“People Who Missed Christmas”
YOU KNOW CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE WHEN:
There are more pine needles on your carpet than on your tree.
The credit card is smoked along with the turkey and ham..
It’s A Wonderful Life has been shown for the 13th time.
A trip to the mall and back is more challenging then the Indy 500.
The Salvation Army bell ringers standing outside of the stores start accepting credit cards.
You are pulling an all-nighter on Christmas Eve because of the words
"Some Assembly Required"
Your Christmas list is written in black while your check book balance is written in red.
The infamous fruitcake returns from its 12 months of hiding.
TEXT: Matthew 2:1-8 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. [3] When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. [5] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, [6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. [7] Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Luke 2:7 And 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.
I. Introduction
Did you know that most people miss Christmas every year? That may sound rather silly when we drown in a sea of Christmas advertising during the holidays. You may be saying, “Brother Paul, Americans used 28,497,464 rolls of wrapping paper this year. We used 16,826,362 packages of tags and bows this year. We gave out 372,430,684 greeting cards this year. And all across America stands over 35,000,000 Christmas trees. How could we miss Christmas?” Yet I am convinced so many millions will miss Christmas this year. Today I want to talk to you about five groups of people who missed that first Christmas.
II. People Who Missed Christmas
A. The Inn Keeper
1. The inn keeper missed the first Christmas because he was pre-occupied.
2. The town was crowded. There was no indication that he was hostile, or even unsympathetic to this pregnant woman. He was just too busy and had no room for the Savior.
3. We can become to busy with activities that aren’t even sinful and miss the true meaning of Christmas.
a. Shopping
b. Concerts
c. Christmas Parties.
d. Family coming together.
4. So many people don’t have room for Christ in their Christmas.
5. He missed the first Christmas and would not let Jesus be born in his house.
6. So many people miss Christmas by not letting Jesus be born in their hearts.
B. Herod
1. Let’s meet another man that missed the first Christmas…
2. Not like the innkeeper, this man was not ignorant as to who Jesus was.
3. He pretended he wanted to worship Jesus, but was really fearful of letting Him become Lord.
4. If Jesus became Lord, it would have ruined his career.
a. Lots of people are like him. They won’t allow anything to interfere with their :
- career
- position
- plans
- lifestyle
b. When Jesus becomes Lord of your life, it will probably ruin your career. It may alter your plans.
5. Not only did Herod miss the first Christmas, but his fear of Jesus being king of the Jews cost thousands of children from the ages of two and under.
6. They are not about to let someone else be king of their lives. They see Jesus as a threat, and so they miss Christmas.
C. The religious group
1. Mat. 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. [5] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, [6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2. The chief priests and scribes knew exactly where Christ was to be born. These were the theologians, the minds, the brains, the religious elite of Israel. They knew Scripture well enough to quote Micah 5:2
which prophesied that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Yet they missed Christmas
3. Even though they outwardly would pray for the Messiah to come and deliver them from the Romans, they never even bother to travel a few miles south to Bethlehem to see if the Messiah had indeed been born.
4. Why did the religious leaders miss Him? Because they didn’t care to seek Him out.
a. They thought, “Surely when the Messiah comes He won’t pass us by. We’re the ones that fast twice a day, and give tithes of all we have and keep tradition. Surely we’re the crowd He’ll come to first.”
5. They were self-righteous.
a. “I’m all right the way I am” is a dangerous attitude.
b. Jesus’ ministry was to people who had a problem - sin - and
knew it.
6. This type of people miss Christmas.
D. The Romans
1. They were ruling Israel and were in control.
2. Roman soldiers must have been scattered all over Bethlehem to keep order as the great crowds of people gathered for the census, yet they did not recognize who He was.
3. Because of their idolatry.
4. This type of people missed Christmas.
E. The people of Nazareth.
1. Finally, and perhaps saddest of all, Nazareth missed Christmas.
2. Although He was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth, and lived His perfect life before all the people there. Yet they completely overlooked Him.
a. Luke 4 describes the most important Sabbath day Nazareth ever had.
b. Jesus had lived there all of His life and then makes the proclamation that He was the Messiah.
c. What was there reaction? The people who knew Jesus best, those with whom He had grown up and among whom He had lived, tried to kill Him.
3. The people of Nazareth, who knew Him better than anyone, had no idea who He really was!
a. What was their problem? Familiarity. They knew Him too well. They knew Him so well that they couldn’t believe He was anyone special.
b. Familiarity often strangles conviction.
c. Perhaps the most tragic sin of all is the unbelief of a man or woman or young person who :
- has heard all the sermons;
- has sat through all the Bible readings;
- knows the Christmas story back to front;
but rejects the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no gospel, no good news, for such a person, because he or she already knows but rejects the only truth that sets people free.
4. What a sad way to miss Christmas!
III. You don’t have to miss Christmas
A. The shepherd’s
1. Luke 2:8-12 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
B. The wise men.
C. Simeon.
1. Luke 2:26-32 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, [28] Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, [29] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; [32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
D. Anna the prophetess.
1. Luke 2:36-38 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; [37] And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. [38] And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
E. None of these missed Christ because they were watching for Him. We must watch and wait for His appearing.
