What is the Real Meaning of Christmas? (What's the point of it all?)
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· 54 viewsWhat is the real meaning of Christmas? This is one of the most important questions to ask and answer. For some of us, Christmas is about giving and getting gifts. For some, it's about family and gatherings. For others, it can be a lonely, depressing, and anxious time for all sorts of reasons. Whatever your reaction is, you are invited to "Deeper" in this series as we ask important questions about Christmas, and it is our prayer that you will find joy and hope in Jesus Christ this Christmas.
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so what is the real meaning of Christmas?
Have you ever asked that question?
or even if you have asked that question—have you stopped to consider it this Christmas season?
—and perhaps more importantly does your life match up with what you say your answer is.
Now, let’s take a moment and consider what might the average American say the meaning of Christmas is:
According to one recent gallup poll—do you know how many Americans celebrate Christmas in some fashion? (see https://news.gallup.com/poll/272378/americans-celebrating-secular-christmas.aspx)
about 93% surveyed say they do—that’s a lot!
so the majority of our country does...
but of that 93% who said they celebrate Christmas in some fashion—
the researchers asked think of the way you personally celebrate Christmas, is Christmas a strongly religious holiday, a somewhat religious holiday, or not too religious at all.
Now, I know that word “religion” can have a lot of baggage—but the researchers were trying to figure out does Christmas have a deeper meaning to you than just gift gifts, or time off....or family gatherings...
and it was split 3 ways:
about 1/3 of Americans said Christmas has a strong, religious significance;
1/3 said it had a somewhat religious significance
and another 1/3 said it doesn’t have really any religious significance at all. it’s just a holiday...
and the younger you are—according to this survey (40 or younger)—this was the biggest group that answered that Christmas has no religious significance at all.
so what would you answer?
what does Christmas mean to you…what is the real meaning of Christmas...
all of us answer this question whether we realize it or not...
whether you are so pumped that Christmas is coming…so excited—can’t wait! started decorating back in July!
or could care less—and have a very pessimistic, cynical view of Christmas...
or indifferent...
we all answer this question...
I want to remind by looking at the book of John.
John, chapter 1. Turn there please.
John is in the NT.
The Apostle John was one of Jesus’ 12 apostles.
and he was described as the apostle that Jesus loved.
He had a close relationship with Jesus.
Look what He says:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
let me skip to John 1:9-14
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
now, let me skip to verse 18
18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
now, let me read 1 John (also written by John)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
4 We write this to make our joy complete.
when we think of Christmas passages in the NT—this may not be our first one, but it is a great one.
What does John say the real meaning of Christmas is?
Christmas = The Son of God coming...
Christmas = Jesus
Christmas = Incarnation—The Son of God taking on human flesh.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
That Word—is another way of saying Jesus.
You may say—well—why does he not just say Jesus—why does He call Jesus the Word.
John is trying to impact 2 audiences as he is writing--
the Jews--
and the Greeks.
For instance, for the Jews, who had the OT—the Word of God was a big deal.
b/c how did God create the heavens and the earth—His Word—he spoke it. There’s power in that Word of God!
think about Moses and the Israelites—whom he led out of slavery. God gave the Israelites at Mt. Sinai—what—His Word…that they were to follow that word. that word was life or if not—death.
God’s Word to the Jews—was God’s self-expression. It was his power.
for God to speak or to act—same thing. the Jews had a high respect for God’s Word. when God speaks, action happens!
and so when John opens his Gospel, by saying “In the beginning...” which reminds us of Genesis—and says the Word—the Jews would have perked their ears up--
the Jews loved the Word.
and for the other audience—the Greeks at the time…they prided themselves in their wisdom and philosophy—what they called the word—or the logos (that’s the Greek word behind word).
they believed that the word or logos was this invisible and intelligent force behind all that we see in the world—that brought everything together, that governed all things—that made sense of all things.
and gave all their philosophers like Plato and Aristotle and Socrates their wisdom.
so when John says in the beginning was the Word…both Jews and Greeks would have said “Amen!”
but then he offends both groups…because
He says this Word...
It’s a personal being—who is with God, but also is God. who has been face to face with the Father from eternity.
