The Truth of Christmas

Introduction:

Today is our celebration service of Christmas. This is an interesting and busy time of year for almost everyone! Busy preparing all the events and food. Who is bringing what food and what do we get for crazy uncle Larry this year.

Unfortunately for many this day will pass them by in a blur and they will be so focused on the events of the day they will miss what this day is all about.

I’m not talking about Santa Clause, Christmas trees, pretty lights, and from some of us poorly wrapped gifts. No this is not what Christmas is really about. I’d say that even some Christians don’t even fully understand what the truth of Christmas is.

That what I’d like to speak with you about today. The title of my message today is “The Truth of Christmas.”

If we were to strip away all the beautiful decorations, all the great traditions, and all the gifts what would be left? What is at the core of Christmas? Where did it all start?

It all started with a little baby born 2,000 years ago in a barn in Bethlehem. This is who we will read about and look at today as we finish our study on the characters of Christmas.

Look with me at

Matthew 1:19–2:4 NKJV

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

1. Jesus (1:21)

Matthew 1:21 NKJV

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Jesus, the absolute fundamental of the Christian faith! You can look at other religions like Buddhism and see that Buddha is not essential to be a Buddhist. Mohammed is not essential to be a Muslim. But everything in Christianity revolves around Christ. If you take Christ out of Christianity you literally have nothing. Some have tried but have not been successful.

There is power in the name of Jesus! We end out prayers “In the name of Jesus.” We talk with Jesus. Jesus has done so much for us! what a beautiful name the name of the son of God Jesus!

The angle told Jospeh he will call the child’s name Jesus. and he will save his people from their sins!

The whole reason Jesus came to the earth was to save us from our sins. He was born to die! So, like we saw last week, we can be reconciled with God the father!

But here in this passage we see Jesus given another name with deep meaning.

2. Immanuel (1:23)

Matthew 1:23 NKJV

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

As we see in the scriptures the name Immanuel means “God with us.” The amazing thing about this verse is that it is a fulfillment of prophecy from back in Isaiah.

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

The fulfillment that the Messiah would come and be born of a virgin was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus! and this is good news to us all!

Jesus was born, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, rose from the dead, now once we receive the free of salvation he is with us for eternity!

What a wonderful promise he gives us in

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Immanuel God with us!

3. King (2:2)

Matthew 2:2 NKJV

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Many times when we picture the scene of Jesus laying in the manger. We also see all the animals, the shepherds, and the three wise men. however if you are to study more in depth you will find that the wise men were not there that night.

They didn’t find Jesus till he was about three years old. We also are not told that there were only three of them. I believe it to be many more all who brought three types of gifts. Because to travel by animal in this time was very dangerous and I don’t think they would have traveled only the three of them with all that gold!

With all this in mind the wise men were seeking a King. not just any King tho. he was the king of the Jews. and he is the King of kings!

S.M. lockridge said:

He's in purely powerful He's impartially merciful Do you know Him? That's my King

I wonder do you know Him? That's my King He's the King of Israel That's my King

He's the King of righteousness That's my King And He's the Lord of Lord

He's endurably strong He's entirely sincere He's eternally steadfast He's morally graceful

He's in purely powerful He's impartially merciful (I wonder do you know Him?) Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon That has ever crossed the horizon Of this world

He's God's son He's a sinners' savior He's a centerpiece of civilization Jesus, that's my King

I wonder do you know Him? That's my King He's the King of Israel That's my King

He's the King of Heaven That's my King And He's the Lord of Lord

He's the only one qualified To be at all sufficient savior Jesus (I wonder do you know Him?)

He supplies strength for the weak He's available for the culprit and the pride He symphathizes and He saves He strenghtens and sustains

He guards and He guides He heals the sick (I wonder do you know Him?) He cleanse the lepers He forgives sinners

He discharges debtors Jesus That's my King

I wonder do you know Him? That's my King He's the King of glory That's my King

He's the King of Kings That's my King And He's the Lord of Lord

I wish I could describe Him to you He's indescribable He's incomprehensible He's invincible He's irresistible

You can't get Him out of your mind You can't get Him off of your hands You cannot leave Him And you can't live without Him

Tha Pharisees couldn't stand Him But they found out they couldn't stop Him I couldn't find any fault in Him Heroth couldn't kill Him

Death couldn't have Him And the brave couldn't hold Him Hey! That's my King, Jesus That's my King

Do you know the King of Kings? He can be the Savior of your sins today!

If you are not born again then friend you are heading straight to a place called Hell. Why? you ask. Because you have broken Gods law and as a good judge he must punish liers just like he must pun ish murders and thieves!

But you can be pardoned in you repent of your sins and don’t just believe but trust in Jesus the King to save your soul from eternal punishment in Hell! and he promises in the bible that he will save you! Turn to Jesus today!

The last title given to our savior in this passage is...

4. The Christ (2:4)

Matthew 2:4 NKJV

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Notice it says “the Christ” not a christ but the Christ. Why? Because there is only one Christ!

The amazing thing about this name is it sums up all the other three into one! He is Christ, Jesus the one to save us from our sins, Immanuel God with us, and the king of Kings!

The Christ also means the Messiah.

In the Bible, the Messiah is the anointed king through whom God establishes his rule over the world. For Israel, this kingly hope was specifically related to a coming king who would descend from the lineage of David. The New Testament understands Jesus as the Jewish messiah, the one through whom God established his kingdom.

We know the kingdom Christ brought was not of this world but was of a different world.

John 18:36 NKJV

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

The Kingdom of God is Heaven. As members of that nation, that kingdom, we have a responsibility to its King. That is King Jesus! our responsibility is to advance the kingdom by sharing the glorious news of the Gospel with the lost. To live a life that shines with the goodness of God everywhere we go!

Conclusion:

Church, the truth about Christmas is that Christ was born to die because he loves us and wants us to glorify him in our lives!

We need to get back to the core of what Christmas really is. Its not about Santa Clause, a tree, gifts, of over eating. Christmas is time to celebrate, with family and friends, the birth of our Savior!

Jesus, Immanuel, King, the Christ! When we get to the core of Christmas then we get to what not only this day but every day should be about we find true joy, true peace, and true happiness!

Let me encourage you this week as you prepare for the “BIG DAY” not to forget who this day really represents! and celebrate Jesus this year not what the world has turned Christmas into!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank you for who you are, how great you are, and your love for us! I ask that you would bless ever one who watches this special service that they would receive a special blessing this Christmas! We give you all the glory! In the name of Jesus, amen!