HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS!
Luke 2:1-14
"Have a good Christmas," the shopkeeper said. I responded in kind as I turned away with my first Christmas purchase safe in hand. But I could not help wondering, "How many people using that expression this season really know what makes a good Christmas?"
Just what is involved in a good Christmas? Store aisles crowded with eager shoppers making the registers ring with the shrill sounds of shopping success? Bank accounts and credit card limits stretched to the breaking point? Post offices overflowing with those anxious to send that last minute card or package to family or friends in faraway places? Bus and train stations, airports and highways congested with record crowds? Christmas parties resounding with ribald humour and reeking with the fumes of an alcoholic revelry? A table groaning with a load of culinary delights and Christmas goodies guaranteed to break any diet or exhaust any medicinal remedy? An annual visit to a Christmas pageant or a carol sing?
A good Christmas means much more than any of this. It must be a Christmas centered upon Jesus Christ the person whose birth is being celebrated. A Christmas focused upon the greatest of all gifts; the gift of His Son to a lost and dying world. A Christmas magnifying the meaning of the mission of the One who came as God incarnate to planet earth. A mission made crystal clear by the angel’s announcement to Joseph. "They shall call His Name Jesus, for he shall save His people from their sins." A mission with a message clearly defined by Christ Himself when He said, "The Son of man has come to seek and save those who are lost."
A good Christmas must be one that has room for Jesus. The pathos involved in the paradox of a simple innkeeper turning away the very eternal Son of God has ever intrigued those who read the Christmas story. But how sad that our sophisticated contemporary culture still seems to have no room for Jesus in the homes and affairs of a nation, even during the time set aside for His birthday celebration.
A good Christmas must be one bringing real joy and peace to the earth. Not the pseudo-peace or jocular joy that so often characterizes earthly relationships and celebrations. But the spiritual joy expressed by the angels on the night of a Savior’s birth and the spiritual peace personally experienced by those who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
A good Christmas finds its full fruition in the human heart. The Saviour that was born into the world some two thousand years ago stands outside the heart’s door during this season graciously seeking admittance. The Bible says, "But as many as receive Him, to them gave He the power to become the Sons of God, even to those who believe on His Name." Those who would have a good Christmas are those who would receive the Christ of Christmas into their hearts and homes the whole year through - and eternally.
But just what can one of us do to ensure we make this season what it really should and could be for ourselves and those around us? How can we remind ourselves and others the real reason for the season? Just what does the real Christmas story tell us about what makes a good Christmas?
(1) A Good Christmas Promotes His Presence And Prominence. (2.) A Good Christmas Promotes Pure Praise and Worship. (3) A Good Christmas Promotes Presenting Presents To The Lord. (4) A Good Christmas Promotes The Purpose And Power Of The Gospel.
A GOOD CHRISTMAS PROMOTES HIS PRESENCE AND PROMINENCE. For centuries the world has marveled and wondered at the paradox of the Creator and King of this universe being born in a lowly manger because there was no room for Him even in a crude inn. But instead of condemning the inn keeper for saying, "There is no room," perhaps we should remember that he at least seemed to show some compassion in providing the best he had left for the tired travelers. It is obvious in any case that he was asked to entertain royalty unaware on that fateful night.
But what a great blessing he missed on that momentous day! Perhaps he thought there were many "more important" people in his inn. But the worldly elite and VIPS would all soon be gone and forgotten. In all the daily stress and strain of his workaday world, he had turned away the Eternal God of the universe. Opportunity passed him by. Instead of being remembered as the man who seized his moment in history to promote the presence and prominence of the Saviour, his action could be seen as just another footnote to the folly of leaving the Lord out of one’s life.
But does our world respond any differently to the opportunity to promote His presence and prominence upon the occasion of the celebration of His birth? In the mindless milling of the masses and the maddening crowd in the market places of our world, how many pause to consider the place the presence and prominence of Jesus should have in the observance of the day? In the frantic rushing, pushing and shoving that characterizes the season, who will pause to peruse His presence and the priority He should have in the affairs of men? Does the world have any more room for Jesus today than demonstrated by that lowly innkeeper of long ago?
