Luke.2: 1-7.
"Have you got room for Jesus this Christmas?"
Millions of people upon this planet this Christmas will celebrate with big celebration’s, but they will completly miss the point of the celebrations.
Could you imagine returning home to find your house decortated top to bottom with lights and party decorations and when you get to the door you recognise that they are actually celebrating your birthday but there is one problem your not invited. As you knock on the door people inside completly blank you and in fact begin to tell you to go away, well its nonsense really is’nt it. But each Christmas people will celebrate it without the one its all about Jesus!The whole celebration void of the one it’s all about Jesus. Have you got room for Jesus? Not 1 day a year but 365 days a year.
Lets look at some facts about Jesus....
1. He Impacted world history.
Why is he so far removed from history?
Many people think that Jesus sits alongside mythological stories like that of the Greek gods and even doubt the authenticity of Jesus Christ.
But his life is more axiomatic than the life of Julius Caesar.
To many He appears so far removed 20 centuries on. Yet the historical manuscripts are overwhelming over 26,000 manuscripts of the NT alone. Which coincides with secular documents also.
Luke 2:1-3. Historical setting
Luke mentions the Roman Caesar Augustus who brought in a census of the whole Roman Empire at that time. It was the period of the Pax Romana a peace, which would last for 30 years. This was the secular historical setting and can be confirmed through secular history.
Luke is meticulous he wants to give us the big worldview he is like a detective who gathers the information and evidence to bring forth the truth in its correct historical setting.
Jesus Christ impacted world history, all contenders pale into insignificance against the impact of Jesus Christ.
Take any coin out of your pocket and consider our dating system which is inscribed upon it. This coin has the year 2000 AD upon it. This mere child born in the back of beyond has divided world History BC/AD.
Why has Jesus made such an impact upon this world?
The Wright brothers story: Big News In Dec 1903 the Wright brothers telegram their sister it read we flew 120 feet today. We will be home for Christmas. Katherine took the telegram to the editor of the local newspaper who said that’s good they will be home for Christmas. He totally missed the big news, that they had flown for the first time. Are we in danger of totally missing that God became human!
2. His birthplace and line foretold.
Here we have in Luke the secular historical reason why Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem and Jesus was born in Bethlehem v3 because of the historical census under Augustus census. They needed to register they were both from the line of David. They actually lived in Nazareth
We also have the Prophetically reason.
Could you imagine someone explaining your future.
But there was a far bigger reason behind it all a God given reason.
2Sam7:12 David’s line. 1000BC. He is a King
Micah 5:2 Birth place 700BC. He is from eternity thus King of kings
His Unique birth foretold
The birth of a child is a wonderful thing and each one is unique.
And medical science has advanced with Fertilization treatments etc But this birth is something far beyond any earthly birth its supernatural.
Luke1:30 -35.
The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary this amazing conception.
Matt.1:18-19. Joseph did not want to expose her to public disgrace
Isaiah. 7:14. Foretold by Isaiah 800BC.
Here we see the promise of a virgin and the unique identity of Jesus known as Emmanuel “God with us”
But why was he born in this unique way?
Matt1:21 His name Jesus means (The Lord saves) He would become a Saviour to Humanity to die for the sins of His people.
His birth brought God to man, His death brought man to God
3. His rejected life v7 no room at the Inn
I once heard about two women in a lift in London complaining about Christmas who ever came up with Christmas needs to be hung drawn quartered, there was another chap in the lift he said "He was!”
Rejection has to be one of the hardest pills to swallow in life it can happen at any time at birth abandoned, as a child sent away, in a marriage with divorce or even at old age being left in the old peoples home with not even a visit.
I am sure you have heard of the life of Lindsay Crosby who was totally unloved by his father. Christmas was a difficult time for Lindsey because each Christmas he would see his father performing in White Christmas, he ended his life by suicide at Christmas.
1.From the cradle to the cross Jesus was rejected by many.
Before he was born there was no room at the Inn v7.
2.Herod would send out a death warrant before he reached the age of two he then became a refugee in Egypt.
3.At the beginning of his ministry in Nazareth they wanted to throw him off a cliff.
4.The Pharisees picked up stones to stone him to death, In the end they got there way with the crucifixion.
5. He came to his own but his own would not recieve him John 1:12.
5.Ultimately even God the Father rejected him as he hung upon the cross. “My God My God why have you forsaken me?”
6. Can I ask you what position are you in? Have you recvieved him or rejected him?
This rejection was foretold.
Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men.
His life was a life of rejection. Do you know something of rejection? Although many people have rejected Jesus he will not reject you if you turn to him!
He paid our debt in full.
Matt.1:21 He would become a Saviour to Humanity to die for the sins of His people.
This year I recieved a parking ticket at Hull fair but what was amazing was although I was in the wrong and I should have paid the fine someone else stepped in and paid it in full a close friend who was with me at Hull fair.
There is a far greater debt that we all owe more than a fixed penalty our sin debt and the consequences of this not being paid is death and total separation from God.
But the wonderful news is that Jesus paid our debt in full he went from the cradle to the cross to die for our Sins.
He is the greatest gift you can posssess.
What’s on the top of most kids shopping lists this Christmas?
Playstation 2, retro toys, Robosapien, Barbie a new bike,phone etc
I was speaking to a child recently about gifts, I told him how I remember the days when I got an apple and a orange. The Boys eyes widened ‘boy he said you got a computer and mobile phone wow!’
There are some amazing gifts you can receive this Christmas but the greatest has to be eternal life through Jesus Christ.
The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Receiving: Christmas is all about receiving gifts; children love receiving gifts this Christmas they will be up at the crack of dawn to open them devouring the wrapping in no time with beaming eyes and shout of joy! I’ve never seen a child reject an unwrapped gift yet, have you?
The Bible says Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Giving: But Christmas is also about giving gifts. This is what I love to do there is great pleasure in giving seeing the faces of those who receive the gift.It was Jesus himself who said its better to give than to receive.
The ultimate gift sent by God was for you, if you were the only person in the world God still would have sent His one and only Son for You! He is the amost amazing gift have you got room for Him.
Somebody once said Jesus Christ is the perfect gentleman he will not come where he is not wanted.What abot you do you want Him? Does your heart long for real fulfillment? Accept Him as your Saviour and Lord unwrap the greatest gift you can ever recieve.
There is an invitation tonight, and its for you. Going back to that big party celebration this Christmas will you be celebrating without the one it’s all about the one who came to save you and give you new life? Have you got room for Jesus?
Rev.3.20. Jesus is knocking right know on the door of your heart! Is their room in your heart tonight? Opportunity to respond in repentance and faith.
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