When we think about Christmas most people think presents, food, holidays and parties. How far we have come from the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. I want to encourage those that are Christians to take the time to teach your children the true meaning of Christmas. Before you eat your Christmas meal this Christmas why not gather the family around and share this story of the reason Jesus came into this world.
The story begins...
There were many influential and wealthy men in Palestine at the time of Jesus' birth. There were profound and learned scholars in the great universities. There were Ascetics that had left the joys of home and gone to the deserts to fast and pray. Yet it was not to them that the angels appeared. Their ears did not hear, "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."
God, in His wisdom, did not choose to send angels to sing the message to those who taught in the synagogues or to the learned, or to the Ascetics. The greatest news that the world has ever heard was heard by simple shepherds, humble men seemingly of littlesignificance. Great men were passed by; while simple little men heard the story.
One of these elite was not chosen to carry the baby in her womb. It was not a fashionable, wealthy, or learned lady of Palestine or Nazareth; it was Mary, a poor girl that was chosen to do so. None of these prestigious people were chosen to head the home in which Christ the King would be reared. That was left to a humble carpenter.
It is always this way in the Bible, for the Lord says in 1 Cor. 1:27-28, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things that are mighty. And base things of the world and things that are despised has God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are."
The true Christmas story started with the fall of Man and God’s plan of redemption to reconcile mankind back to Himself. It began to unfold in a cradle manger, but it didn’t stop there it continued to the cross, and it concluded with a crown. Just as we do not believe you should leave Jesus on a cross, because He is a risen Lord; I also believe you should not leave Jesus in a cradle manger, because He's no longer a baby lying in a manger; He is a majestic King who sits on the throne of this universe.
Isaiah writes about the mystery of His birth. In Isaiah 53:1 he prophesies about the coming of the Messiah and he says that from the place where there is no life, the root out of dry ground, life is going to come. Isaiah also prophesied the virgin birth of Christ in Isaiah 7:14. He said, "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a child."
Matthew 1:21 says: "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins". This little baby named Jesus came to save his people "from their sins." When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the field, he said, "I bring you good tidings of great joy." (Luke 2:10) That is, he said to those shepherds, "I have some good news for you." Now why is Christmas good news? Because up until that point mankind was spiritually lost and out of fellowship with the Father.
Isaiah said it like this: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6a) Mankind was lost and incapable of finding their way back to God.
The Apostle Paul said in Romans 3:22-23, "For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." King Solomon, said, "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin." (Eccl. 7:20)
Psalm 14:2-3 says "The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, No, not one." The verdict of the Bible is this: Mankind is depraved, spiritually dead, lost in sin and destitute.
God knew that there was no permanent human remedy for sin. The priests could offer the yearly sacrifice of bulls and goats for the sins of the people but that just covered their sins for a year but it didn’t permanently erase them, they had to come back each year to make their sacrifice. This sacrifice still continued to fall short as it did not reconcile man back to God; sin still stood in the way between God and man. God had a plan through His Son Jesus Christ not to cover but to totally remove the sin that separated mankind from Himself. This ultimate sacrifice would not only see the sins of mankind paid for once and for all but it was a complete work in that man could be reconciled back into a right relationship with God the Father. You may be able to appease your conscience with good works and charitable causes but you cannot remove the stain of sin with your good works. "For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me, says the Lord God.” (Jeremiah 2:22)
You can’t make yourself righteous or sinless through good works, attending church at Christmas and Easter will not remove the strength of sin or get you back in relationship with God.
Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." (John 8:34). The only person that could free us from the slavery of sin is Jesus the sinless Lamb of God.
We are vulnerable to sin's death. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, "the wages of sin is death." As ironic as it seems, if there were no sin, there would have been no need for a Saviour; if there had been no Saviour there would have been no Christmas. So Christmas must begin with a story of man's sin. From the very beginning of the human race, God was getting this world ready for the Messiah. In Genesis 3:15 He says: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."
In Isaiah 9:6 we have the first Christmas story. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come into this world as a man. The Bible says in Galatians 4:4-5, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to
redeem those who were under the law (...)" Jesus Christ came to redeem this world and to pay for their sins.
Now it is wonderful to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, but the birth of the Lord Jesus loses its meaning apart from the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. That is why there is a third part to the Christmas story.
Christmas tells us three things about this thing called salvation:
It Is Comprehensive
The angel said to the shepherds, "behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke. 2:10) God sent Jesus into this world to save anybody who wants to be saved.
If you want to know the heart of God, Listen to 1 Timothy 2:3-4: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." One of the greatest Christmas truths of all is "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13).
It Is Complimentary
Not only is this salvation available to anyone, it is available to anyone without cost. The Bible says, "God so loved the world, He gave His Only Son." (John 3:16). Romans 6:23 tells us: "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Even though you need a ticket to get into heaven, the ticket is absolutely free. All you have to do to pick up your ticket is simply "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, confess with your mouth that He is Lord and Saviour, invite Him to come into your heart and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31)
It Is Complete
Salvation is free. You never have to take back God's gift because it doesn't fit; or because it goes out of style; or because it breaks down. That gift is "eternal life." Christmas is all about the fact that the baby born in a cradle went on to become a Saviour on a cross, and now lives as a King on a throne, who is willing to write forgiveness over your sin, if you will simply give Him your heart. That is the real Christmas story.
The greatest and most priceless gift that you can receive this Christmas season is the gift of salvation, if you have not accepted this gift yet I want you to pray this prayer out loud from your heart today.
“Lord Jesus, I thank you for coming into this world to save me, a sinner that is lost and destined for hell. I confess that you are Lord and I believe in my heart that you rose from the dead. Thank you for paying for my sins on the cross so that I could go free. I invite you to come into my heart to be my Lord and Saviour. I accept this generous gift of salvation today in Jesus name. Amen”.
We would love to hear from you if you have prayed this prayer for the first time. It is also important that you attend a good church that will teach you about God’s Word. If you don’t know of any churches in your area we would be happy to recommend one for you.
Pastor Erica Goodman