Celebrating Christmas All Year Round

Last week, I watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charlie Brown is depressed by how commercialized Christmas is becoming (And this was 40 years ago). So while he’s directing the school Christmas play, he asks one of the kids, "What is the true meaning of Christmas?" The kid says, "I don’t know." So he asks another kid, who just shrugs his shoulders and walks away.

And then Lucy comes up to Charlie Brown. And she says, "Charlie Brown, for our Christmas play, you bought the ugliest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen! You’ve ruined Christmas for everyone!" And she walks away.

And then Charlie throws up his hands and says, "Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about??????"

Then Linus says, "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is about." And then Linus walks to the center of the auditorium with his security blanket, and he says these words: "And there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ’Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!"

We need that message today just as much as Charlie Brown did. Christmas is not just about the toys under the tree. Or the candy in the stockings. Or the holiday sales at the mall. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. It is about the arrival of the Son of God. Tonight, we’re going back in time to the very first Christmas, and we’re going to find out how to celebrate Christmas all year long!

We’re in Luke chapter 2. The first thing I want to mention are the historical circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. Verse one declares that Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the Roman Empire, issued a decree that a census be taken of the entire Roman world. Caesar is a title that means “ruler.” The name “Augustus” means “great.” Caesar is thinking “I’ve been the ruler of Rome for 22 years. I think it’s time for me to take a head count of all the people under my command. Then I will know how many people are eligible for the military and how many taxpayers have to pay me!”

Luke says in verse two that this takes place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Some historians say that Luke made a mistake, because Quirinius didn’t become governor of Syria until Jesus was 9 years old. There are long, convoluted arguments about this in the commentaries.

But for me, it boils down to this: Luke knows his own history better than we do. He lived through most of it! He was there! Luke 1:3 says that “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning!” If he says Quirinius was governor when Jesus was born, then Quirinius was governor when Jesus was born!

You say “Why does Luke spend so much time digging up all this history?” Because He wants you to know that the Christmas story REALLY HAPPENED! This isn’t one of those legendary fables about the birth of a mythological