A Christmas to Remember
Luke 2: 1-12
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Join me in PRAYER!
A Christmas to Remember, I want to ask you this morning is there one special Christmas that stands out in your life, Is there one Christmas that just overwhelms you when you think about it? Or when you think about Christmas do they all come together and you remember pieces of all of them? How many Christmas’s can you remember from when you were kids? Or are all your memories of Christmas ones that you spent giving to your children and grand children? What seems to be the strongest memory that you have of Christmas?
When I think of Christmas and try to remember what they were like I find that my memories aren’t what I would expect. Most people think that you remember the presents you have received, but I don’t. For the most part I remember gifts that I have given to others and I remember people and the great times we had together as a family and I remember friends that have shared Christmas with me.
One of the gifts I remember is a set of weights that I got one Christmas but I think the reason I remember them so well is that I found where mom had them hid and saw them before Christmas. I remember my brother getting a motor scooter one Christmas and then giving Mom a ride on it. He drove to the corner with her on the back and then told her to get off so he could turn around because he wasn’t very good on it yet. So Mom got off and he turned around and drove off and left her standing on the street corner. He did go back and get her though! I won’t go into too much detail but I remember the first Christmas I shared with Donna when we were just dating. And I remember several Christmas’s with my kids and I remember the last two or three with my grandkids.
But I remember, I think best of all a Christmas story that doesn’t even involve any of my family and this morning I am going to tell it to you, probably for the fifth or sixth time but I believe in it is the real meaning of Christmas.
It was Christmas Eve morning when Jay Robertson, who at that time was my Pastor, called me. The night before Jay, Brenda, Donna, myself, and the other deacons of Pittsburg Ave. Baptist had delivered several Christmas baskets to needy families. Jay called and asked me that since I had helped make up the baskets could I remember what we had put in them. I told him that I could and he then asked if I would meet him at the local grocery store where the church had an account and help him put together a basket for one more needy family. I told him that I would be glad to and we made arrangements to meet there about 11 Am.
When we got there we took a basket and began to put everything in it that I could remember we had in the other baskets. We went down aisle after aisle while I tried to remember everything, there was a sack of potatoes, a ham, some dried beans, some sugar, and all kinds of canned goods. When we got to an aisle where there was some Christmas candy Jay said that at Christmas every kid should have some candy and put several different bags of candy in the basket.
When we got to the cookies I commented that if he could get the kids candy I could get them cookies and put two or three packages of cookies in the basket. After checking out Jay and I went to deliver this stuff to the family. The Father had been in the hospital and just got out the day before and couldn’t work right then. The Mother had been out of work for several months and had been taking care of the kids and Dad had been in the hospital for like two weeks and hadn’t worked for several weeks before that.
When we got to the house Mom was gone, on Christmas Eve for a job interview. Dad was on the phone with someone trying t0 get a job. So the oldest of three kids, a little girl of about 7 answered the door and after Dad heard who we were she let us bring in the food. The other two children a girl about 5 and a boy about four were watching. The boy held the door open for us as Jay and I both made two or three trips carrying in sacks of groceries. The oldest girl, acting like a little momma began to unpack the groceries so they could put them up.
When, just as Jay and I came in with the last bags, she found the cookies and candy she cried out” Look Mary we’ve got chocolate!” It really filled my heart with tears of emotion as the other two kids ran over to the table to see what they had! Jay and I had realized the true meaning of Christmas!
We had given rather then received! Yes I think the best Christmases are the ones where you give of yourself to others. Sometimes it is baskets, sometimes it may be money, sometimes it is a special gift that you hunted for or made but it is always giving not receiving that brings the greatest joy!
Now if you look at our scriptures for this morning you will see that this is the joy of that first Christmas. Mary gave life to an infant, Joseph gave care and dedication to a child and his wife, and GOD gave a SON to the world, but he wasn’t an ordinary son. This was the baby that Isaiah had written about long before Jesus’ birth in Chapter 9: 6-8 which says.
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
This then was the Messiah, the Savior of the World, The only begotten SON OF GOD!!
GOD had become a baby dependent on a teenaged girl and a carpenter to care for and protect as he grew up. At this point he was totally dependent upon them for everything. He could not feed himself, or change himself; he was just like every other baby ever born. Totally and utterly dependent on others to care for him.
