Christmas Has A Cost

Christmas was expensive for Mary and Joseph.

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

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Joseph adopted a child that wasn’t his.

Mary boar the stigma of a sin she never committed.

Mary, Jesus’ mother, faced an unplanned pregnancy. Considering the time period of Jesus’ birth, it was likely that she was very young. She faced the shame associated with being single and pregnant

Christmas was expensive for Christ.

Matthew 1:21 ESV

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

He left privilege to face persecution.

Matthew 3:17 ESV

17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 58.53 ἀγαπητός, ή, όν

ἀγαπητόςb, ή, όν: pertaining to one who is the only one of his or her class, but at the same time is particularly loved and cherished—‘only, only dear.’

ἀγαπητός one who is the only one of his or her class and therefore has exceptional value.

He gave up heaven to face hell.

Preaching with Balance: Achieving and Maintaining Biblical Priorities in Preaching The Cost of Christmas

The giving of this special gift had long been considered. He thought about it for what seemed an eternity. It would be a gift with an unimaginable price tag.

The giving of this special gift had long been considered. He thought about it for what seemed an eternity. It would be a gift with an unimaginable price tag.

Preaching with Balance: Achieving and Maintaining Biblical Priorities in Preaching The Cost of Christmas

: What would it be like to give up everything for nothing? To be a ruler and become a servant? To give up unquestioned authority, unbelievable power, and unsurpassed status?

Preaching with Balance: Achieving and Maintaining Biblical Priorities in Preaching The Cost of Christmas

Case Study #4: The birth of Jesus affected everyone. The innkeeper; the shepherds; the wisemen; King Herod; Jesus’ contemporaries; Pontius Pilate. All of these had to pay the price of a decision.

CHRISTMAS WAS COSTLY TO THIS WHOLE ASSORTMENT OF PEOPLE.

Proposition: THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CHRISTMAS IS COSTLY FOR EVERYONE FOR ALL MUST PAYTHE PRICE OF A DECISION ABOUT CHRIST.

Christ birth forced a costly decision for everyone he encountered.

It was costly for Joseph.

It was costly for Mary.

It was costly for the Magi.

It was costly Herod.

You can’t encounter the Christmas Story with out being confronted with the cost of a decision about Christ.

Everyone must pay the price for their decision about Christ.