The Paradoxes Of Christmas

The Paradoxes of Christmas

Chuck Sligh

December 19, 2021

Adapted from a sermon by D. Greg Ebie titled Christmas Paradox on SermonCentral.com.

TEXT: Colossians 2:9 – “For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

INTRODUCTION

Webster’s defines a paradox as a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that, when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

For instance, someone said, “Some of the biggest failures I ever had were successes.” Now a failure is, by definition, the opposite of success. But we understand that though technically that statement is self-contradictory, there’s a deeper truth that what may be a failure today might turn out to be something different in retrospect.

Here are a couple of other examples of paradoxes:

• Save money by spending it. – To save money is the opposite of spending it, but we understand that sometimes we should spend some money for means or ways that will in the end save us more money.

• If I know one thing, it’s that I know nothing. – Well, if you know nothing, you cannot know one thing, but we intuitively get the underlying point of the paradox.

Jesus gave a paradox when he said in Mark 8:35, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” On the surface, this seems contradictory. But Jesus was speaking of saving or losing our lives in the temporal realm on earth and having the opposite effect on eternity.

Paradoxes help us see deeper truths than what is on the surface.

As we study the gospel stories of the birth of Christ, we realize that they are I realized saturated with paradoxes. The Christmas story is filled with the unexpected—the unimaginable. And Christ was born amidst these paradoxes.

For a few moments I would like us to think about some of the paradoxes of Christmas.

I. FIRST, CONSIDER WITH ME THE PARADOX OF THE PRESENTS.

At Christmas we give and receive presents.

Illus. – One time a boy said to his mother a few days before Christmas, “You can cross out the train set from my Christmas wish list.”

“Why’s that?” asked his mother.

The boy said, “Yesterday I found a brand new one in the closet.”

Illus. – Another time a boy was talking with his brother with Grandma in the next room.

He said real loudly, “I want a Nintendo for Christmas.”

A minute later he said it again, “I want a Nintendo for Christmas.”

Then a few minutes later he said again, this time really loudly, “I want a Nintendo for Christmas.”

Annoyed, his brother said, “Stop shouting. Santa’s not deaf you know.”

He brother whispered, “I know, but Grandma is.”

Isn’t it weird that when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, you and I are the ones who get all the presents? If we aren’t careful, Christmas day can quickly come and go and all we think about are our gifts instead of pausing to remember JESUS—the REAL gift of Christmas.

Christmas is not about PRESENTS; Christmas is about CHRIST’S presence. His presence with us on this earth is one of the most remarkable and unlikely truths in history.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus didn’t come into the world to receive presents from us but to GIVE! And Jesus Himself is the greatest gift of all. Jesus is “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” Christ’s presence is worth far more than the value of all our presents combined.

This theme is one of the most powerful ones that resonates at Christmas like no other time of the year. The song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is so relatable to us because at Christmas a gift would be great from someone we love, but to have the PRESENCE OF THE GIVER is all the more wonderful.

There’s a country song that talks about all the gifts the kids want from Mom for Christmas, though she is away from them this Christmas. The first chorus goes like this:

Just put a ribbon in your hair, darlin’

You’ll be the best gift anywhere Christmas Mornin’

There’s no worldly treasure

I’d like any better, than you standin’ there

Just put a ribbon in your hair

The presence of the giver is always more important than the gift. Christmas is about God’s PRESENCE with us on earth in the form of a man—Jesus.

II. NEXT, THINK ABOUT THE PARADOX OF THE PLACE. – Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”