Yet this was the greatest gift ever given to anyone and GOD gave it to the whole world.
Yes the wise men brought gifts to give to The Child King but HE was the greatest gift the world has ever known!
And JESUS, GOD THE SON, came willingly even though he knew everything that would happen to him. He came knowing that he would suffer and die on across with all the sins of the world on his shoulders. He knew all this and still he came.
But I want you to hear what JESUS said about this himself. Look at John 15: 13 which says:
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This then I say to you is the True Spirit of Christmas, The Spirit of Giving! How much can giving affect your life? Well I want to give you an example that I found on Sermon Central .com. in a message by Ray Ellis.
John D. Rockefeller drove himself to achieve one ambition in life, to make money. At the age of 33 he earned his first million. At the age of 43, he controlled the biggest company in the world. At age 53 he was the riches man on earth and the world’s only billionaire.
Then he developed a disease (alopecia) that caused all his hair to fall out, his eyelashes and his eyebrows disappeared and he became skin and bones. His weekly income was one million dollars, but he could digest only milk and crackers. He was so hated in Pennsylvania that he had to have bodyguards day and night. He did not sleep, did not smile, and did not enjoy anything in life.
The doctors predicted that he had one year to live. One newspaper had written his obituary in advance in case of his sudden death. Then one sleepless night John D. Rockefeller came to his senses and realized that he could not take one dome with him into the next world. He learned and accepted the fact that money is not everything.
The next morning he was a changed man. He began to help churches with his amassed wealth and established the Rockefeller Foundation. The foundation’s funding of medical research lead to the discovery of penicillin. John D. Rockefeller began to sleep will, eat and enjoy life. He did not die at 54, but lived to 98.
#Testimony by Christy Randolphi
Another example out of this same message is the story of a teacher and a student.
An elementary school teacher, Jean Thompson, a fifth grade school teacher helped bring about change in one of her students named Teddy Stoddard.
Teddy didn’t play well with other children, his clothes were always dirty and he constantly needed a bath. Teddy was a sad, sullen little boy.
One day Mrs. Thompson reviewed his school records and was surprised at what she found. His first-grade teacher wrote: “Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners; he is a joy to be around.” His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student well-liked by his classmates, but is troubled because his mother has terminal illness, and life at home must be a struggle.” His third grade teacher wrote, “Teddy continues to work hard but his mother’s death has been hart, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps are not taken.” Teddy’s fourth-grade teacher wrote: “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class. He is tardy and could become a problem.”
It was nearly Christmas time and children brought her presents wrapped in colorful paper, except for teddy’s, which was wrapped in heavy brown paper from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson opened his present and found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was ¼ full of cologne. The other children in the class room began to laugh but Mrs. Thompson put the bracelet on and commented how pretty it was. She also dabbed some of the perfume on her other wrist. After the party Teddy Stoddard stayed behind just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my mom used to.” When the children left, the teacher cried.
That very next day Mrs. Thompson took a new interest in teaching her children. She worked especially hard with teddy. As she worked with him he seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him the faster he responded. By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the class.
A year later she found a note under her door at school from Teddy telling her that of all the teachers she was his favorite. Six yeas went by and she got another note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school and was third in his class and she was still his favorite teacher. Four years later she got another letter saying he had graduated from college with the highest of honors and assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher. Several years later she received another letter telling how much he had appreciated her as his teacher and she was still his favorite. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
A year later Mrs. Thompson received a letter stating he was getting married. He explained his father had died a few years earlier and wondered if she would sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Mrs. Thompson did attend the wedding on that day she smelled just like she had smelled many years before, on that last day of school, before the Christmas holiday began.
You see Mrs. Thompson and John D. Rockefeller discovered something that can change lives and make yourself or in some cases someone else a totally different person. Today John D. Rockefeller is remembered for the many charitable things that he had done rather then for all the things he had done to amass his fortune. And although Mrs. Thompson may not be remembered by as many or be as well known as Rockefeller I can guarantee she is well remembered by at least one student but there are probably many more that remember her. Because both of them had learned what Paul said that Jesus said in Acts 20 verse 35.
35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
And so today I challenge you to make this truly a Christmas to remember by following the example of JESUS and give of yourself to all those that you meet!
Let’s go to the LORD in Prayer!
