The Good News Of Christmas

Christmas can so easily be lost in

• "I'm Dreaming Of A While Christmas"

• “Frosty The Snowman,”

• “Jack Frost Nipping At Your Nose,”

• “Santa Finding Out Who’s Naughty & Nice,”

• “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire,”

- Christmas can be lost on

"Black Friday"

"Small Business Saturday"

"Cyber Monday"

- Where Does the Christmas Begin?

❶. Does Christmas Begin in Luke?

- Mary the first to know about Jesus

Luke 1:30–33 (AV)

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

- Luke is the favorite of Christmas

Luke 2:7 (AV)

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.

Luke 2:10 (AV)

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.

Luke 2:11 (AV)

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

❷. Matthew's Christmas Truth

- Joseph found out next

Matthew 1:21–23 (AV)

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. - (Is. 7:14)

- Revealed to wise men from the east

Matthew 2:1–2 (AV)

1 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.

Matthew 2:2 (The Living Bible)

2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”

- It would have taken time to travel from the east to Jerusalem

- No longer at the stable but in a house

- Between 40 days to two yrs.

Matthew 2:16 (AV)

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Matthew 2:11 (AV)

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

- They worshiped and gave expensive gifts

- Gold for a King

- Frankincense for incense for worship & healing

2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

- Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction.

- Mixed with wine as a sedative

Mark 15:23 (AV)

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

- Also used for burial embalming – Jesus death

- What about the other two Gospels – Mk. & Jn.?

❸. Is Christmas Suggested in Mark?

Mark 1:1–4 (AV)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

- Mark's first word is "Beginning"

- Same word used in Ge. 1:1

- The birthday of the universe

- Paul speaks of Christ as the firstborn

Colossians 1:15 (AV)

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 1:15 (NKJV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.