It is in a world that seems to have no room for Jesus that we who know Him and the true meaning of that first Christmas should be ready and willing to promote His presence and prominence at every opportunity during this season. This is a story I read recently of someone rightly responded to such an opportunity:
Someone asked: "If a young woman said today that her son was virgin born, would you believe it?" The pastor replied, "Yes." "IF the birth was one that had been predicted centuries in advance, I would believe it." "IF the place of His birth, the manner of His life and death and burial and resurrection had been predicted centuries in advance, I would believe it." "IF He lived a perfect life so that even His enemies could find no fault in Him, I would believe it." "IF He could walk on the waves, calm the tempest; heal the lepers, raise the dead: open the eyes of the blind; and read the innermost thoughts of the hearts of men, I would believe it. "IF in the hour His death the sun. moon and stars refused to shine; the earth reeled to and fro like a drunken man; and the dead came forth from their graves, I would believe it." "IF The power of the mighty Roman Empire could not keep His body in the tomb; IF He could show Himself alive for 40 days after His resurrection, I would believe it." "IF unlearned fishermen could preach the message of His resurrection and see 3,000 lives instantly transformed, I would believe it." "IF belief in and trusting the power of that Man’s sacrificial death on a cross would cause a thief to feel remorse; the murdered to hate no more; the drunkard to drink no ,more; the immoral leper to sin no more; then I would believe it." "IF there is dense darkness, terrible sin, gross ignorance wherever the name of that Man is not known, IF there is light and peace and progress and righteousness where this Name is known, I would believe it." - (Pastor Joe Hankins)
Thousands of invitations and gospel messages have gone out this Christmas Season. Our annual Christmas advertisement, including a simple gospel message and appeal as well as a warm invitation to our services, went out into thousands of homes this year. In this, we have joined our voices to the great chorus of Christians who will literally beg and implore millions to make room in their heart for Jesus the Savior of the world.
But sadly, millions will still say, "We have no room for Him!" in our life or in our homes." Perhaps there has never been a time when people are more powerfully proclaiming by their words and deeds that they have no room for Jesus in their affairs or the affairs of their community, culture and nation than in our generation.
And so the paradox of that first Christmas continues. Why the contemporary crowd would have no room for Jesus in the inn of its world is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Christmas without Christ is like an engine without fuel. This birthday without the only begotten is like a tree without sap. This holiday without a focus upon the high and holy is like the heavens without stars. This celebration without spiritual elaboration upon our God of salvation is like an ocean without water. This season without the reason is like a garden without flowers. Without Jesus people only exist.
The story is told of a first birthday party held for the first born son of wealthy businessman. The proud parents invited their friends and family; many of whose names were in the social register of the day. The infant was tucked away sound asleep in a baby’s bassinet placed upon a bed in a room just off their large living room. As the guests arrived on the cold winter’s night, they deposited their heavy coats and wraps on the bed. After the cocktail hour, it finally came time to light the single candle on the large birthday cake. But where was the birthday boy? To the horror of the parents and the tipsy crowd, it was discovered that in all the merriment and celebration the reason for the party had been forgotten and ignored. He was found smothered and crushed beneath a great pile of outer wraps! The birthday celebration gave way to great grief and sorrow. So it will be in eternity for those who celebrate Christless Christmases in this world.
A GOOD CHRISTMAS PROMOTES PURE PRAISE AND WORSHIP. The first Christmas focused upon true worship of the King of Kings. The praise of the angelic hosts made the heavens ring. Many of the beautiful carols and hymns of our day flow from the same fountain of joyful praise. Who could improve upon the sense of real joy and peace proclaimed by the heavenly hosts on that first Christmas morning? At Christmas time we are once again reminded of the timeless nature of the great hymns and spiritual songs of the faith. It would seem that even those who sometimes seem caught up in the relative shallow and man-centered contemporary religious ditties of our day, catch the spirit of the season and joyfully herald the birth of our Savior with the Christ-centered carols of our youth.
