How to Celebrate Christmas
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· 9 viewsCelebrate Christmas by wonder and worship of the Son of God.
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Introduction:
How do you celebrate Christmas? Most of you will celebrate Christmas somehow this upcoming Wednesday. Think about some of your favorite memories of Christmas.
The Joy of Christmas
Christmas is a joyful time for many. Maybe its watching football or some holiday special. Maybe for you it is a family party. It is going from Christmas party to Christmas party. When I was in Seminary, they would have Christmas chapel where we would sing Christmas songs and after chapel cookies would be laid out on tables for fellowship. It is decorating Gingerbread houses. It is watching nostalgic Christmas movies. It is unwrapping Christmas gifts at Midnight or unwrapping Christmas presents in the morning. Maybe its the smell of cookies and festive foods or Christmas music playing in the background. Or its a Christmas pajama type of day where you just linger around the house.
The Pain of Christmas
For others, Christmas can be extremely painful or lonely. Maybe it is a reminder of the brokenness of your family as you see pictures of well put together families on social media. Maybe you have to work on Christmas day or even overtime. Or maybe its a reminder of someone who is no longer with you on Christmas. Maybe a loved one who used to be at the Christmas party, but through unexpected and tragic events, they are no longer there. So Christmas Day always has a dark gloomy shadow cast over it.
Celebrate the Person and Hope of Christmas
But what I want to do in our brief time this morning, is to help us celebrate Christmas rightly. If you are going to enjoy Christmas rightly, then you need to learn how to celebrate Christmas by not neglecting the point of Christmas, or rather the person of Christmas, nor be depressed this Christmas by missing the hope of Christmas.
Question: How do we celebrate Christmas? The danger for many people every Christmas season is that (1) You can miss the point of Christmas (2) You can miss the hope of Christmas if you don’t know what Christmas is truly about...
Millions of people all around will be celebrating Christmas in the next upcoming days and I predict many will either miss the point (person) of Christmas or they will miss the hope of Christmas.
What I want to do this morning is give us four ways we can celebrate Christmas, so that we can celebrate the true meaning and hope of Christmas.
Scripture Reading:
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. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This is the reading of God’s Word. Because of limited time, I will just comment briefly on some of these verses, and really focus on verses 17-21.
I. Celebrate Christmas with the Word (vv. 8-14)
I. Celebrate Christmas with the Word (vv. 8-14)
In other words, let the Bible inform your Christmas. We don’t want Hallmark, or Disney, or Culture, or Frozen tell us what the Christmas story is about. We want the Bible to tell us what Christmas about. We want His Word.
People will say, “How can I believe in a God I can’t see or touch?”
Well, the Bible tells us that God has revealed himself in many ways. He has revealed himself in Creation (). He has revealed Himself in your Conscience because whether or not you believe in God, God’s Law is written on your heart as the conscience as your conscience accuses or even excuses when you do right and wrong. But the greatest way He has reveled himself is in His Son. And we find the recording of what took place through his followers and the eyewitness testimony of those who followed Him written in His Word.
We don’t want Hallmark, or Disney, or Culture tell us what the Christmas story is about. We want the Bible to tell us what Christmas about. We want His Word.
And the Bible tells us in our passage that Christmas was revealed to the lowly. The Shepherds, who were considered on the bottom of the social and economic ladder. They could not testify in court, they could not worship in the Temple because of their work. Yet the were out in the fields, where they see something glorious take place at nighttime.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
They may have been Shepherds who were connected to the Temple sacrifices as people would have to buy lambs to offer for sacrifices in the Temple. And a an angelic visitor speaks to them and the glory of the Lord, the external manifestation of God’s invisible presence shines through the night sky.
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.
Christmas is about wonderful news. Good news. Glad tidings. For ALL People.
The essence of all religion is be nice, work hard, and Santa will reward you. The essence of the gospel is that we were all bad, there is no work we can do to earn our acceptance before God, and God rewards those who don’t deserve it.
Christmas is not about a list of duties you must fulfill to get on God’s approval list.
But Christmas is about God sending His Son to fulfill the duties you couldn’t fulfill so that you could be on God’s approval list.
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.”
The irony of the Christmas story is the dignity and worth of the child born in such humble circumstances. This child would be born in the city of David, fulfilling biblical prophecy.
He would be called Savior. Or the word is Deliverer.
He would be called Christ. The Greek translation of the Hebrew word Annointed One.
He would be the Lord. He would be the Sovereign Lord.
Yet, even with his exalted status, he would be born humbly. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. The heavens and the angels recognized the identity of the King.