He is God yet distinct from God the Father...
this would have been stunning to Jews—who believed in God-one God—but did not believe that this Word was a personal being---who took on flesh.
who was full of just as much glory as the Father. and who took on flesh—that’s...
shocking..scandalous to Jews.
but also shocking to Greeks—that the word was not this impersonal force—but a personal being…who lived, and dwelt among us. the Greeks thought often that the soul was good and the body was bad—so for the logos to take on flesh…scandalous.
to both groups—John says--
this personal being who through whom all things were made—who has life
and light
He is the true light...
who because of Him gives everyone, Jews, Greeks, religious, non-religious the right to become children of God.
This Word—in John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
this is a clear reference to Jesus Christ.
in 1 John — John says we looked at him, beheld, our hands touched him—we experienced Jesus, God, in the flesh!
This is shocking—we don’t quite feel it like they do…but it was shocking to them.
Christmas is all about the Incarnation—the Son of God taking on flesh.
this passage contains 2 gynormous, rich, amazing doctrines:
The Trinity...
This passage is one of the clearest references to the Trinity—that we believe in one God, yet also in 3 persons.
we don’t believe in 3 gods—no one god, yet with 3 distinct persons—existing as the Father, as the Son, and as the Holy Spirit. (not separate modes)
mind-boggling…and it makes Christianity so unique...
and to add to the mind boggling—ness....that’s a word.
2. The Incarnation...
the Son of God, the 2nd member of the Trinity—added humanity to his already existing divinity.
The Son of God who has always existed—took on human flesh. who is God, created the universe, yet distinct from the Father, took on human flesh to reveal light and life and glory to all mankind.
the Son of God who has all the power in the world.
look at what Hebrews 1:3 says about the Son:
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
so even when Jesus christ, the Word was born of Mary—a helpless babe, who needed his diapers changed…he was upholding the universe.
and so the Son of God has took on flesh
Theologians say—he is one person with 2 natures--
He is not 50% God and 50% human.
He is 100% God
and 100% human
at the time.
so if you think the Trinity is hard to understand
this is hard too!
but here’s the thing—these incredible truths about God—while we can grasp them at some level, we can’t master them.
and that makes sense-b/c if we could master and fully understand, I think we would be God....
we are not masters of theology
but mastered by theology.
And this doctrine of the Incarnation—where the eternal Son of God, all-powerful, humbled himself and took on flesh—as a baby boy who grew...
Has incredible practical reminders:
Reminder 1:
It (The Incarnation) reminds us that God cares about us. He identifies with us and He cares for us.
the fact that the all-powerful God who has always existed, did not stay in an ivory tower away from us—but entered our reality—by taking on human flesh. and experienced what we experience…is moving.
because this God—Jesus Christ—is all-powerful. We see that when by the power of the Spirit, He walks on water; he calms the storm; He heals the sick, blind, lame, raises the dead—and yet that same God enters and identifies with us. he experiences hunger, thirst, tiredness, frustration. he expressed emotion. he lived the human experience.
He identifies with us so much—he isn’t born in a palace—but in a feeding trough.
He isn’t born to royalty—but to a poor family, young Mary and Joseph.
He worked a normal job—as a carpenter-showing the value of work—and working with our hands.
He said that the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. homeless—if you are homeless, he knows what it is like
so if you don’t have much money—Jesus knows what that is like.
if you were born in scandal—Jesus knows what that is like.
If your family has ever questioned you or maybe even rejected you—Jesus can relate. His brothers thought he was crazy for a while.
if you have been betrayed or abandoned, Jesus knows what that is like.
If you have been lonely—Jesus can relate.
are you single? Jesus never married. He can relate.
been abused? Jesus can relate as they beat him at his trial.
been taken advantage of? Jesus can relate.
been bullied? Jesus can relate.
felt pain—Jesus can relate.
feeling grief? Jesus can relate as the Bible records him weeping.
whatever human experience or emotion you have—chances are in some way—Jesus Christ knows what it like.
facing death-Jesus faced death.
we have a God who is not an ivory tower theologian—but took on flesh—who is our great high priest.
who knows suffering-in fact, he learned from suffering.
even if no one else can relate—there is a God who exists who can relate to you today…He knows what you are facing, and He encourages you to come to him and cast it on him. a personal God.
