The One in the Manger Gives Himself

Intro

Merry Christmas my friends! What A great time of year? As I was preparing for this morning my heart kept going back to this question.

“Am I Worshiping Christ this Christmas? Or Am I focused on all the things I must do?

Traditionally Christmas began on December 25th and ran until January 5th. Up until recent history the 19th and 20th centuries Christmas lasted 12 days. 12 days of Christ focused reflection.

Today because of our culture you will have after Christmas sales beginning on Tuesday. We have allowed our culture to take this Holy season and devolve it into 6 weeks of stress inducing work to prepare for 24 hrs of Christmas blur.

What that has done is it has robbed us of this abiding and reflecting and resting that should naturally occur.

So this morning as we prepare our hearts to begin Christmas, I challenge you. Do not be so quick to rush it through.

For if we remain busy in our lives we will miss Christ, just like Bethlehem.

I don’t want to miss Jesus this Christmas.

Luke 2:1–16 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

The Message of the Manger Must be Proclaimed

We see in the Christmas story that the first thing following the birth of Christ is the proclamation of this good news. The Angels show up. Not just one angel but an army of angels show up and begin singing

Glory to God in the Highest. Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men.

We see the natural response to Christ birth is the Gospel going forth.

This is a model for you and I not only at Christmas but year round. We should live out the good news. proclaiming in every opportunity given to us by God.

The reality of the gospel should drive us towards evangelism.

It should make us shout it from the rooftops. My King has come!

Perfect and holy and pure, He came.

The Message of the Manger Must Be Understood

In Order for us to either proclaim, or live out the Gospel. WE must come to the deep understanding of what Christmas really is.

It is not gifts and ham, stuffing and pie. carols and ribbons. rather it is Christ coming, perfectly innocent to redeem a perfectly guilty people. It is about God becoming flesh.

The creator of heaven Earth, taking on, blood and tissue, bones, skin.

It is about the infinite, becoming finite. the all powerful, becoming weak. All to redeem a rebellious people.

It is about that same God, walking to the cross, losing His own life so that we could find ours in Him.

WE must understand the deep truths of Christmas so that we can be transformed in Christ.

WE must realize that Jesus was not just another guy.

The Message of the Manger Must Be Acted Upon

Upon hearing the Gospel from the angels the shepherds “went with haste” and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby in the manger.

They heard the Gospel and were so overwhelmed that they ran to Jesus! “WE must see what has happened!”

When you heard this message this morning. In particular, when I read to you Luke 2:8-14

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Were you moved in your Spirit?

Does the Holy Spirit have your heart this morning?

Or is it focused on Dinner, presents. family, movies, the beach, Christmas fun? Is it focused on Next?

Does He have your heart this Christmas? If He does, that news should drive you to both Worship, and Proclaiming the Gospel.

You see if Jesus can’t get our attention on Christmas, how do we expect to give it him the rest of the year?

Closing

This Christmas, let’s make it about Jesus!

Advent Lighting