What is Christmas?

Little Johnny came into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner. Christmas was coming up and He thought this was a good time to tell his mother what He wanted. "Mom, I want a bike for Christmas." Now, Little Johnny was a bit of a troublemaker. He had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Johnny's mother asked him if he thought he deserved to get a bike for Christmas. Little Johnny, of course, thought he did.

Johnny's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted him to reflect on his behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why he deserved a bike for Christmas. Little Johnny stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write God a letter.

LETTER 1:

Dear God:

I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a bike for Christmas. I want a red one. Your friend, Johnny

Johnny knew this wasn't true. He had not been a very good

Johnny knew this wasn't true. He had not been a very good boy this year, so he tore up the letter and started over.

LETTER 2:

Dear God:

This is your friend Johnny. I have been a pretty good boy this year, and I would like a red bike for Christmas.Thank you,

Thank you, Johnny

Johnny

Johnny knew this wasn't true either. He tore up the letter and started again.

LETTER 3:

Dear God:

I know I haven't been a good boy this year. I am very sorry. I will be a good boy if you just send me a red bike for Christmas.Thank you,

Thank you, Johnny

Johnny knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get him a bike. By now, he was very upset. He went downstairs and told his mother he wanted to go to church. Johnny's mother thought her plan had worked because Johnny looked very sad. "Just be home in time for dinner," his mother said.

Johnny walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was there. He picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary

Johnny walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was there. He picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Nativity scene, slipped it under his jacket and ran out of the church, down the street, into his house, and up to his room.

He shut the door and sat down and wrote another letter to God.

LETTER 4:

I GOT YOUR MAMA. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.

Signed,YOU KNOW WHO

Dennis the Menace – Rushing downstairs a few days before Christmas and standing before his mother with a wide-open mouth and a large box in his hands, he blurts out, “We’d better call up Santa quick and tell him to cancel that train set I asked for. I just found one on the top shelf of dad’s closet.”

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Carol – “Can’t anybody tell me what Christmas is all about?” Linus takes center stage and quotes the first 20 verses of the Luke 2 Christmas narrative. “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

This morning I want you see another passage in the bible that tells us what Christmas is all about.

Open to the second chapter of Matthew, please. (Read – Matthew 2:1-12)

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR REJOICING, Matthew 2:10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy

Filled with joy

Overwhelmed with joy

The Wise Men had had little in which to rejoice. Their two year journey would have been difficult and dangerous. They had heard of ’s Messiah and had diligently searched for the sign of His coming. They saw the star and the Bible says they were suddenly filled with great joy, overwhelming joy.

Their excitement soon faded to disappointment when upon entering there was no Messiah to be found. Where else do you look for a King than in a Kingly city?

They were told in Micah 5:2, But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. So when they heard about from the words of King Herod’s own prophets they resumed their journey with exceeding great joy.

APP. Christmas is a time of rejoicing for all men. A time to sing songs, and a time to exchange smiles and well wishes of good tidings and to say “Merry Christmas.” Tis a Season to be jolly and to dawn gay apparel. (I do mean that with the purest since of the word). Christmas is a season of peace on earth and good will toward men. A time of rejoicing because unto us a child is born and unto us a son is given.

ILL. The story of Christmas, that God became a man, the incarnation, for you and for me is still cause for exceeding great joy. Despite the depressing reports on the evening news, or the personal problems we often have at this time of year, Christmas is still a time for rejoicing.

2. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR FAMILY, Matthew 2:11

When they came into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother

This to me is a beautiful scene. Perhaps it’s the same scene Michelangelo saw when he created the sculpting of the Madonna.

The reference to the “house” here indicates a passage of time since the birth of Christ in . Some believe as much as two years could have passed since the birth of Christ before the Wise Men arrived in . According to verse 16 Herod’s terrorist actions indicate he believed the Messiah was at least two years of age.

But let’s get back to the family. Joseph was a good earthly father, a good provider and a good role model. Mary, an ideal mother, never left her son. She follows Him all the way to the cross.

APP. Christmas is a time for family. What a great time it is when the family begins to gather together in their special place each year for their traditional Christmas celebration. In most homes across , families gather in living rooms, dens, and dining rooms to renew relationships that have been disrupted by time and distance.

Christmas can also be one of the saddest, loneliest and most difficult times of the year for those who are away from family. We should remember to pray for those who are hurting this year. Separated by jobs, sickness, the military, divorce or even death, many struggle to express the same joy they see in those who have family at Christmas. The song “I’ll be Home for Christmas” often brings only sadness to those who cannot be home for Christmas.

3. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR WORSHIP, Matthew 2:11

They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (NCV)

The Wise Men worshipped the young child Jesus. They did far more than make “goo-goo” noises at the baby Jesus and funny faces. The Bible says they GK - proskunevw

1)to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence

2)among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

3) in the NT by kneeling or prostrating to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication.

APP. As we approach Christmas 2022, it is a time of worship. Our eyes should not be blinded by the gay apparel and brightly colored lights so as to cause us to overlook the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is real. He is alive and He deserves our worship.

Why? Because this tiny unblemished child of God left the security and safety of Heaven’s glory to enter our world of confusion and spiritual darkness, only to be crucified on a Roman cross. That tiny human form, so soft, sweet and cuddly grew worn and callous through His years of hardship and physical abuse until He was destroyed one dark, dismal day.

That’s why He’s worthy of our worship and that’s why Christmas should be a day of worship.

4. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR GIVING, Matthew 2:11

They presented their gifts….

They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (NCV)

We may be surprised to learn who actually began this act of giving on Christmas. Was it the Wise Men, or was it God? Before the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, it was God, through His love for us who gave. He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever….

The Wise men gave gifts that were descriptive of just who the Christ child was. The gold was symbolic of the purity and royalty of His life. The myrrh was a costly ointment associated with times of bitterness, suffering and hardship, even death. The frankincense was a fragrance used in anointing the dead. They were also very practical gifts in that they could have been sold at a great price which would have provided the funds necessary for the family’s move to .

APP. Christmas has always been a time for giving. Many of us recognize our giving of gifts to others is a reflection in some small way of God’s gift to each of us. When we give we are most like God, for God is a giver. Someone said, “The greatest gift God ever gave us He hung on a tree—a tree called Calvary.”

And while we place our Christmas gifts under the tree God put His Christmas gift to each one of us on the tree called Calvary.

Traditionally, as a church, our giving always includes giving to International Missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our goal this year is a challenging one for our church set at $2022. But as we give to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am confident we can reach this goal.

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