2021.12.24 - The People Who Missed Christmas

The People Who Missed Christmas

…based on a sermon of the same name by John Palmer

Luke 2:1-15 • John 1:10-12

I. Introduction:

A.   Have you ever missed a great opportunity? The story is told of a small resort area along the east coast that was having an open town meeting concerning some financial problems they were facing. Among the two dozen or so people was one man no one seemed to know who was apparently visiting the area and had just dropped in on the meeting. He started to make a comment as various projects were considered but he was interrupted; so for the rest of the time, he kept still and finally left early.                                                                                                     Just as he went out, someone arriving late came in and said breathlessly, “What was he doing here? Is he going to help us out?” The rest of them said, “Who are you talking about? Who was that man?” The person who had just arrived said, “You don’t know who that was? That was John D. Rockefeller.” That night they missed an incredible opportunity because THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHO HE WAS!

B.   The story is told of a shoe salesman who was sent by his company to test the African market. After being there only 2 weeks, he sent word back to America, “Please bring me home, nobody wears shoes over here.” The company brought him home and sent another salesman to replace him. In a couple of weeks, the second salesman sent word back to America saying, “Please send me all the shoes you can because nobody here has shoes.” OUR ATTITUDE AND PERSPECTIVE HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH WHETHER WE EMBRACE OR MISS THE BLESSING.

The East Coast townspeople; the would-be African shoe salesman; They missed their opportunity because they were looking at the circumstances the wrong way. Today I want to look at a couple of people in the Bible who missed that first Christmas so that in the middle of our crazy upside down world, we don’t miss Christmas this year.

II. The Inn Keeper – His life was too crowded for Christ

In the classic reading for tonight from Luke 2, Mary & Joseph go to the Inn Keeper, but the city is swelled with tax-payers. There is no room for them.

Hotels today love to brag about being the luxury get-away- of the stars. In larger cities some hotels brag about the celebrities who have stayed there!

Imagine the story this inn keeper could have told if only he had know who it was that came to his inn that night

I can see the sign now: “Come stay in the first hotel chosen by God himself.”

Why did the Inn keeper miss this incredible opportunity?

His inn was too full with other guests. He was too busy tending to the business already in front of him.

Some people today miss the true meaning of Christmas because our life is too full of “other stuff.” We busy ourselves with things we believe are more important, and when we finally take a moment to slow down, we’ve missed so many opportunities.

Shopping

Decorating

Parties

Cooking & baking for get-togethers

Wrapping and mailing packages

and all the other things that we think must be done for Christmas to be successful

Don’t miss Christmas in the midst of all the “stuff” that crowds the season.

“We plan to go to worship regularly when life calms down a bit for us.”

“Well, my kids have ballgames on Sunday afternoons.”

“I’ll go to worship after it gets too cold to fish or golf.”

Like the Inn Keeper, if we aren’t careful, we could miss the true message of Christmas because our lives are too crowded.

III. Townspeople of Bethlehem – too indifferent to take notice of Christ

John 1:10–12 NASB 2020

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,

Townspeople of Bethlehem – too indifferent to take notice of Christ

The people of Bethlehem, by and large, missed the greatest birth in all eternity because they were only concerned with their own needs, desires, their own busy, full, and burdened lives.

They didn’t even notice this young couple. There were reunion meals to prepare, tax forms to get in order, there were animals to be fed and a night’s rest to be enjoyed.

Compared with what was going on just down the street or across town, how important were those activities?

Compared with salvation and eternity, how important are the things that are keeping you from Christ?

Your career? I don’t see God saying, “Oh, you were the Top Salesman? Well, then by all means you get the place of honor!” or

“Your house was How Many square feet? Wow! Enter into the gates of Heaven.”

I wonder how many people that night walked by the woman who was carrying the Son of God … and how likely it is that I would do the same thing … or that I AM doing the same thing.

Sometimes we are like the people back in those times—indifferent to the most important news of all. “Yeah, Yeah, Jesus came to earth—God in the flesh. I’ve heard this story a hundred times.” “Yeah, I know. He died on the cross for our sins. I’m suppose to accept Him as my Savior. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.” There are people that will admit to these truths, but just don’t want to bother to do anything about them.