Reminder #2: The Incarnation reminds us that God solves some big problems.
in other words—we don’t just have a God who relates, sympathizes, and empathizes…He can actually do something about our problem.
b/c when we go to someone for help---we need empathy and sympathy and support—but we also want a solution to our problem—someone who can do something about it.
and we have a God who can.
how do I know?
b/c the Incarnation reminds us that Jesus Christ came to take care of our biggest problem.
remember—Jesus is 100% God and also 100% man. and he had to be both. because we have a problem—the Bible says that the problem with the world—is not just out there—but it’s in here—in our hearts. We have what the Bible calls a sin problem—where we constantly reject God and substitute ourselves in place—and this leads to all sorts of problems.
and so b/c God made us for Him and yet we have turned our backs on him—we deserve punishment from God—b/c He is perfect and just--
and yet you and I can’t make up for that—we can’t earn it. so there is this gap.
we need someone who can represent us before God the Father, and someone who can solve it—and the answer is Jesus.
because He is fully human He can represent us in our place—to deal with our sin problem. He lived on our behalf. He died on our behalf on the cross—that’s what He came, so that you and I can have forgiveness of sins.
but if he were only human—his sacrifice would not have solved anything.
so he is also fully God—b/c He is also fully God He can represent not just man but God, too. and actually solve our sin problem.
but if He were only God and not man—we would not have a representative.
He’s both.
and when you and I admit our need for help, trust that Jesus provides it on the cross, our sins are wiped way. our hearts are remade and we are made new! we have what 1 John describes as eternal life—that begins now, and we enjoy now as we have fellowship rich fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
God solves the biggest need we have—and that is for a relationship with God.
the reason that you and I have so many problems in life—is not just bad choices—or a bad hand has been dealt with us—but b/c of a broken relationship with God.
The Incarnation reminds us that God solves....and if we can solve that one…he can solve other issues.
It doesn’t mean that God is going to solve everything on demand in your life, answer every prayer the way you want—but we have confidence that if Jesus entered our life, and solved our sin problem, so we can have fellowship with God, He is certainly able to provide what we need now.
struggling to forgive—Jesus can help.
overwhelmed—Jesus can give peace.
need intervention? Jesus can.
He may not always give you what you want, but He can intervene in power.
The Incarnation reminds us that God sends us...
God cares...
God solves...
and God sends...
the Incarnation is our ultimate missional model.
John said in 1 John 1:3
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John is witnessing and testifying and telling us about Jesus—because Jesus came and told Him about new life.
and thus we are sent out like Jesus was sent.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
The Incarnation is part of our model for mission. No and you will not die for the sins of the world…but how was Jesus sent.
He moved into our neighborhood—and thus we should be willing to and move into all sorts of places…cross cultural boundaries—income levels, races and ethnicities Jesus crossed the biggest boundary—God to man—thus we go. Lisa from Asia.
He humbled himself and made himself poor…thus no missions and outreach should be beneath us....we humble ourselves
you know sometimes we think certain outreach is below us—that’s for others—but the Incarnation reminds us that if God, the supreme being, can humble himself, you and I can humble ourselves. there are no places off limits or beneathe us. there are no people—that we will not be sent to reach—we are sent to all—because of the Incarnation.
Is there someone that you need to reach out, testify about Jesus—even just to check in?
even if you think they don’t deserve it, or you don’t feel qualified, the Incarnation reminds us that we have power—as the Father has sent Jesus so He sends us, and if God would have had the same attitude towards us, we would be in trouble...
back in my last church in Lima, in God’s strange working, He connected me with a young man named Rodney. Rodney and I are so different.
He grew up poor; I did not.
He grew up in some more chaos, I did not.
He had a lot of chaos in his life.
he is African American and experienced racism; I have not.
even a learning disability—but he was incredibly smart—very people smart, street smart (street smarts are not my speciality)
and he and I became friends…and He became a person of peace. he led so many people to our church and to God just b/c everyone knows Rodney. by the world’s standards, some might think, getting to know Rodney—that’s beneath them; that’s for someone else, and yet if we would not have been connected with Rodney, we would have missed out on so much...
and if he were telling the story he might say God connected him with some rich white dude...me
who are the Rodneys in you life—the world can overlook them, but God is calling you—to incarnate the Gospel.
The Real Meaning of Christmas is that Christ came so we could be sent...
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.