Sermon Central
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Reactions To Christmas
Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 15, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: There were a number of reactions to Jesus that first Christmas: some were troubled by Him, others were indifferent to Him, and still others were seekers of Christ.
REACTIONS TO CHRISTMAS
Mt. 2:1-12
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR:
1. There are a lot of things we celebrate this time of year. Several major holidays;
a. December 5 is National Ninja Day. Some of you say, “I didn’t see that coming.” That’s because it’s Ninja Day.
b. December 16 is officially Chocolate-Covered-Anything Day, which I think is awesome because chocolate covered anything is awesome.
c. December 18 is National Wear a Plunger on your Head Day.
d. And then, of course, for all you Seinfeld fans, December 23 is “Festivus for the rest of us.”
2. No disrespect to any of those, but I think there’s something special about Christmas. Even beyond the traditions, and the family time, the gifts… there’s something special about the story of the divine intersecting the human. [JD Greear]
B. DIFFERENT IMAGES OF CHRISTMAS
1. What do you think of when you think of Christmas? To most Christmas elicits images of:
a. Christmas parades
b. Decorations
c. Christmas trees – lights & glittering ornaments
d. Christmas carols & choir, dramas
e. Joy, goodwill.
2. Not everyone sees Christmas the same way:
a. For some – it’s a happy time of celebration.
b. Others - it’s an emotionally tough time.
c. It may be lonely - if not spent with family.
d. Some may not look forward to Christmas.
3. We’re going to find it was no different when Jesus came; there were all kinds of different reactions to Christmas. Let’s read about them.
C. TEXT
1...During the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3When KING HEROD heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's CHIEF PRIESTS and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied [and they quoted Micah 5:2]. 7Then Herod 8....sent [THE MAGI] to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me...” 10When they [the Magi] saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Mt. 2:1-5, 7-8, 10-12.
D. THESIS
1. There were at least 3 different reactions of people to Jesus that first Christmas.
2. Each of us will respond to Christ in one of those three ways: We’ll either be Troubled by Him, Indifferent to Him, or a Worshiper of Him. Which will YOU be?
I. YOU MAY BE TROUBLED BY CHRISTMAS
A. SOME WERE TROUBLED BY HIM
1. HEROD WAS TROUBLED because this King was a potential rival to his throne. Herod considered himself the "King of the Jews." This rival posed a real threat to his control and rule.
2. AND ALL JERUSALEM WAS TROUBLED with him" (V3) Why? Maybe they were afraid He might change their way of life. We get comfortable with our circumstances and control.
3. THE STATUS QUO WAS TROUBLED. A lot of people today – even Christians – would not be happy to learn that Jesus was coming back within 30 days. Their lives would be unpredictable.
B. CHRISTMAS IS TROUBLING TODAY!
1. CHRIST SPOILS OUR PARTY
a. THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM looks harmless enough, lying in the crib, but any thinking person knows that He won’t be a defenseless Baby when He comes back.
b. Biologist Sir Julian Huxley was asked by the British Broadcasting Corp. why the "Theory of Evolution" was so readily accepted by the scientific community. He responded, "I suppose the reason why we leaped at The Origin Of Species was because the idea of God interfered with our sexual mores." (Kennedy, p.46, CHARACTER AND DESTINY).
c. In other words, God was spoiling our party. So let's get rid of God! No wonder evolution is the Sacred Cow of Science.
2. CHRIST CHALLENGES OUR LORDSHIP
a. Just like Herod, we have our own "realms of power" we want to rule over. Christ's lordship is a threat to our own worldly freedom!
b. Jesus demands the position we want for ourselves; “God doesn't have the right to govern my behavior." No? Christmas means that the King has Come!
3. THE INTRUSION OF CHRIST EXPOSES OUR SINFULNESS. Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin” Jn. 15:22. He tells us that we are sinners!" What an unpleasant truth!
