Unto us a Child is born pt4

The Grinch who “tried” to steal Christmas

Today we are going to learn about a real life Grinch who wants to steal Christmas. Unlike Dr. Seuss's Grinch, this Grinch will never learn to find joy and happiness in Christmas. Because for this Grinch, Christmas is his undoing. The Grinch I am referring to is Satan. We can find his account of his attempt to steal Christmas in John’s account of Christ’s birth. Some of you might be thinking. Wait a minute. John’s gospel doesn’t mention the birth of Jesus. That’s because it’s not found in his gospel.John’s account of the birth of Christ is found in the book of Revelation. Our passage of scripture will be in Revelation 12

(ILLUSTRATION: Add the Dragon figurine to the nativity set.) Nothing spices up a nativity scene quite like a dragon. It certainly disrupts the calm idyllic Thomas Kinkade like scene of the nativity. You hardly expect the scene before you to be one of a “Silent Night” However when we read the scripture, we learn that unfortunately this dragon absolutely belongs in the scene of the nativity.

This is what Revelation 12 tells us.

Revelation 12:1–7 (ESV)

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

The scene is obviously one of cosmic nature right? The battle is happening in the sky, it involves stars falling to earth, a woman who is clothed in the sun and has the moon at her feet. The dragon is large and scary. This Dragon has a clear objective, he’s doing everything in his power to stop a certain child from being born. The Child whom he seeks to destroy is none other than the baby Jesus.

A popular refrain in Christmas choruses speaks about “peace on earth” however in this Christmas account we see War. The dragon (Satan) seeks to devour Christ the minute he is born. Satan understands the advent of Christ’s incarnation of the flesh cannot happen. If Christ is successful in his mission Satan knows he’s doomed to fail. This passage affirms the implications when the word became flesh. The most important moments in human history happened within a span of 33 years, those are the years of Christ's life.

John is using this imagery of a cosmic battle in the sky to explain the cosmic implications of the birth of Christ. There wasn’t a physical dragon present during the birth of Christ. So if there wasn’t a physical dragon waiting to devour Christ, then what or who did Satan use to try and stop Jesus?

Satan is described as this cosmic dragon, however he often uses human agents to oppose and oppress the gospel and the church. The Christmas story is no exception.

We find this agent of Satan at work in Matthew chapter 2.

Matthew 2:1–9 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

he magi show up in Jerusalem looking for the king of the Jews. Usually Herod would have welcomed such company, because he was the king of the Jews. However the Magi were looking for one who’d been BORN king of the Jews. To make things worse for Herod, these astrological experts were saying there were signs in the sky indicating that a new king had been born. Satan had found his ally. Because like Satan, Herods power felt threatened. The dragon knew who he was going to use to destroy the Christ Child

Herod was basically insane. Herod was always paranoid that people were trying to steal his power. He had his sons killed because he was worried they were scheming to steal the throne. He also had his wife executed for the same reason. Except after having her killed, he would mourn at her grave nearly every evening.

Satan would begin whispering in Herods ear. You have to kill this child before he’s a threat. The dragon's plan to devour the child was put into motion. He first tried to trick the Magi into giving up the Child's location. Fortunately the schemes of Herod were exposed to the Magi in a dream, and they went home another way. Herod was furious that he’d been tricked. So Herod sent soldiers into Bethlehem to have all the children under 2 killed. However despite all his efforts, the Christ Child lived and accomplished his mission of being the savior for all mankind.

Since the dragon can no longer devour the Christ Child, he now tries to devour the presence of Christ in the hearts of all believers.

During advent we, along with Christians all over the world meditated on the “Peace, love, joy, and hope” Satan seeks to devour the presence of Jesus in our hearts by stealing our Peace, love, joy, and hope.

How is Satan trying to steal your peace? Maybe the holidays make you anxious and worried, causing your soul to be restless.

How is Satan trying to steal your love? Perhaps you're angry. Life, family, work, something makes you feel bitter and resentful during this Christmas season.

How is Satan trying to steal your joy and hope? Perhaps you’ve suffered loss and hardship, and it’s just really hard to be happy and joyful during Christmas.

Satan is a Grinch who wants to steal. He wants to steal Christmas from us, and he wants to steal Jesus from us. However, please don’t miss this. Satan can only do this if we let him!!

Satan does not have the power to steal the good news of his advent away from you! In John 10:28 we are reminded of this truth.

John 10:28 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

In Isaiah 9 we’ve discussed Jesus as the price of peace, wonderful counselor. Now we see him as a mighty God. Because nobody has the power to steal his mercy, grace, and love. Satan will lie to you, and try to convince you he has this power, do not listen to him! The only one who can separate you from Christ is YOUR choice to leave him. Do not give to Satan that which he is powerless to take.

Satan couldn’t devour Christ when he was born, and he cannot devour him in our hearts. Because unto us a Child is born, and he is our mighty God!