Sermon Central
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The First Perspective Of Christmas Series
Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Dec 18, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: Perspective is important. Our decisions and how we live our lives are based on how we see things. This morning in our passage, Mary gives us the very first perspective of Christmas.
Introduction:
Perspective is important. Our decisions and how we live our lives are based on how we see things. I hold in my hand a glass. Is it half empty, or is it half full? Your answer depends on your perspective.
Two shoe salesmen from the same shoe manufacturers are sent to two different remote parts of the world to sell their company’s line of shoes. One salesman texts his home office: “Get me out of here; nobody here wears shoes.” The other salesman emails the company: “Send me all the shoes you can; nobody here wears shoes.” The salesmen’s answers to their home company depended upon their perspective.
Christmas, as you might image, is seen by people from many different perspectives. Mr. Scrooge sees it as a time to hold tight to the purse strings. A mom might see it as a time for all her children to come back home. A child may be it as a time to get all the toys that he or she wants for Christmas. A Christian hopefully sees it as a time to remember the birth of Christ. It is so interesting to me how two people can look at Christmas and see it so differently.
This morning in our passage, Mary gives us the very first perspective of Christmas. And so I want to pay close attention to how the very first person to celebrate Christmas saw the very first Christmas. Maybe I can learn something from Mary’s perspective.
Scripture:
Luke 1:46-55 (NKJV)
46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."
Point #1
FROM MARY’S PERSPECTIVE, THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS WAS SOMETHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT. AND AS CHRISTIAN LIVING IN 2019, THIS CHRISTMAS OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING THAT I GET PASSIONATE ABOUT.
46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Mary says that my soul this first Christmas swells up with Jesus. In other words, this first Christmas, the thing I cannot get enough of is Jesus. I wonder what your soul swells up with this Christmas. Could it be that your soul swells up with worry because you have so much to do and so little time to do it? Could it be your soul swells up with all the activities at Christmas- the firework show in Osyka, the lights in Tylertown, the Southwest Community College Christmas production? What your soul should swell up with is Jesus!
And then Mary says, my insides are overwhelmed with joy that Jesus is in my life and that He is my Savior. Just like the first Christmas reminded Mary that she needed a Savior, every Christmas should remind us that each one of us needs a Savior. Jesus did not leave heaven to come to earth to check it out to see his handiwork. He came with one purpose in mind to be my Savior. Paul tells us that in Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore, Christmas should remind me that my heart should swell up with joy because Jesus is my Savior.
POINT #2
FROM MARY’S PERSPECTIVE, THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS WAS ABOUT GOD BLESSING HER. AND AS A CHRISTIAN LIVING IN 2019, THIS CHRISTMAS OUGHT TO BE A REMINDER THAT GOD BLESSES ME.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