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!”
The peace is given to those who God is pleased to bestow salvation upon.
Those who stand in wonder of the Christmas story understand that this child has been given to us as a gift.
Christmas is about how God brings peace to men through this child, or this person. And God is most glorified by giving peace to those who His favor rest on.
Why do we need peace?
The Bad News. Because the Bible says we are in rebellion against God. We live under the curse and reign of sin until Christ comes into our life. This is the significance of the Christmas story.
Let the Bible inform your Christmas. Let the good news be central in your Christmas celebration.
Read the Christmas Story with your family. Read , , and . Set apart time to honor Christ in your Christmas.
Church—Semper Reformanda. “Always Reforming”. There was no little drummer boy singing at Jesus birth. There wasn’t three wise men. Mary didn’t look perfect after giving birth. Jesus in fact did cry, even though the Hymn says “no crying he makes”.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
The Word governs how we celebrate Christmas, but everything else we do.
Transition: But celebrate Christmas not only according to the Word, but with Wonder...
II. Celebrate Christmas with Wonder (vv. 15-18)
II. Celebrate Christmas with Wonder (vv. 15-18)
People like to do lots of festive activities during the Holidays. They like to go look at these massive Christmas trees with all the decorations. People like to go to Disneyland to see the Castle decorated with lights. Some people like to travel to the Mountains to play in the snow.
Celebrating Christmas
Why?
Because we are people who want to be amazed with wonder. We were made to stand in awe of something bigger and greater than ourselves.
But the Shepherds in our story were not amazed with a fake tree and Christmas lights, but they were truly amazed with the Glory of the Lord and what was spoken by the angels. And they wanted to see what was spoken was true.
So they went in haste. They hurried. And lone and behold, they found the child just as the angels proclaimed.
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
The word wondered is used several times throughout Luke’s Gospel.
The New American Commentary: Luke Comments
“Amazed” is a favorite term of Luke and is found thirteen times in Luke and five times in Acts, whereas it is found only four times in Mark and seven times in Matthew.
It is used of Jesus teaching, casting out demons, silencing the Pharisees, and even after his resurrection from the grave.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Luke e. The Birth of Jesus (2:1–20)
‘The astonishment … is a means to prepare the ground for the fact that the story of Jesus has the character of revelation’ (G. Bertram, TDNT III, 39)
It reflects the “surprise of those who encounter God’s act or revelation.” They were amazed that they were seeing the salvation of God in the baby lying in a manger.
The New American Commentary: Luke Comments
“Amazed” is a favorite term of Luke and is found thirteen times in Luke and five times in Acts, whereas it is found only four times in Mark and seven times in Matthew.
We can be so used to the Christmas story that we lose the wonder of the Christmas story. That God entered human history. The incarnation was God’s plan to reverse the effects of our fallen world.
We can be so used to the Christmas story that we lose the wonder of the Christmas story.
A multitude of angels were praising God.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
The true identity of the child was revealed to angels, to Mary and Joseph, and to the lowly shepherds. And what God had said had been fulfilled and true. Jesus fulfilled the Word of the angels, but also the OT prophecies of being the True Prophet, Priest, and King
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
The essence of all religion is be nice, work hard, and Santa will reward you. The essence of the gospel is that we were all bad, there is no work we can do to earn our acceptance before God, and God rewards those who don’t deserve it.
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.
Wonder the fact that God became a man. That God entered into humanity.
Christmas is not about a list of duties you must fulfill to get on God’s approval list.
But Christmas is about God sending His Son to fulfill the duties you couldn’t fulfill so that you could be on God’s approval list.
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The peace is given to those who God is pleased to bestow salvation upon.
Those who stand in wonder of the Christmas story understand that this child has been given to us as a gift.
Non-Christian—People seek to be amazed with things that do not satisfy or do not last. But Christians will never ceased to be amazed by the works of God for all know truly know Him and study Him.
Christ was ignored by many: innkeeper, Bethlehem, religious leaders, philosophers, and Caesars.
But he revealed himself to the nobodies: Ordinary people who understood the significance of this child.
Christian—Don’t lose the wonder. Don’t be so familiar with Christmas it ceases to amaze you. Pray
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
No man can speak of the things of God with any success until the doctrine which he finds in the book he finds also in his heart. We must bring down the mystery and make it plain, by knowing, by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, its practical power on the heart and conscience. My brethren, the gospel which we preach is most surely revealed to us by the Lord; but, moreover, our hearts have tried and proved, have grasped, have felt, have realized its truth and power.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
I am inclined to think that the astonishment which sometimes seizes upon the human intellect at the remembrance of God’s greatness and goodness is, perhaps, the purest form of adoration which ever rises from mortal men to the throne of the Most High. This kind of wonder I recommend to those of you who from the quietness and solitariness of your lives are scarcely able to imitate the shepherds in telling out the tale to others: you can at least fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne by wondering at what God has done.
