"The Sad Part About Christmas"

"THE SAD, SAD, PART ABOUT CHRISTMAS"

TEXT: MATTHEW 2:1-12

INTRODUCTION

In 3 days it will be Christmas day. All over the world people are fighting the crowds at malls, wrapping presents, putting bikes and swing sets together, sitting on Santa’s lap, decorating Christmas trees, putting lights on their homes, cooking big dinners, going to Christmas parties, singing Jingle Bells and frosty the snowman. People everywhere, from ages 1 to 92 are excited, and they are wishing just about everyone they meet, a Merry Christmas.

What’s the big deal, what’s all the excitement about?

True, the world is excited and busy there can be no doubt about that, but most are not excited for the same reason that Christians, "should" be excited.

Most of our world has no idea what Christmas is all about. A few years back around Christmas I watched an episode of the TV show Rosanne. During the week I had seen a commercial advertizing the show and I wanted to watch the show to hear what was said. In the show, Rosanne is having a discussion with her mother about whether or not God exists. And her sister walks up in the middle of the conversation and whines, "come on it’s Christmas, let’s not be talking about God now". And you could hear the audience laugh.

They just don’t get it do they?

Now, I don’t have anything personal against Santa, Rudoulph the Red nose reindeer or frosty the snow man, But I do have a problem with the fact that the world puts them ahead of Christ. Look around at the decorations and compare the number of Santa’s and reindeers you see to the number of nativity scenes or the number of shows on TV about the true menaiung compared to others. Who wins, it’s sad isn’t it?

I’d like to read to you a parody of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ, that really underscores just how far our world has let the true meaning of Christmas slip away from them.

"And there were in the same country children keeping watch over there stockings by the fireplace. And lo! Santa Claus came upon them, and they were sore afraid. And Santa said unto them `Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

that is for all people who can afford them. For unto you will be given great feasts of turkey, dressing and cake; and many presents; and this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the presents, wrapped in bright paper, lying beneath a tree adorned with tinsel, colored balls and lights. And suddenly, there will be with you a multitude of relatives and friends, praising you and saying, `thank you so much, it was just what I wanted’ And it shall come to pass as the friends and relatives have gone their away to their own homes, the parents shall say to one another, What a mess to clean up! I’m tired, let’s go to bed and pick it up tomorrow. Thank goodness, Christmas only comes once a year!’ And they go with haste to their cold bed and find their desired rest."

Year after year, Christmas comes around and yet the majority of people never give a second thought to the only reason we have christmas to begin with. They don’t understand that without Christ their Christmas is just mas.

God because He loved the world so much: came into the world, put on human flesh, and he even started out the same way you and I did, as a soft and tender crying baby >>> yet far too many people don’t ever take the time to go and see this king -- to bow down and worship him.

You see, the sad sad part about Christmas is that some people don’t know, they don’t understand, they refuse to even consider that the only reason we have Christmas, is because in the town of Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago, God made a promise come true. A promise to send a Savior to redeem mankind. And they don’t realize that this promise is for them too, it is their gift from God. But not only will they not open the gift, many won’t even take the time to look at the package.

Now, this insanity is not something new, it is not something that was made up by the American culture. No this insanity is nearly 2000 years old.

For you see, as soon as Jesus was born into this world He began to force men to make a decision >> from that day in the manger they began grouping themselves into three separate groups, 3 groups which men are always divided into by the Lord.

Today as we study Matthew 2:1-12 we will see the 3 paths that men will take when they are confronted with Jesus and his truth. MATTHEW 2:1-6