The Christmas X-Files- Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Without The Son Of God

The Christmas X-Files

Today we find ourselves looking into a time in the life of Jesus that He is missing.

(Luke 2:40 NKJV) And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

(Luke 2:41 NKJV) His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

(Luke 2:42 NKJV) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

(Luke 2:43 NKJV) When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;

(Luke 2:44 NKJV) but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

(Luke 2:45 NKJV) So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

As we continue reading the rest of this story in the Gospel of Luke we learn that Jesus was found. However, today, some 2000 years later, people are having a hard time finding Jesus. Jesus is hard to find today because He is systematically being "X'd" out of Christmas.

Merchants displaying the season's products conveniently abbreviate their billboards with an "X." There is no room for Christ on their advertisements.

Well-wishers say and write, "Happy Holiday" because there’s no room for Christ in their "Christmas" greetings.

Years ago there was a popular television series called the X-Files. Well the world today is attempting to file away the significance of Christmas with an "X." Today, we will look at a few of these "X" files.

X-File #1 - Jesus is missing from the holiday.

Each year one sees more and more of Santa and his reindeers and less and less of the Babe lying in a manager. A brilliant display of lights in Woodlawn has Santa's Village on one side of the house and the Christmas story on the other side.

Nativity scenes on public property and the singing of Christmas carols in our public schools have all but disappeared from American culture.

Perhaps one reason why Jesus is missing from the holidays is that the world isn't going to celebrate God's gift of freedom from sin while they are still in their sins.

The truth of the matter is that Christmas is all about salvation from sin through God's Son, Jesus Christ. Most “Christmas” songs testify of this truth:

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th’angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessèd Christmas morn.

Is Jesus missing from your holiday? Are you guilty of saying, “No room?”

X-File #2 - Jesus is missing from the hearts of men

The malls and stores are crowded with people who celebrate the birthday of someone they don't know. Even in the church, many who claim to know Jesus must struggle to remember that He is the reason for the season.

Christmas is one of the two times of the year when Satan goes after the hearts of men to distract them from the truth centered in these special days (Easter being the other).

Satan tempts us to have:

* Guilty hearts: From not spending enough or for spending too much

* Lonely hearts: From having no one to spend the holiday with

* Greedy hearts: For wanting too much

* Envious hearts: For wanting what someone else has

* Jealous hearts: For hating someone who has been blessed

Jesus is missing from the hearts of men. In Matthew chapter 6, we discover a clue as to why:

(Mat 6:19 NKJV) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

Can you remember what you got for Christmas last year? How much of what you received last year made it through to this year without being lost, broken or stolen?