Yes. a good Christmas promotes a pure praise and worship that is patterned upon the events of that first Christmas. The lowly shepherds followed the example and advice of the angels and went to Bethlehem to worship Christ the King. The wise men traveled from afar seeking Him in order to humbly bow and adore Him. Later, when the King of Kings rode into the City of peace on the back of the colt of a donkey, the great crowds could not be constrained in their pure praise and worship. Our Saviour Himself said that if their voices of praise were silenced even the rocks would cry out in praise of Him.
But just what comprises pure praise and worship today? Has God’s requirements changed? Does the changing tastes and preferences of man dictate a different content and approach to pure praise and worship? Are our Saviour’s spiritual ears culturally attuned to different and more modern lyrics? Is our God waiting to be moved by louder and more discordant melodies? Does God march to a different praise and worship drummer today? Our Saviour Himself said, "God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
But how many will truly worship Christ this Christmas? Recent surveys show an ever-decreasing interest in the true praise and worship of Jesus Christ? Heathens do not hesitate to worship the sun and nature. Some even say they worship the ground others walk upon. Some dogs are said to even worship their human masters. But how many truly and regularly worship their Creator? But we do know the mind of our Saviour on the matter of the importance of continuing pure praise and worship. His Spirit had the apostle Paul to say, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:25)
But just why does this Jesus Who was born as a babe in the manger, lived a perfect and sinless life, died a sacrificial death on the cross and rose again the third day, deserve our worship? A banker with his signature can make a blank sheet of paper worth millions of dollars. An artist with his talent can slap some paint on canvass and make it priceless. A sculptor with his strong and sensitive hands can take a slab of stone and chisel, cut and carve; creating a masterpiece. But Jesus can take a worthless life and change it into something beautiful and God-honouring and make it count for eternity. Such a Saviour more than deserves our pure praise and worship. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, . . And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:9-11) May many people come to know Christ this Christmas and then truly give themselves in worship and praise of Him all the year long.
A GOOD CHRISTMAS PROMOTES PRESENTING PRESENTS TO THE LORD. Christmas is giving - but not necessarily the tinsel and paper sort. The wise men gave glorious gifts to Jesus - not to each other. It is obvious that the gifts given on that first Christmas were of the priceless sort. These were not only gifts fit for a King, but were gifts given to symbolize the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ our salvation. If there is any one single statement in the Bible that catches the spirit of a good Christmas and summarizes its meaning it is the golden text of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Paul said it all when he said, "Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift." (II Cor. 9:15)
Are you looking for that special gift to give to a relative or a friend this year? That gift that will be remembered as a token of your real love and friendship even as the years roll on? That gift with a quality that is lasting? That gift with a value that far exceeds its price tag? That gift that keeps on giving even after you are gone? What about sharing God’s unspeakable gift with someone you love this season? Not only will the Christ of Christmas approve and be pleased, but the recipient will thank you forever!
But how is it we sometimes get so wrapped up in the trappings and trimmings of Christmas that we tend to forget the One who not only gave us the unspeakable gift of eternal life, but has also given us the more abundant life here on earth. The Wise Men coming from the East to Bethlehem bringing Him the costly treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh, present us with both a rebuke and example. We are rebuked for our neglect of our Savior, but are encouraged to bring our best to lay at His feet.
A good Christmas catches and promotes this spirit of giving our best. But just what is our best? The scriptures leave not doubt about that. Paul caught the spirit of it with these phrases from his letters " . . .for I seek not yours, but you:.. " (II Cor. 12:14) ". . .present your bodies a living sacrifice,. . ." (Ro. 12:1) ". . . For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body . . ." (I Cor. 6:20) The best we can give Him is our hearts and ourselves in selfless service. Nothing else will suffice or satisfy. The following bit of verses seems to voice this imperative rather well:
"I had the nicest Christmas list, The longest one in town,
’Till Daddy looked at it and said, You’ll have to cut it down.!
I knew that what he said was true, Beyond the faintest doubt,
But was amazed to hear him say, You’ve left your best friend out.
