2020 1220 Christmas Message
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Christmas Day 2020
We celebrate Christmas as one of our most important festivals in Australia and across the world.
Every nation has festivals to mark significant moments in their history and Christmas is no different for us.
Let us we consider the very unique circumstances that has led us to Christmas Day 2020.
The Man Jesus
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Jesus of Nazareth was born to a carpenter, Joseph and his wife Mary.
The story is well known, and just like our Christmas holidays today, it starts with no accommodation being available.
They had to scrounge for a roof over their head as Mary was ready to give birth.
The Significance of Christ
So what influenced the whole world to have as a day of remembrance (not even the right day!)
for a child born in a small insignificant village called Bethlehem,
in a small insignificant nation occupied by the Romans?
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus did lived as is attested by the Gospel accounts and a few references in ancient texts
This is not enough to justify our celebration of Christmas.
Jesus made an extraordinary claim for a man
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Jesus made a statement of immense consequence - I am a man but I AM - I am God Almighty
Many others have made this same claim - all are seriously crazy or demented, all were wrong except
We must make a judgement about this claim of Jesus - is he god?
Was he raised from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in all authority?
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
The Message of Christmas
Christmas confronts our reality of life in this world.
It refuses to accept our everyday and mundane existence and
it meets head on the pain, brokenness and disappointment that can appear at a moment’s notice.
It challenges our man’s ideas and arrogance that we are in control -
only Jesus is bigger than a bushfire, a pandemic, man’authority structures
A Simple Message
Jesus impacted the whole world through a simple message –
that no matter how deep we are in our despair,
no matter how bad our circumstances may be –
there is hope.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength
A Message of Hope
We all have a need for hope, a something greater that can lift us out of the ordinary.
So let us celebrate Christmas and head into 2021 with our promise of hope being alive and well
and stretching into all eternity.