The Reason For Christmas

Pastor asked me to deliver a Christmas message tonight. So, I’m going to begin by putting Barry on “Front Street.” For those of you who are not familiar with the phrase, “Front Street” simply means I’m going to share something with you that’s personal and not particularly flattering about Barry. And I’m only willing to do this because you love me!

As a child, for me, from December 20th on, it seemed like time stood still. It felt like Noah was building the ark all over again. You’ve seen the movies. The person passing time constantly looks at the clock – tick, tock, tick tock. In the evenings, to pass the time, I’d sit and watch the artificial aluminum Christmas tree change colors as the color wheel turned and shined on it. I loved looking at that tree. And honestly, it was one of the things that made Christmas so special for me.

Finally Christmas Eve would arrive. I would go to bed thinking about the presents that would be waiting for me on Christmas morning. When our Father woke us up, my brothers and sisters and I would run to the front room, see the presents and yell “Merry Christmas” and begin tearing up paper. Oh, the sounds of Christmas! When we finished opening presents and playing with the toys, we’d go back to bed. We’d wake a few hours later ready to continue our Christmas celebration.

Now, what did you not hear in this retelling of Christmas for Barry? Who’s missing? Not once did I say “Happy Birthday Jesus” or even acknowledge that Christmas was about the birth of our Lord and Savior. Now don’t get me wrong. I knew all of that – just like I knew that hot water would burn you or a twisted ankle hurts like the dickens! You get my point.

Front Street – As a 10, 11, 12 year old, being thankful for the birth of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, was not on my mind on Christmas morning. I was, dare I say it, “laser-focused” on unwrapping my presents and playing with my toys.

You see, our family had already attended, and most of us children had participated in, the Christmas program at Church where we celebrated Jesus’ birth. But on Christmas morning, it was about the presents. It was about the answer to the weeks’ long lingering question: “Did I get what I wanted?”

Let’s fast forward a few years to Christmas in the Barry Johnson household. Again, I’m putting Barry, and Barry alone, on “Front Street.” When our children were under the age of 11 or 12 is when I enjoyed Christmas the most because they were just like me at that age. The children counted down the days. They were excited because they knew they were going to get presents.

When Christmas Day arrived they rushed to the tree to find their presents and I would watch them. There’s nothing quite like seeing your children truly happy. And Christmas does that. Laughter. Giggles. The tearing of paper. Oh, the sounds of Christmas! And many times, the children never went back to bed. They would just fall asleep on the couch, in a chair, or on the floor and Doris and I would have to cover them with blankets.

Again, what did you not hear in this retelling of Christmas for my children? I don’t remember telling them, on Christmas Day, the reason why we celebrate Christmas. I don’t remember talking to them about Jesus’ birth and the reason we celebrate it on Christmas until they got much older. Stephen, am I right about that?

Front Street – The joy of seeing my children enjoying their presents and toys on Christmas overshadowed helping them understand why the day was so important.

I wanted to share this with you for a couple of reasons. First, a person can know something, but not truly know and appreciate its significance. As a child I knew that we celebrated the birth of baby Jesus on Christmas. Who didn’t know that? But understanding the truth that His birth was the single most important birth to happen in human history since creation escaped me.

Sister Jamie said something last Sunday night that is so important for us to understand. She said you can’t talk about the birth of Jesus without also talking about His death and His resurrection. These three events, although 33 years apart, brought full circle God’s plan of redemption and salvation for humanity.

And that’s the second reason for my sharing these parts of my life with you. Recently, the Lord added another layer of understanding that helped me grasp, just a little more clearly, why Christmas Day is so very important.

Why was Jesus born?

Turn with me to Matthew 1. We’re going to read verses 18 – 21.