2010.12.24.Sermon.Christmas Eve
William Akehurst, HSWC
Revisiting this old story, with an open mind and heart. Listen and don’t glaze over. There is more than meets the eye when we delve in.
Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 2:1-12
I don’t know who to give credit to for this message. I had read a message for Christmas in times past and made these notes to share. Today is the appropriate time to share. I thank the LORD as the originator, and for the Holy Spirit’s teaching me and adding to this message.
THE SIMPLE STORY – Often glazed over
Simple yet familiar story.
So many of us hear the message of Christmas and respond by tuning out.
I’ve heard that before.
Tonight, let’s look again at this old but precious story with all your heart and with all your mind.
Open you mind to think it through as I read from Luke 2 and then Matthew 2
THE FUNDAMENTALS
Story begins before the beginning of time
Before the foundation of the world was laid, God planned that His Son would be slain for the sins of mankind.
From the beginning of Genesis through all the OT, many prophecies proclaimed the coming of the Messiah.
He would be born and live among us
He would be the Bread of Life, the Living Water
He would be the Lamb of God that takes away our sins
Mary and Joseph, chosen by God. Mary, to be the mother of God’s Son. Joseph to be the one to care for them.
DIFFICULTIES
As the Story begins – there are difficulties
Mary is pregnant before she is Joseph’s wife. Rumor and Gossip run rampant through the streets.
A Census is to be taken, Caesar Augustus decrees that families must return to their home town for the census.
Even though a baby is due at any time, Mary and Joseph must make the 75-80 mile journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea.
A hard journey, walking and riding a donkey. Several days to do so. Pregnant, almost ready to deliver.
NO ROOM. Upon arrival there is no room in the inn. Looking upon the 2 of them, perhaps the Inn keeper had room in his inn, for someone of importance. But not for them.
Had they been more influential, perhaps there would have been room. But for common people, there was not place to stay.
Yet, Compassion by the innkeeper to use the stable.
COMPLICATIONS: Mary’s condition, Travel, Lodging
A Happy Celebration: New baby born.
Mother and Joseph celebrate knowing the baby was God’s Son.
His birth was a miracle.
Celebrate Christmas because Christ came to this earth and was born.
Celebrate Christmas because Christ was born in our hearts.
Celebrate because as Christians Christ is in us.
SIGNS OF COMPASSION
The innkeeper gives the stable area
Mary lovingly wraps the child in strips of cloth and lays him in a manger.
Jesus, God’s own son, was born for you and me, not in some great place, but in a humble setting. He was born to live, and show us how to live. He was born to die, as he would be nailed upon a cross, giving his life for your sins and mine.
NOW: Season’s Greetings. Happy Holidays, Have a great holiday. Xmas. Taking Christ out of Christmas
Its not just a holiday. Its Christmas. The birthday of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and we celebrate his coming into the world, God in Flesh, Emmanuel, God with us
RESPONSES
What is our response to the good news of Christ’s coming?
Lets look at this story a little more in-depth.
1. INNKEEPER. Never mentioned in the bible, there was an Inn, but no mention of the innkeeper. We assume so.
Who was he? Some grumpy old man who slams the door in Mary and Josephs face, or some gentle kindhearted person who was so busy that he really didn’t have time to do much to help.
Many people today are too busy to give time to the Lord, other things take first place, God takes last place.
WRAP: Put Christ First
2. SHEPHERDS. Lower class of Israel. Rejects of society. Dirty Job, gone for weeks at a time. Living in the wilderness, with sheep.
a. God reaches across all barriers. He wanted the shepherds to be the first to know that in the City of David, a Savior was born.
b. They were privileged. First opportunity to worship him.
c. We are privileged. We are free to worship and hear the gospel preached.
d. We are here because we took time out to be here, or because someone urged us to come here to hear this message
3. HEROD. Response of Fear
a. When the wise men came asking about the newborn king.
b. Herod summons his religious leaders asking if they knew anything.
c. The prophets say that He is to be born in Bethlehem.
d. Herod tells the wise men to go to Bethlehem, then come back to tell him where he is so that he can worship him.
e. We know this was not his true ambition
i. Afraid of this new king
ii. Afraid of what he would lose
iii. So much so, that he has the 2 year olds slaughtered
f. HOW many are afraid of coming to Christ because of the change he will do in their life?
g. SOME Respond like Herod, We don’t want Jesus to make any difference in our lives.
4. HEROD’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
a. Why didn’t they go with the wise men? PRIDE
b. Admitting the wise men knew more than they did.
c. AS PROUD PEOPLE having so much. Its hard to admit we need God for anything. WE let our pride and possessions get in our way of coming to the Savior.
d. PRIDE COMES BEFORE THE FALL. As long as we stand in our pride, and think we can handle life, we will never know the miracle of Christmas. Its only when we come, willing to be filled with God’s love, that we find out what Christmas is all about.
5. WISE MEN – Traveled hundreds of miles. No angel, but Stars. Astronomers, not astrologers. They studied the stars. Under the influence of Daniels teachings hundreds of years prior. When they saw the bright star, they began searching for Christ.
a. They found Mary and Joseph and Jesus.
b. They worshiped Him and gave gifts of gold, frankinsense and myrrh
c. WHEN WE WEIGH the evidence, listen to what God has said, and see who he revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Our response should be as the Wise men.
Can you see what God has done? Can you weigh the evidence and realize how much God loves you? How much of his love is communicated by the birth of a baby in Bethlehem?
Behold a Savior is born, HE is Christ, The Lord.
Our response should be that of the Wise man. Accepting Him, Seeking Him, Finding Him.
Our response should be that of the Shepherd. Making haste. Running to Christ.
If you have not asked Jesus into your heart. If you have not asked Christ to forgive you and come into your heart. Do it tonight. On this eve of Christmas. That you might be born again as we celebrate HIS birth and the coming of the Savior to the world.
*****
My brother John writes this note to his peers this Christmas, I thought I should share it here as well:
“It was over 2000 years ago that God sent a gift of love and hope to a lost and dying world. This gift that many ignore was His one and only son. He sent His son with arms open wide for all to enter His eternal glory. Just as the Shepherds watched their flocks that night ... the glory of the Lord shined down and around them, and they were filled with fear. The angel said to them “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager.” And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host praising and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)
And do you know that the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem? ( or as some translations of the Bible says “they went with Haste”) And it was there that they found a baby in a manager, just as the angel had described.
We encourage you this season, to make haste into the relationship that your Creator has and wants for you. Sure you may be fearful as the shepherds were, but as you seek to draw closer to Christ, you will find the peace that passes all understanding. You will find Him if you seek Him. And that is truly the best gift of all. A gift that literally will last forever.”
*****
God Bless you this Christmas. May you find the real joy of the season and await Christ’s 2nd coming with as much interest as we did as children for Christmas day.
