Finding the Heart of Christmas

Introduction

Today we are continuing our look at Advent. The coming of Jesus as a Baby in a Manger.

Now here’s the thing: I’ve been sharing the Christmas story for more than 40 years. In fact, I’ve shared the Christmas story from all different ways here at Mt. Olive for 22 Christmases. So this year, I thought we might have some fun with Christmas this season. I’ve entitled this series “Christmas at the Movies.” Now some of you might be uncomfortable with this idea, but I want to challenge you to enjoy the season. So this year we are going to look at three different movies, that help express what Christmas is all about!

Today we are looking for the heart of Christmas. What gives this season’s its heart?

In the Movie “The Grinch” The main character “Grinch” (played by Jim Carey) thinks that if he can take all the gifts, all the toys, all the decorations, and all of the food Christmas will be ruined! And that is his belief!

However, his plan is hindered by a little “Who” from Whoville by the name of Cindy Lou. She believes that the Grinch just needs to be loved. He just needs a little “Christmas Spirit!” He needs to be included in the festivities of Christmas in Whoville.

Watch this clip

(Play— “Bad judge of character”)

Let me ask you a question: “What do you think is the heart of Christmas?” Our base passage for today will be out of John 15. If you have your Bibles, you might want to go ahead and turn there. And we’ll begin reading with verse 9.

John 15:9–11 NIV84

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

The Heart of Christmas—A Relationship with Jesus

In verse 9, we are told that Jesus’ love for us is actually at the heart of Christmas, and the heart of why he came to earth!

God wants a relationship with mankind! He wants to be able to relate to us to interact with us. God wants to return to the kind of relationship He had with mankind in the Garden of Eden when in the cool of the day, God would come and walk and talk with Adam and Eve. When we come to Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, we see God doing what He always did. He came to visit with His creation.

Genesis 3:8 NIV84

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

From that moment on, man has seen God working His plan to allow mankind to once again walk and talk with Him.

So at the heart of Christmas is God’s desire to relate to mankind. The problem is that mankind has sinned and continues to sin. That rebellion against the Creator must be paid. So He sent Jesus.

Romans 5:8 NIV84

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus died in our place so that we could be placed into a right relationship with God. He—Jesus—paid the penalty for our sin.

Yet John 15 tells us exactly how great God’s love is for us.

John 15:9–13 NIV84

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

I love these verses. Jesus gives a command to His followers. They are to love each other. Next, He demonstrates the greatest form of that kind of love! His death on the cross for us!

Finally, in this passage Jesus calls His disciples “Friends.” But there’s a catch! Look at verse 14.

John 15:14–15 NIV84

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

In order for us to experience the heart of Christmas we need to live in obedience to the commands of Jesus.

Yet there is another important point in these two verses. You see, Jesus desires to have an intimate relationship with us! “Instead, I have called you friends. . .” Followers of Jesus are considered to be friends! Imagine being a friend of God! Yet our friendship is based on two things. (1) Accepting the Gift of Jesus. (2) Obedience to Jesus.

Paul echoed this idea in Colossians 1.

Colossians 1:21–23 NIV84

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Now before you get the big head, verse 16 reminds us that we didn’t do anything to deserve salvation.

John 15:16 NIV84

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

The Heart of Christmas —A Relationship with Others

John 15:17 NIV84

This is my command: Love each other.

Throughout this passage Jesus emphasized our relationship with other followers of Jesus. Not only are we to love Him, but we are to love the other followers. Notice, this is not optional. IT IS A COMMAND!

You know, one of the problems with other followers of Jesus is that they are not very lovable. They are different than us. They don’t walk and talk like us. Some don’t even value the same things we value. And some of them even mess up our beautiful traditions!

(Grinch clip—”Messing up Christmas”)

It really doesn’t matter who they live; it does not matter what they do; and it doesn’t matter how they act Jesus tells us to love them unconditionally!

That’s one of the things I like about the Grinch. Little Cindy Lou Who showed that kind of love even after the Grinch took EVERYTHING that people thought Christmas was all about. This little girl still went after the Grinch.

(Show Clip—“Heart Grew Three Sizes”)

This Christmas, I want to challenge each of us to discover the Heart of Christmas—A vibrant, loving relationship with Jesus. AND a loving relationship with God’s people. Then you will reflect the light of Jesus to the world around you!

[Prayer]