The Call Of Christmas 1 Series

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INTRODUCTION

Well, we have come to the season that celebrates the birth of Jesus around the world. Different cultures have attached a lot of traditions surrounding the birth of Jesus. Most of the time, we end up doing everything and forget the real essence of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, what does the Christmas season call us to do? What are we supposed to do because Christ is born?

For the world, Christmas is a lot of things. To the liquor industry, the Christmas spirit comes in a bottle. For some, the call of Christmas is to decorate their homes and send greeting cards to their friends. For some Christmas is all about new dresses, cakes, partying, and outings. Yet for some Christmas is grief from the loss of a loved one, the pain of sickness, and the burdens of life.

But what should be the true response to Christmas Well, I intend to read some selected reactions to the birth of Christ that can show us how the people around Jesus responded to his birth.

Luke 1:41-43

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? That was Elizabeth’s reaction – Filled with the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at the husband of Elizabeth, the father of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:67-69

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. Zachariah’s reaction tells us something of his spirit, his attitude.

Look at the angels.

Luke 2:13-14

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The angels were praising God.

Look at the shepherd’s response:

Luke 2:20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

In Luke 2, we meet another individual attending the period of the birth of Christ named Simeon.

Luke 2:25

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. Notice how many of these people have a usually described relationship to the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth, Zachariah, the angel, the child in the womb of Elizabeth, Mary, and now Simeon.

Luke 2:26-28

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.

RESPONSE TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST – CALL OF CHRISTMAS

Another reaction comes in

Luke 2:36-38

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Elizabeth, Zachariah, angels, shepherds, Simeon, and Anna, basically had one response. And that one response to the birth of Christ is worship: praise, thanks, blessing, and glory to God or worship.

Now turn back to

Matthew 2:2

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Look what Herod spoke about Jesus in his wickedness.

Mathew 2:8

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” Herod knew about worship, but he used the word for wicked intentions.

Everybody was worshiping. That is the call of Christmas. That is why Jesus came into this world. Worship is an attitude of the heart that is so filled with gratitude for what God has done that there is no thought of self, but no matter what we praise God in adoration.