believe Christ is not happy about the commercialization of His holy birth. (John2:12-25). Lets look at this reference and understand why I believe Christ is not happy.
12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. 13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” 17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”£18Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”20The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.£ 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
1. Christ entered Jerusalem at the time of the Passover feast where it was a religious holiday of celebration about how God lead them out of Egypt.
a. This Passover was supposed to be for the purpose of glorifying God.
i. Christmas is to do the same. It is a time to glorify God for sending his son to set us free.
b. The central focus of this celebration was about how the God of Israel had performed mighty deeds to deliver His people from bondage.
i. Christmas is about how Christ began the journey that would deliver us from the bondage of sin.
c. But when Christ showed up at the temple he was angered because the people had commercialized this holy day to make a profit. This is why Jesus became angry and over turned the money changers tables and drove them out of the temple with a whip.
i. Jesus would be very angry with what has happened to his holy day today. Yes, I believe he is angry at the profiteering going on right now.
d. Biblical history and celebrations are celebrated for a purpose. That purpose is to attest to God’s gracious acts.
i. The Birth of the King was God’s act of love for his people! He was not born so we could celebrate the way we are today!
e. The Passover meal was to have a paschal lamb as the main course. It was to be a male, without blemish. It was to be roasted but no bones were to be broke
i. The blood was sprinkled on the altar at this time, to represent the smearing of the lamb’s blood on the doorposts. This symbolized the passing over of the death angel because the lamb’s blood protected the inhabitants inside.
ii. The meal was to be eaten in haste because deliverance had come from the bondage of sin and the captives were set free.
iii. Christ’s birth also represents what the Passover celebrated.
2. When Christ entered the temple and saw how this holy event had become commercialized and twisted, He became angry.
a. Christ new the importance of this event and would not have it blemished with greed.
i. Christ has not changed his view of greed and profit making on a holy day!
b. I wonder today, what Christ would do if he entered in His church and His Christian communities and saw how his holy birth was being celebrated.
a. Christmas - means Christ plus Mass - which basically states that Christ is to be celebrated for what he gave to us.
i. Christ gave the gift of himself so that he could live in me.
b. His birth represents our Redeemer coming to save us from our bondage.
c. He is the Paschal lamb whose blood will save us from the death angel and the fire of Hell.
d. He is our deliverer, our ultimate sacrifice for our sin. He is the greatest gift ever given.
T.S.- I believe Christ would once again become exceedingly angry with what He would see, because this generation is twisting meaning of Christmas. Many are putting an X over Christ at Christmas.
The True Meaning - Read Matt. 1:21
"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Video Clip of Christ’s birth- Play song in background.
II. CHRISTMAS IS AOBUT JESUS CHRIST A REALITY NOT SANTA CLAUSE A FAIRY TALE .
A. Santa is not a reality but a distorted story of Saint Nicholas the Bishop of Myra.
a. Nicholas, Saint was from the early fourth century. He was the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor.
i. This Saint Nicholas is said to have come from a very wealthy family, even though he was an orphan. He is reported to have given away his family fortune and devoted himself to serving and caring for the poor. He is also known for his preaching the salvation message to all he aided. According to tradition he was persecuted by Diocletian in about 303AD and he lived to attend the council of Nicea in 325 AD.
ii. The legends of Saint Nicholas report of his life of giving.
1. One legend tells of him tossing bags of gold into homes where families faced starvation.
2. He is also known for his ministry to sailors and to prisoners. Giving them money when they where in need and sharing the Good News with them about Jesus.
3. One story relates how he saved three poverty-stricken maidens from being forced into a life of prostitution by giving them bags of gold and sharing Jesus with them.
4. Another legend reports that he came upon three murdered children who where hidden in a tub of brine and he prayed for them and they where raised from the dead.
5. The custom of giving to children on the feast of Saint Nicholas arose from these legends.
iii. The Dutch where the ones who promoted the legends of Saint Nicholas and made a holy day of his life. They are also the ones who distorted his name from “Saint Nicholas” to “Santa Claus” and then associated him with Christmas, the traditional time of giving.
1. Yes, Jesus has been run over by a reindeer and a man in a red suit.
iv. The reality here is Saint Nicholas would be irate if he where alive today to see how his distorted image supersedes the birth of Christ. He was a man of God who relentlessly preached the Gospel and knew what it meant to give sacrificially to others.