Once the Holy Spirit reveals you the true identity, nature, and purpose of this child, then it follows that you celebrate Christmas with worship
“That’s the essence of all religion: work hard, be good, make sacrifices, and you might win your god’s approval.” Tim Chester
The Son became part of an earthly family, so that we can be part of a Heavenly Family.
“Christ, while He is the true Son, has of himself been given us as a brother that what he has of his own nature may become ours by benefit of adoption” John Calvin
Once the Holy Spirit reveals you the true identity, nature, and purpose of this child, then it follows that you celebrate Christmas with worship
“The essence of the Gospel is that God himself appeases his wrath because he offers his Son as the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. The essence of paganism is that we do everything we can to earn the approval of our God. The essence of the gospel is that God does everything we can’t to give his approval to his people.” Tim Chester
Transition: The first way you can celebrate Christmas is with word, and with wonder, but the third way you can celebrate Christmas is through Worship....
II. Celebrate Christmas with Worship (v. 19)
II. Celebrate Christmas with Worship (v. 19)
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
As a parent, there are certain things I treasure in each of my children. I remember the first time I held my firstborn in my arms. Valor with his raspy voice. Or I remember Reverie who would always suck her thumb and fall asleep perfectly. And I remember how Verity was so little because she was premature, was unable to speak, but now crawling around and babbling with her siblings.
These are things I treasure as a parent. There are some things that are forever etched in your memory.
But for Mary, she experience something so much more with this child. From Angelic visitors, to Wise men offering gifts of the King, to the prophecies of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Anna and Simeon, to what was being said by the Shepherds, to her miraculous conception of the Child, all these things she was treasuring in her heart.
I can only imagine if she had Instagram back then. She would put this on her highlight videos. Memories that she would remember forever.
Treasured (Emotions)—ongoing contemplation of these events...
Pondering (Intellect)—Thinking over and trying to put together all the pieces...
We can say she was mulling over these things. She was contemplating over these things. She was reflecting on these events. Even though she could not make sense of it all now, she was just trying to savor every minute of it.
In Her Heart-(wil)--That is the center of human personality. The heart is the real you.
Christian—Like Mary, do you treasure and ponder these truths of the birth of Christ and what it means to you? That the child born was the child coming to bring peace. The child born was to One day end all oppression. The child born was the One who would die for your sins. The child born in a manger, would be the child who would secure your place in heaven. The heart should erupt in worship.
The Son became part of an earthly family, so that we can be part of a Heavenly Family.
“Christ, while He is the true Son, has of himself been given us as a brother that what he has of his own nature may become ours by benefit of adoption” John Calvin
For Mary, the child she bore, would be the child who would save her from her sins and not only her sins, but the sins of the whole world.
Ponder of God’s love for you that He sent His Son.
Ponder of God’s mercy to you that He gave His Son.
Ponder of God’s grace to you that He made you a Son.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship: being astonished at what God has done, you will pour out your soul with astonishment at the foot of the golden throne with the song, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and majesty, and power, and dominion, and might be unto Him who sitteth on the throne and doeth these great things to me.”
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either heard, or felt, or known, and then let your fond affections hold him fast evermore. Love him!
Ponder of God’s mercy to
Non-Christian—Ponder the truths of Christmas. Look into. Reflect on it. Read the Bible and see whether these things are true. Ask a Christian here what it means to be a Christian. Wonder must lead to worship.
Non-Christian—Ponder the truths of Christmas. Look into. Reflect on it. Read the Bible and see whether these things are true. Ask a Christian here what it means to be a Christian.
Non-Christian—Ponder the truths of Christmas. Look into. Reflect on it. Read the Bible and see whether these things are true. Ask a Christian here what it means to be a Christian.
IV. Celebrate Christmas by being a Witness (vv. 20-21)
IV. Celebrate Christmas by being a Witness (vv. 20-21)
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
They probably returned to the field. They didn’t leave their calling as shepherds. This was the most amazing thing they had seen in their lives. The angels, the lowly parents, the lowly Servant-King who is the Savior of all the world.
And the natural response of these nobodies was to glorify and praise God for all they heard and seen.
They were shepherds, but they were changed from the inside.
