The Messengers of Christmas

Intro:

The history of Christmas in America can be traced to four primary influences according to and article entitled Why Putting Christ back into Christmas Is Not Enough. David Taylor Writes

1. the legal actions of Puritans in the 17th-century,

2.the domestic celebrations of Queen Victoria, 3.the publication of a Charles Dickens novel, and

4. the work of poets and painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Around the middle of the 17th century, Puritan leaders in New England made the celebration of Christmas illegal. They did so for two specific reasons.

For one, the feast of Christmas involved a great deal of intemperate behavior. During these long winter nights, people feasted in excess, got drunk, engaged in wanton sex, rioted in the streets, and barged into the homes of the well-to-do and demanded that they be given the best of the pantry. Christmas back then looked more like a frat party gone horribly wrong—marked by “mad Mirth and rude Reveling,” as Cotton Mather saw it. It was far from sweet and mild

Another reason the Puritans banned Christmas is that it smelled too much of “Popish” ceremonies.

Because of the Puritan influence on this particular religious holiday, the United States Congress regularly met on Christmas Day from 1789 to 1855. Public schools met on Christmas Day in Boston until 1870. The first state eventually to declare legal the celebration of Christmas was Alabama, in 1836.

Second - One year later, in 1837, Princess Victoria, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, became Queen of England. Three years later she married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Unlike the English Puritans, German Protestant Christians, like Victoria’s mother and Prince Albert’s family, retained the historic traditions of Christmas.

Because Victoria’s Hanoverian ancestors had already introduced the custom of Christmas tree decoration to the English court, it was not a difficult decision for the queen to introduce the Christmas tree to the English people at large. Together Victoria and Albert modeled for the people of the United Kingdom a family-centered celebration. This is the second key influence on Christmas in America.

Third -6 years later Charles Dickens published a Christmas Carol. his story of ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, Dickens essentially created a myth devoid of particulars from the Gospel narratives.

For Dickens, it was the “spirit of Christmas” rather than the Spirit of Christ that captured his attention. Humanitarianism rather than the humanity of Jesus became, for him, finally determinative. Bowler summarizes it, “He revived the lost medieval link between worship and feasting, the Nativity and Yule, and emphasized the holiday as a time of personal and social reconciliation.”

Fourth-John Pintard in the early 19th century. Hoping to inspire the virtuous habits of his Dutch ancestors in the people of New York City, once a Dutch colonial town, Pintard campaigned to make Saint Nicholas the patron saint of the city. As Bruce David Forbes describes it in Christmas: A Candid History:

Under Pintard’s leadership, the New York Historical Society began an annual Saint Nicholas Day dinner on December 6, 1810, and for the occasion Pintard commissioned a woodcut illustration of Nicholas, clothed in a bishop’s robes.

The next year the paintings of St Nicholis clothing changed and stories of him fling over the trees ina horse drawn carriage and sliding down chimneys grew.

Transition: Many Americans talk and feel that it is some sort of magical time, filled with time to go see lights, a time to give and receive gifts, a time for ice skating and Christmas music, Hot chocolate and apple cider, even we made sugar cookies and homemade pretzels over the weekend.But go with me to a time before

Saint Nicholas and his gift giving

Before ebenezer scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Before queen Victoria popularized bringing an evergreen into her home.

And yes, before the time of lewd partying and intemperate behavior that damaged to families.

This morning I would like you to ponder the Forgotten Christmas and the very first messengers of the birth of the Messiah.

Luke 1:5 KJV 1900

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

I. The message to Zacharias (Luke 1:5-25)

a. Setting: Herod, King of Judea

Background Herod - able to deal with the Jews

Judea- Area of palestine where after Captivity the jews would settle. In the strict sense it would be the southern district of Palestine. The other two districts would be Galilee to the north and Samaria in the center.Many of whom were from the tribe of Judah. Included cities and towns such as Jerusalem and Galilee.

b. Zacharias - The course of Abia -A leader of one of the 24 priestly families whose time of service was determined by lot in 1 Chr 24:1–19. Abijah received the eighth lot (1 Chr 24:10).

He was married to Elisabeth of the descent of Aaron.

He was a priest (not the high priest)

They had a sincere and genuine walk with God both in motives and actions.

Righteous

walking in all the commandments and ordinances.

They were older “well stricken in years” vs7

They were faithful

Elisabeth would have known rejection, she no doubt was marginalized, she would have been talked about, looked at as less of a woman because she could not get pregnant.

Zacharias - was faithful to her, He did not try another plot as Abraham and Sarah to force their way to children.

They were faithfully serving the Lord, they had not thrown away their faith or their God because life had gotten tough!

The priest’s office vs8-9

The altar of Incense

c. The angel - vs11-25

Angels in general- ministry (Dickason)

Ministers of worship

agents of God’s government

Protector of God’s people

Executors of God’s judgments

Angels their appearance

Cherubim-indescribable power and beauty, some appearances of two wings, some of 4 ...Ezekiel

Gen 3:24-So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

In the tabernacle in the dwelling place of God on the tob of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies.

Seraphim - six wings as in Isaiah

Only two mentioned by name in the Bible

Michael - the archangel

vs 19 Gabriel - def =mighty one of God

“stand[s] in the presence of God”

His message vs13-19

Fear not - Zacharias in awe

Your prayers have been heard

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ge 3:24). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

II. The message to Mary Luke 1:26-38

a. Mary -

teen girl

From an insignificant background

engaged to a carpenter from Nazereth

a virgin from the seed of David, Jewish

b. Highly favoured vs28- hand picked by the grace of God.

c. The doubting Mary vs 34- 35

f. The assurance of the messenger Gabriel vs35-37

Nothing shall be impossible.vs 37

III. The message to the Shepherds Luke 2:8-18

Read and Explain

APP: Many times in our everyday living we get caught up in the magic of Christmas instead of the majesty of Christ. We forget what it must have been like for those early believers who were religious, humble, poor and a part of the working class to experience a direct message from the throne of Heaven, the messenger Gabriel himself with a heavenly host. We forget the lack of faith of a man like Zacharias and the triumphant faith of Mary and Joseph who believed God’s word that nothing shall be impossible with God!!!!!! We forget about the boldness of a few working class men to boldly proclaim the word of God and to share the message of the coming king!!!!!

ILL: 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible Nim Purja a Mountaineer climber From Nepal