Text:
(Luke 2:15 KJV) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Title:
"Why Celebrate Christmas?"
Before we mention those who celebrated Christmas, we should make mention of those who did not celebrate that first Christmas.
King Herod and those like him, do not like celebrating Christmas. They do not want anyone to be their Lord. They are the King. Their pride will not allow them to celebrate Christmas. Many people do not accept Christ as their Savior because they do not want to change. They see themselves as being "on top," and anything that interferes with that is an unwelcomed guest. Beware to the babies of Bethlehem!
The Crowd in the Inn did not celebrate Christmas. They were too busy. Many people will end up dying and going to Hell because they never took the time out of their "busy" lives to search out the things of God. Christmas means nothing more to them than a "house of merchandise."
Now let us look at the three groups of people who did celebrate Christmas!... The Family of Jesus, the Shepherds, and the Wise men.
The first reason why many people come to Christ is because of the faith they have seen demonstrated by family members. In the Christmas story before, this is illustrated by Mary and Joseph. It was my godly earthly father who brought me to Christ. As a boy, my Mother and Father’s faith set a hope within my own heart a desire to know the Lord God of Heaven and Earth.
The second group of people to celebrate Christmas were the Shepherds. They came because of "Fear." When the angels shone round about them, they said, "Fear not." Many people come to Christ because they fear the consequences of not coming. There is a Hell!
Many years ago, as a thirteen year old boy, I watched Billy Graham preaching on television. He talked about being born again, and that if a man were not born again, he would never see the Kingdom of God. For the first time in my life that night, I knew I was lost and headed for Hell. I wanted to be "saved." Later that same evening, my father led me to Christ at the living room couch.
The third group that celebrated Christmas were the Wise men. I know that they did not get there on that first night, but the Star that they saw from the East started them on their journey. Why did they come? The answer: The "Facts" brought them to Christ. All of the signs and prophecy of the holy scriptures pointed them to the "fact" that Jesus was the Christ.
Becoming a Christian is the intelligent choice! Wise men still seek Christ.
So here is the brief Christmas outline. There are three reasons why people come to Christ: Family, Fear, and Facts. Why did you come to Christ?
Merry Christmas!
