That's What Christmas is All About

Well good morning everyone. It is really, really, really, great to be back with you all. It is hard to believe it has been five months since we have been here and I tell you, we have missed all of you very much.

I just want to give you a little overview of where we have been the last five months and what all has been going on. As all of you know, we brought that precious little girl, baby Grace, home on July 4th. We spent the night of July 3rd with her in the hospital and we instantly fell in love with her.

But, as you all know, most people have 9 months to prepare for a baby to come into their home. We had just a matter of days. In just a few days our lives completely changed. All of a sudden we have doctor appointments, bottle feedings, diaper changes, and all of the wonderful things that come with having a baby in the house. A guy I worked with joked saying don’t forget they come with a built in alarm clock.

But what a joy it has been to have this precious girl in our lives. And I cannot tell you how thankful we are for our church family. You guys have overwhelmed us with love and care for this little girl. The gifts and gift cards for her shower were simply amazing and I cannot tell you how much it has helped. And we cannot thank BJ and Megan enough for all of the hand-me-downs from Ally. Nick and Taryn have been great. Melissa actually babysits her during the week, and, from what I understand, Marc, you have become quite attached to that little one!

All three of us had Covid in September. That was quite the experience. Thank you to all of you who reached out and helped us get through that time as well including, but definitely not limited to, Charles Turner cutting grass for us and the Dandurands and Carrie delivering food to us. You all have been so great.

When we started this journey we were excited and nervous as well. But we knew that we had Brother Paul who would be right there beside us as we entered into the new experiences we were about to have. Of course that all changed in October.

The last, almost three months, have been trying for our church. But we have a great group here who has banded together to say a pastor does not make a church. And that is nothing at all against Brother Paul. But it is a testament to this church and this congregation that we put our faith in God and God alone.

When we took the big step of leaving the United Methodist Church we had no idea what was going to happen. But we knew, and we still know, that we are following God and His plan for this church.

I spoke with Brother Paul the other day for about 30 minutes on the phone and, I think he is going to talk to us later today as well. He is doing very well and I can’t wait to see him back here in a few months.

So that brings us to today, December 19th, 2021. Almost Christmas. Almost a new year.

If you would please turn in your Bible’s with me to the Gospel of John chapter 1. John Chapter 1. We are going to be talking this morning about what Christmas is all about. Our main focus this morning will be on verse 14 but I want to read verses 1-18 this morning to give us some context for our passage. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.

John 1:1–18 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Let us pray.

John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Those have to be, quite possibly, the largest impacting words in all of Scripture. The true meaning of Christmas, what Christmas is all about. God came to live with us!

Now why is this such a big deal? Why should that be the focus of Christmas? Why am I not reading today out of Luke 2 or Matthew 1 or Matthew 2? Now don’t get me wrong, I love those passages, classic Christmas passages, and we will be looking at them today as well. But Christmas is so much more than a precious little baby lying in a manger with the virgin Mary and her fiance’ Joseph standing by taking care of Him. It is not about the lights, though I love Christmas lights. It is not about the music, and let’s be honest, there is nothing better than Christmas music. It’s not about the movies, and I definitely watch them all, Rudolph, Frosty, The Miser Brothers, and yes, I sing along, A Christmas Story, my favorite, A Muppet’s Christmas Carol, and all of those classics. It is not about family, though family is certainly an important part of Christmas. It is not about presents, but who doesn’t like getting those? It’s not about parades, or dinners or parties. It’s not about any of those things, though there is nothing wrong with any of those things.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

What did it mean for Christ to become flesh? What did it mean for Him to live on this earth as we do? What does it mean for Him to not only live here as we do, but to do it perfectly as we cannot?

First, it means that Christ has had the same experiences that you and I have. The author of Hebrews writes in Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Christ came to show us how to live. To show us what it meant to be holy. Something I fail at every single day. Something we all fail at every single day. But He did not come to boast of his righteousness, what does the verse say? He sympathizes with our weaknesses. He understands. He gets it. He does not approve of it, he does not allow it, but he understands where we are and where we come from. And he intercedes for us. Hebrews 5:1 “1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” He acts in the bests interests of the elect of God. He takes care of us. This is what we celebrate at Christmas.

At Christmas we celebrate what Christ came to do for us. He suffered and died on the cross for us. He was beaten, mocked, broken. Isaiah writes in chapter 53: Isa 53:4-12

Isaiah 53:4–12 ESV

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Christ intercedes for us, he took our place, he bore an unbearable and excruciating death on that cross for you and for me. We celebrate that on Christmas.

We celebrate his ultimate victory on Christmas as well. Yes, we celebrate the Resurrection on Easter, but that event could never have happened if He were not first born as a human on this earth to save a sinful people from their sin!

He came down from the glory of Heaven to live in this sin entrenched Earth among a people who would deny Him. He was their savior! He was the one that they had waited for centuries to arrive! Yet, they did not know him. They crucified him.

Church what we need to understand today is that Christmas is so much more than the birth of the King. Christmas is the beginning of God’s salvation plan being put into action. It is the Gospel itself. John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

When we look at Christmas in that light, the following has so much more meaning, so much more depth, and so much more hope.

Luke 2:1–21 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

What a great story the Christmas story is for us today and every day.

Church that is what Christmas is all about. That is why we celebrate. And on this Christmas Day, and in fact, on every day, we should be singing just like the angels. Glory to God in the highest! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Every day should be a Gospel day. We don’t think about it enough. I don’t think about it enough. If I did, I would be a better person. We would all be better people.

But we have a Savior who is patient, kind, and understands our weaknesses. And that Savior, that wonderful Savior, our Lord, our Savior, our God, Jesus Christ, He is what Christmas is all about. He is what we celebrate. Not just His birth. We celebrate who He is today and every day, the savior of the world.

He deserves our worship just as the Magi recognized so long ago.

Matthew 2:1–12 ESV

1 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, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

What gifts do we bring to Christ this Christmas? In what ways will we worship Him? We can never worship Him enough. We can never do too much. In fact, we never do enough to show what he deserves.

These are the things we should remember this Christmas church. These are the things that Christmas is all about. Let us make sure that in this season, and in every season, we are proclaiming Christ and His Gospel and the good news of salvation.

Let us pray.