They heard it with their hears.
They seen it with their eyes.
The shepherds were the first evangelists.
The shepherds were the first evangelists.
Because they hear and see, they can’t help but to testify and praise God. God makes promises and He fulfills promises.
Witness—is the Greek word where we get the Word Matyr from. It was used of Chistians who would testify want they saw and heard. And they gave their lives for it.
Christianity will never leave you the same.
And they couldn’t help but praising God for what the child meant to them.
And they couldn’t help but praising God for what the child meant to them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus means “The Lord is Salvation”.
It is appropriate to sing praises to our God and King this season because we know what the songs mean.
Who would you expect to see at the birth of a King?
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Giving honor to God for his acts. God’s word had come to the pass. God makes promises and He Keeps promises.
Christian—We must tell others. We can’t he;lp to praise our God. You will never be the same. We are ambassaords of good news (2 Cor. 5:21)
Non-Christian—The best way you can celebrate Christmas this year is by becoming a Christian.
Acknowledge to God you are a sinner.
Acknowledge that God has give you a Savior.
Repent and Place your Faith in Christ.When you trust in Him, angels will give praise to God.
Heaven is erupting with praise. And earth seems to be silent with lowly parents and lowly shepherds.
Christian—Have a realistic understanding of Christmas.
Conclusion: There is a wrong way and right way to celebrate Christmas.
The wrong way is to ignore the person of Christmas, just like the innkeeper, just like the Caesars, just like the religious leaders of the Day.
The wrong way to to ignore the hope of Christmas. By not realizing what the child represents and what He has come to do.
The right way to celebrate Christmas is to celebrate Jesus, who is revealed to us in the Bible.
The right way to celebrate Christmas is with wonder, by being amazed at Jesus.
The right way to celebrate Christmas is with worship, by treasuring Jesus.
The right way to celebrate Christmas is by witnessing, by telling others of Jesus because of the great things He has done
The shepherds were the first evangelists.
Christmas doesn’t ignore our many pains; neither does it bid us wallow in them. Christmas takes them seriously, more seriously than any secular celebration can, and reminds us that our God has seen our pain and heard our cries for help (as in ; ; ), and he himself has come to deliver us.
Christmas, in this age, doesn’t guarantee merry and bright. Not yet. But it does promise that merriness and brightness are breaking in. Christmas, at its best, gives us a peek of the uncompromised joy that is coming, and as we glimpse it, even from afar, we have a foretaste. Like the apostle Paul, and the man of sorrows himself, we are “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (). We may be overwhelmingly sorrowful at Christmas, and yet in Christ, by his Spirit, God may give us the wherewithal to rejoice. David Matthis
“Jesus became a member of the human family, so that we might be members of the family of God.”
May you have a merry Christmas as you celebrate the Christ of Christmas by treasuring, adoring, and telling others of what Jesus has done for you.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
This, indeed, might make the tongue of him that sleeps to move,—the mystery of God incarnate for our sake, bleeding and dying that we might neither bleed nor die, descending that we might ascend, and wrapped in swaddling bands that we might be unwrapped of the grave-clothes of corruption.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
No man can speak of the things of God with any success until the doctrine which he finds in the book he finds also in his heart. We must bring down the mystery and make it plain, by knowing, by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, its practical power on the heart and conscience. My brethren, the gospel which we preach is most surely revealed to us by the Lord; but, moreover, our hearts have tried and proved, have grasped, have felt, have realized its truth and power.
Glory is the bright shekinah glory God’s majetic presence.
Jesus is Savior, Christ, Lord.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
I am inclined to think that the astonishment which sometimes seizes upon the human intellect at the remembrance of God’s greatness and goodness is, perhaps, the purest form of adoration which ever rises from mortal men to the throne of the Most High. This kind of wonder I recommend to those of you who from the quietness and solitariness of your lives are scarcely able to imitate the shepherds in telling out the tale to others: you can at least fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne by wondering at what God has done.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship: being astonished at what God has done, you will pour out your soul with astonishment at the foot of the golden throne with the song, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and majesty, and power, and dominion, and might be unto Him who sitteth on the throne and doeth these great things to me.”
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
She wondered: she did more—she pondered. you will observe there was an exercise on the part of this blessed woman of the three great parts of her being; her memory—she kept all these things; her affections—she kept them in her heart; her intellect—she pondered them, considered them, weighed them, turned them over; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about these things.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XI Holy Work for Christmas (No. 666)
Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either heard, or felt, or known, and then let your fond affections hold him fast evermore. Love him!