The True Meaning of Christmas
Notes
Transcript
The True Meaning of Christmas
A lot of people have a lot of different ideas when it comes to the true meaning of Christmas:
For some it’s all about the shopping and the presents. They might even tell you that it’s better to give than to receive.
For some it’s all about time with family and keeping up traditions. They might tell you that family is the only thing that matters.
For some it’s all about love and joy as one year ends and another gets ready to begin.
Obviously these are all good things, but none of them are the true meaning of Christmas.
The Sunday school answer is the right answer: Jesus is the reason for the season.
But why?
Isn’t it more important that Jesus died and rose again than Jesus was born? Why does it matter that we celebrate Christmas every year?
“If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”
Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”
He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”
Since the creation of the world, human beings have been created to be WITH God.
But our sinfulness has made that impossible.
But the longing exists in each of us to be close to God.
But the bible makes it clear in the Old Testament that being in God’s presence or even seeing God’s face was deadly for sinful human beings.
From the book of Genesis to the book of Malachi, God was unapproachable, untouchable.
Moses could not be allowed to see God’s face because if he did, he would die. (Exodus 33:15-23)
God’s goodness and glory are too much for our eyes.
Israel was not allowed to even touch the mountain that God was on (Ex. 19:12)
His presence is too perfect.
Uzzah was struck dead on the spot when he reached out a hand and touched the Ark where God’s presence dwelt. (2 Sam 6:6-7)
Not even by accident was someone allowed to touch God.
Even the priests were only allowed in God’s presence once a year. (Lev 16:2; Heb 9:7)
The rules for being in God’s presence were so strict that they would tie a rope around their waist so that if they broke the rules, their dead body could be pulled out.
The Old Testament leaves us with a longing to be close to God, but the inability for it to come to reality.
But after 400 years of silence from God, something unthinkable happens...
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
The God who could not be looked at became a human being.
The presence that was too perfect to enter is now with us. Emmanuel.
The God who could not be touched became a baby that had to be held when it cried.
Christmas means that that God Almighty, the Creator, the Perfect One, became a human being so that sinful, weak, imperfect, and rebellious human beings could be with God.
GOSPEL