Christmas!

Millions of people woke up this morning to Christmas trees and lots of presents, but the question is, how many grasped the true meaning of Christmas? Do we full grasp what we celebrate today? For four weeks we have been studying God’s Word together in preparation for this morning. We looked at the hope, faith, peace, and Joy that Jesus brings We don’t want this to be just another morning or just another Christmas where it is all about presents and food and time with family, not that those things are bad. They are actually a great gift from God, but this morning is about so much more isn’t it? We want it to be different don’t we. We want it to be more.

As we pause this morning to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s begin with the state of humanity before He came.

Matthew 4:16 ESV

16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Before Jesus came people where dwelling in darkness. What did the darkness represent? They were what?

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

How many people this morning woke up with a tree full of presents who are dead in their sins and transgressions with no idea of the true meaning of Christmas? They may be thinking they are experiencing true joy and hope and love this morning but without Christ can it be real joy, hope, and love? NO! Neighbors, friends, and family members are blind to the true meaning of Christmas they are blind to their real need they are dead in their sins following the prince of the power of the air. And they are blind to the true meaning

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Are you seeing the picture this morning that God paints in His word? Without Christ you are dead in darkness and blinded to the fact that you are. I think of Proverbs 7 that warns of the adulteress woman and the foolish man. Listens as God describes him.

Proverbs 7:22–23 ESV

22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

How many people are stumbling blindly through life? Ignorant of the fact they are cattle blindly going to the slaughter? Or a deer or bird blindly getting caught in a snare? We have to be careful here don’t we? We can still be lead astray into sin. We are reminded in Ephesians 4 that we need to be aware and working towards

Ephesians 4:22–24 ESV

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Our old self is still very much alive isn’t it and if you fail to fight it your old deceitful desires can and will lead you astray. You want to fight that. You want to come this morning to the manager draw near to your God. He will restore your peace, hope, faith, and joy. We should be the most joyful people that our lost friends, family, neighbors know. This Christmas morning my we not loose sight of the magnitude of the gift given in the baby in the manger.

In order to realize the true meaning of Christmas, you must look beyond the crib to the cross, from the Babe in a feeding trough to the Man on a tree, from the occupied manager to the empty tomb, yea, to the occupied throne. Thus Christmas becomes more than a day on a calendar. Christmas envisions eternal vistas—even eternal life for you.

What Is Christmas All About?

Christmas is more than tinsel and toys, trees and toddies, gifts and greetings. It is not merely a word of goodwill lightly spoken and soon forgotten in the raucous cries of conflict.

Christmas is a message of peace on earth among men who are pleasing to God. It is Immanuel, God with us. It is God bending low to lift men up out of the sin and mire of a world which has forgotten God and His will for lost men. It is God in a cradle, the Eternal in a tender baby’s flesh and form.

But Christmas does not stop in Bethlehem. It reaches beyond to Calvary, to the empty tomb, and to the throne where the Savior sits, waiting for His enemies to become his footstool. It is the good news of salvation to all men who will receive it.

As the shepherds came to the manger, saw the Christ child, and went forth to tell the glad tidings; as the Wise Men came from afar to worship and give gifts to him, so should the faithful today bow before Him in worship, praise, and consecration; and then go forth to declare the gospel to a lost world. That is what Christmas is all about!