B. The focus of this time of year needs be directed back to where it belongs, Christ alone is and should be our focus.
a. Christ Jesus came 2001 years ago for one thing-to present the greatest gift to mankind himself. So that he could seek and save the lost.
i. “For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19;10).
ii. He was our gift “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” (II Cor. 9;15)
iii. Christ gift of himself to us should be our focal point at this time of the year. I believe we need to look for this gift of life in everything we do at this time of the year.
b. Look for Christ this Christmas season-look for the signs of the kings imprint on this joyous occasion.
i. Signs of Christ in Christmas;
1. You can see Him at Christmas
a. You see him by the giving of gifts. But remember, we must remember the Father gave the greatest gift of all by giving His son to save all of us.
i. Illustration--. Pass the gift
1. No Random gift idea by Nappa pg. 105
2. See copy of it’s meaning
ii. I believe wherever the spirit of Christ is celebrated there is a spirit of kindness and giving in keeping with the character of Jesus.
1. “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)
b. You can see Him in the Poinsettia plant.
i. A legend tells the story of the Poinsettia.
The legend tells us that the parishioners at a church in Mexico brought great quantities of flowers to the alter each Christmas. One day, while hundreds of people carried flowers to the cathedral, a little girl cried because she had no flowers to give. A priest found her and asked the reason for her tears, “I have no flowers to give to Jesus” she cried. The priest told her to pick a weed which grew near the roadside. The little girl wondered why the priest should tell her to pick a weed, but she did as she was told. When she placed the weed on the altar, the large green leaves glowed with a soft red light, and was the most beautiful flower presented. Since that time, the legend says, the poinsettia plant has been the special flower of Christmas.” Charles L. Wallis
c. You can see Him when you look at the Christmas tree.
i. When you look at your Christmas tree think about this Scripture found in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Then verse 14 states, “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” That promise is eternal life.
ii. When you look at the star on top of the tree think upon the star that the wise men saw that lead them to the messiah king.
iii. When you look at the ornaments think about where most of them came from the lives that gave them and the sentimental meaning behind all the lives reflected in the ornaments.
1. Grandma Baux’s salvation.
d. You can see Christ in the Christmas lights.
i. Remember what Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
ii. When you look at the lights on the trees or the lights on the houses – think about Jesus the light of the world and thank the Lord for sending Him.
e. You can see Christ in the Christmas wreaths adorning the doors of many homes. The wreath stands for victory. The victory of Christ defeating the enemy and giving us New Life.
i. I Cor. 15:54b-57“…Death has been swallowed up in victory. ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
f. You can see Christ in the Candy Cane
i. The red stands for the blood of Christ sacrificed for you and me.
ii. The white color stands for how the blood makes us pure as white as snow.
iii. The cane is in the shape of a shepherds cane to say, “This is what the good shepherd gives you and me!”
1. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
2. You can hear Him in Christmas. You hear the cry of peace and love toward one another.
a. The slogan “Peace on earth”, which is spoken frequently at this time of year, reflects the promise of the father to give us peace when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
b. You hear his name sung about in Christmas Carols and at Christmas programs.
i. Talking about his great sacrifice!
3. You can smell Him in Christmas.
a. You can smell his sweet fragrance in the air.
b. A sweet smell rises from all of the love and sacrifice put into the cookies, breads, pies and Christmas meals.
4. You can touch Him at Christmas.
a. By the loving arms of those who have come home for the holidays. All the heart felt hugs of seeing those we love.
b. This same love will be expressed and felt when we die and go to Heaven. The Lord will greet us with open arms of love.
c. I believe you feel him at Christmas when that child hugs you for their Christmas gift. That hug of thanks for the present is so wonderful to feel. It makes you smile and rejoice at their happiness.
5. You can taste Him at Christmas.
a. You taste Him in all the good meals that are provided by the loving hands of the cooks.
Conclusion:
Let’s refocus onto the true meaning of Christmas “Jesus!” This is what we need to see.
The Christian’s Horizon
What do I see as I look back?
Millions of mercies along life’s track;
God’s love shining where all was black;
That’s what I see, looking back.
What do I see as I look within?
A heart by my Savior redeemed from sin;
A hope, through His grace, heaven’s joys to win;
That’s what I see, looking in.
What do I see, looking forth today?
Blessings granted before I pray;
A sheltering arm, a guiding ray;
This do I see today.
What do I see as I look on?
Burdens lifted and trials gone;
A light at even, surpassing dawn;
That’s what I see looking on.
What do I see as I look above?
God’s own banner, whose name, whose name is love:
Love unspeakable, wonderful love;
That’s what I see above!
Mary Wardlaw
Let this thought be your Christmas prayer this Christmas season:
It is the Christmas season. Dear Lord I pray for your peace and goodness to fill my life and others lives. Bring us the joy that comes from giving as well as receiving. Help us to understand the meaning of this season. Please let your light shine so all may see. When we go to bed tonight let us carry with us the memories of Christmas past. Lets us reflect upon the real ornaments of Christmas: Love, Joy, Health, Hope, Peace and Faith all which come from you. May they glitter out of our life so others may see and inquire. Then let us share of what Christmas is really about. The day a king was born so that he may be scorned but he did it for you and me. Yes, the king was born so that we may be adorned with his mercy and grace.