So I scanned my list again, And said, "Oh, that’s not true."
But Daddy said, "His name is not there, That friend who died for you."
And then I clearly understood, "Twas Jesus that he meant,
For Him who should come first of all, I hadn’t planned a cent.
I’ve made a Christmas birthday list, And left the Saviour out.
But, Oh, it didn’t take me long, to change the list about.
And though I’ve had to drop some names, Of folks I like a lot,
My Lord must have the most - because, His Name is at the top!"
-Author Unknown
A GOOD CHRISTMAS PROMOTES THE PURPOSE AND POWER OF THE GOSPEL. In the Christmas story we have the angels for our example in this. For millenniums the hearts of God’s people had hungered for the coming of the Messiah King Who would be the Kinsman Redeemer of Israel. The patriarchs and Israelites indeed had long longed for the gospel of the Kingdom to find its full fruition in His arrival.
On that joyous night the angels heralded the glorious good news of Christmas. The King was born. There are ninety-four scripture references to Jesus as King. The scriptures simply declare that Jesus is King and will reign forever. He is "King of kings and Lord of lords." What are we to make of this One born a child and yet a King?
He would first offer Himself to Israel; to sit upon the throne of David and establish His everlasting Kingdom upon earth and order it forever! "For 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. Of 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." (Isa. 9:6-7)
But the story of the purpose and power of the gospel does not begin or end here. As Don Richardson so clearly expounds in his book, "Eternity In Their Hearts," and in the chapter entitled, "A Messiah For All Peoples," from the beginning it was the plan and purpose of God to offer the Messiah King as the gift of salvation to all the peoples of His planet earth. He explains, "’A light for revelation to the Gentiles’ A ’Sun’ to rise upon people ’living in darkness and in the shadow of death’ A bringer of salvation . . . prepared in the sight of all people.’ All the pointers were unmistakable: Jesus was destined to be not merely a man for all seasons as the Jewish Messiah, but also a man for all peoples - the Light of even the Gentile world!".
The uniqueness of Christ’s person and purpose and the power of the good news that flows from it can perhaps best simply stated, "He is very God of very God and very man of very man." All this is a mystery that defies rational explanation and is just infinitely too much for the finite mind of man to fully comprehend. This old poem beautifully expresses our Christian conviction about the powerful foundation for our faith that was laid on that first Christmas long ago:
"In a lowly manger sleeping, Calm and still a babe we see,
’Tis the Holy Child of promise, Light of all the world is He.
Holy angels sing His welcome, In the realms of glory bright,
While the morning stars around Him, Fall in soft and tender light,
Blessed Saviour, dear Redeemer, King of Judah, Prince of Peace,
Rock of Ages, Star of Nations, Thy dominion ne’er shall cease.!"
Obviously, the joyous and earth shattering good news of God becoming man in order to redeem man and reconcile him again to His Creator, was the happiest message man could ever hear. There could be no mistake about the matter when the angels proclaimed the possibility of peace upon the earth because God’s good will toward man had become a concrete reality in the incarnate Word. The angel clearly confirmed this good news to Joseph as well, "They shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.." (Matt. 1:21)
At this Christmas time the message of salvation through Christ remains the best news of all time and eternity! Otherwise why did he come to earth to be born in a stinking stable and die on a cruel cross? Or why are we here?
What glad tidings we have today! This news of a real peace that passeth understanding and a joy unspeakable and full of glory is the message we have to offer to a dark, dying and sinful world today. Let us not be ashamed to speak the real message of Christmas plainly and boldly to those around us during this season!
Yes, God would have us to have a really good Christmas. The right kind of Christmas this year. Let us make room for Jesus in all we say and do. May we seek to take Him with us every place we go. Let us determine to truly purely praise and worship Him; not only this season, but the whole year through. Let us present the greatest gift of all to Him this year - ourselves in true spiritual service. Let us share the greatest gift of all with those around us who do not yet know Him in personal salvation. The gift of everlasting life - and an eternal home in heaven - where it will really be "Christmas" all the time! - Pastor John White