Paul Harvey told the story of how one man finally understood the significance of the Christmas story. His family had a Christmas Eve tradition where the mother and the children would go to the Christmas Eve service and the father would stay home and read the paper. (Maybe you’re familiar with that tradition.) When the family returned, they would all gather to open up their presents. The father was not an evil man, but he just couldn’t believe in the childhood stories anymore. He couldn’t believe in God showing up as a baby in a feeding trough. As the family left for the church building, he opened up the paper and read by the fireplace. Suddenly, he heard tapping on the window. It was a bird flying against the glass, trying to get out of the snow into the warmth of the house. The man felt compassion for the bird and he went outside hoping to bring it in. As he approached the bird, it flew against the window even harder—trying to get away from him, until the bird was finally trapped in the bushes below the window. After a few minutes in the cold and seeing the bird continue to injure himself, the man said in frustration, “Stupid bird, can’t you understand that I’m trying to help you?” The man paused and thought, “If only I could become a bird, and get you to understand. Then you wouldn’t fly away from me.” And as the church bells rang their welcome chimes, the man fell to his knees and sobbed, saying, “Oh God, I didn’t understand.”

You see, we should want to never miss the miracle of what happened that night so long ago. I hope God helps us all overcome our indifference to the wonder that truly is Christmas.

IV. King Herod – saw Jesus as a threat

Matthew 2:3 NASB 2020

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

IV. King Herod – saw Jesus as a threat

Many at that time knew about the ancient prophecies regarding the Messiah who was to come and be the king of the Jews. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and be the ruler of the Jewish people. There are over 300 prophecies that were precisely fulfilled by Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Anyone who bothers to look at the clues objectively has to notice God’s clear-cut proclamation that Jesus was His Son – the promised Messiah.

Herod didn’t likely find out the night Jesus was born. In fact, it may have been as long as 2 years until he finally heard about the boy King. But when he heard: he was troubled … and all Jerusalem with him.

Many at that time believed Messiah would be a Military ruler who would come and overthrow the Roman government and re-establish a Jewish nation. Herod was disturbed because he saw this child as a potential rival for his power. It is interesting to note that Herod took the prophecy of scriptures seriously. He would eventually try to pinpoint the time and place, and order all the boys born in Bethlehem around that time to be executed.

It’s easy to make Herod a villain, but there are many Herod’s around today. There are many people who, like Herod, understand and perhaps even believe the teachings of Jesus. But, Instead of submitting their life to Him, they are resistant or perhaps even resentful. They say,

What do you mean “No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.” How narrow-minded of you!

What do you mean I have to surrender my life to God’s will? I worked hard to get to the point in life where I control my own destiny. I’m not going to mindlessly follow some unseen “Savior.”

What do you mean I need to turn from my sin? I can determine what’s right and what’s wrong for myself! Just take a hike and leave me alone!

The People Who Missed Christmas

Sometimes when Annette and I are out eating or just sitting somewhere, we like to look around and wonder about what’s happening with the other people around us. It’s kinda cool to think that we might be part of someone else’s ‘moment’ and not realize it. Maybe they’re making plans for a wedding or a baby. Maybe their planning to move to some far-off land. Maybe they just inherited a million dollars and they’re talking about what to do first. I feel certain we’ve unwittingly been a part of many other peoples’ “moments”.

There are so many characters in the drama of tonight who simply missed Christmas. They lived the day. They walked the streets. They passed right by the very pregnant woman. But they were ignorant of the moment.

Don’t walk by tonight and miss the moment. It’s not really intended to be someone else’s “moment”. It’s yours.

The birth of the Savior is meant to be good news of great joy … for you.

What will you do with it? Now that you’re aware of what’s really happening in that stable with a manger in it … what difference will it make to you?

Let me urge you to make Christ the purpose of Christmas this year. If you need help asking Jesus into your heart today and discovering real purpose, real meaning, and real hope, I pray you’ll reach out to me. If you’re in the sanctuary tonight and you want to know more about asking Jesus into your heart, stick around after the service. Sure, it’s Christmas Eve, but your family will wait for you … or if they won’t, I’ll drive you home. After I say goodnight to everyone leaving, I would be glad to talk with you here in the sanctuary about what this all means and how you can respond.

If you’re watching online, send a Facebook message to the Church and I’ll be the one who responds.

Jesus is inviting every one of you to receive Him as your Lord and your Savior. My question is … will you honor his invitation?