The Day After Christmas

Scripture Galatians 4:4-7

Intro:

I’d like to open tonight with a question, one that you may not have considered this year, but one that may remind you of memories from previous Christmas’s

“How many of you have ever felt a little strange the day after Christmas?”

Ill dig into why I ask this question in opening…

I’ve obviously been spending a lot of time with kids here at church being the children’s pastor, and it is very clear to me that we have a lot of kids who are excited for Christmas. Some started to pray for Christmas to go well before Thanksgiving even arrived. I’d imagine there is many of us here today, who look forward with great anticipation to all they expect to find on Christmas - (Maybe for the kids, would one of you Raise your hand if you would be willing to share something you most look forward to on Christmas day)

It’s normal for us to get excited about the blessing Christmas brings - time with Family, Friends, Food, Gifts, A Day Off From School or Work, All the hustle and Bustle finally Slowing Down.

If we think about our Culture today, There is no denying there is so much build up to Christmas. It’s like the whole world begins to prepare for it months in advance. Some of us start listening to Christmas carols as soon as Thanksgiving rolls around - if you are a Christmas rebel maybe sooner. The shopping ramps up early also, the stores are filled with Christmas themed decoration before Halloween has even passed- our thoughts begin to fill with gift ideas for our loved ones. Travel plans are nailed down, All our yearly traditions are set once again in order to make sure everything will be just right.

Eventually the big day will come. We are only 4 day away now. Lord willing it will all go according to plan and that it will feel like the best day of the year. The sun will still go down and things will begin to slow. Eventually we will lay our heads down on Christmas night, hopefully thanking God for the day, maybe for some relieved to have made it. But for some, I’d imagine they may be met with some longing in their hearts that the next morning, December 26th, it could be done all over again.

I’ve been thinking about the emotions that Christmas brings, and as I’ve read more of the Christmas scriptures this month, I’ve thought about How big a day Christmas is made to be from the perspective of all those we read about in the Christmas story.

…and yet even the events in the scriptures came and went.

As we look to the scripture tonight, I’d like to encourage us to recognize that God’s intent for the first Christmas, sending Jesus, was to do far more than provide a day where we experience temporary goodwill toward men. But that the reason Jesus was born as a man, lived as man, died as a man, and ultimately rose again, was to make an eternal difference that can and should be experienced every day of our lives.

So What is the Big Picture: Although our Christmas this year may have parts that feel fleeting or temporary, parts that we wish we could bottle up and keep forever, May God help us to see that the first Christmas day, when Jesus Christ was formed as a man, all was done in according to Gods specific plan, and it was to do something eternal.

As we return the scripture:

Galatians 4:4 “4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

1. The first Christmas happened on Purpose.

This verse could also be understood as, “at the chosen time” God sent forth Jesus to be born as a man, who would be subject to the laws of God, just as we are.

It was not random

It was not accidental

It was not rushed

It was not late

A few Sunday’s ago, Pastor Josh taught us from Luke 1 how God was orchestrating the events in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and later in scripture we can see with Joseph and Mary. But truthfully, from the very beginning of time God had a plan, and the scripture all throughout points to God’s leading his creation toward the fulfillment of his plan.

Luke 2:1 “1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

Luke 2:4 “4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”

Luke 2:8–15 “8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

Imagine if things happened sooner, or if they happened later. We can trust God with his perfect timing, even when we know we can’t trust our own.

Illustration: “Jerlin’s Driving Lessons” Not yet…Not yet...Now

God also declared all that would happen to Mary, and who Jesus was

God was revealing his plan to mankind.

We can trust the plan of God

2. The first Christmas was not to give a temporary gift.

a. Redemption

Galatians 4:5 “5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

The first Christmas was not mainly about peaceful feelings, family traditions, or even simply a special day. It was all done to bring about REDEMPTION - Rescue from sin.

Sin separates us from God. For God is so perfect and holy, and sin so far from him that, that we who have sinned even a single time are forever separated from God in our sinful state.

Sin is far from God

Sin is contrary to God’s Nature

Sin is impossible for God

Sin is to be cast out of the presence of God

Sin is to be Judged by God

Sin is a problem we cannot fix ourselves, How could we wash ourselves of our sins. Even if we cover a single sin with nothing but good that single sin remains. Yet we are filled with so much more than a single sin. And our good falls so short.

Many of us in our pasts have tried to cut off sin, to say this is the last time, it will never happen again,

Many of us have learned to turn an eye from our own sin and to say it is fine, or it is normal, or that we are not that bad.

But nonetheless are sins are permanently stuck to us, and we permanently stuck in them. And were we to come face to face with God the Perfect, Holy, and Sinless one, we would no doubt declare we are Unclean, and unable to remain in his presence.

Listen friends, we turn an eye, but we must recognize that…

Sin is a problem we cannot fix ourselves, it has caused us to fall from separate in our relationship with God, into a place of threatening judgement.

Ill. I have a friend Ricky who wants to start winter Mountaineering and backcountry skiing. We are hopefully prepping for a Mount Washington winter summit. There are many dangers to watch out for. There are tree wells which can swallow you up if you step to close to a tree that has sunken snow in it. We know it is necessary to bring someone along, that they would be able to help in a situation where something goes wrong.

Friends, our sin is a problem that we could bring our very best of friends to try and help us out of the trouble it brings, but it would fall short.

There is noone but Jesus who was capable of coming and helping us do what we could not do. He alone was able to deal with our sin problem. The Bible itself declares this was part of God’s plan. That we would be rescued from the penalty of sin through Jesus Christ.

2. The first Christmas was to Change our Status forever.

Christmas is pictured as the start to God’s ultimate plan, an adoption. ...that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are....

Galatians 4:5–7 “5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Ill. I can’t help but think of Amanda’s Adoption. I didn’t realize the events of this week would line up with this passage of scripture at all when I began to prepare it. I didn’t realize the timing of it all, but this week I have been praising the Lord that little girl has joined into the frost family officially. But I’d like to draw our attention reality of what God was planning to accomplish through Jesus being born as a man. It was so that we would “receive the adoption of sons.” That we would no longer be a slave, but a son(or daughter.)

I honestly don’t know all of the legal proceedings that go into an adoption. I know there is a lot that needs to happen. I know that a lot of hard work goes into. I know that a lot love, and care, and sacrifice, and commitment were given on the part of Pastor and Mrs. Beth.

And I understand that this week when the final court meeting was held there was an air of excitement. There was a feeling of celebration.

There was a lot of buildup

There was a lot of excitement on the day.

There is a future where Amanda will wake up everyday in the love of her parents care.

There was a lot of buildup to the first Christmas

There was a lot of excitement on the big day

Because of all that Jesus did, there is a future when every day we will wake up in the love of our Father, and we can cry Abba! Father!

3. The Question That Follows Us Past December 25 (4 minutes)

Ask plainly: “How will you feel the day after Christmas?”

When the decorations come down

When the food is gone

When life feels normal again

Core application: If Christmas is only about one day, it will always leave us wanting more. But if Christmas is about adoption into God’s family, your joy can continue forever.

For believers:

Rejoice—not just in the season, but in your identity

For unbelievers:

The invitation is still open

Adoption is offered, not earned

Closing (Short, Warm, Pastoral)

Summarize in one sentence: The first Christmas didn’t come and go—it was the door opening for sinners to become sons and daughters of God forever.

Final encouragement: This Christmas, don’t just celebrate a birth— rejoice in belonging to the family of God.