Christmas Day Sermon – The first Christmas
The story of
the very first Christmas is very different to today’s Christmas celebrations. To
me it seems so much more enjoyable as we listen to that first Christmas. Yes
there were some difficulties: Mary was heavily pregnant and about to give birth
in a place that was not where they normally lived.
Because
there was a census being taken there were many visitors meaning that there was
no place for them to stay and so Jesus was born in a barn.
But that is
so much more different to today’s version of what goes on at Christmas time.
Everything
is so frantic about Christmas that we barely get the chance to focus on what is
central to the occasion. In Jesus time there was just one central focus – the
birth of Jesus. The time came for Mary to deliver her child. And she gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a
manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Then there were
shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. The
angels came and announced the good news of great joy for all people – today the
saviour of the world is born. They drop everything and rush off to see this
child for themselves.
Today we
have so many diversions that can prevent us from enjoying the moment of what
Christmas is truly about.
But, as you
are here today, how great that like the Shepherds you’ve taken a moment out of
the busy Christmas preparations to come and celebrate our Lord’s birth.
I mentioned
this yesterday in my Christmas Eve sermon that we sometimes think that the
greatest threat to Christmas is the secular world taking over. I’m sure you’ve
seen the complaints. Things like Christmas decorations going up in November –
Christmas carols being banned – Christmas greetings being replaced with happy
holidays and “make merry” – even Santa Claus becoming the focus for children. Actually
I don’t mind them because at least it is either creating a Christmas spirit or
getting people talking about and defending Christmas.
The greater
threat to Christmas is when we lose the joy of Christmas as we battle the
traffic, the car parking, deadlines of getting those Christmas cards out and
presents wrapped and preparing the food and drinks where you’re glad Christmas
only comes around once a year – and you start to resent it as you start seeing
that countdown – only 30 days to Christmas. At least we get an extra day before
next Christmas with next year being a leap year.
The birth of
Jesus, as declared by the angels, was to bring good news of great joy to all
peoples. It is good news – it is great news – that God has confirmed to us how
much he loves us. He loves us so much that he sent his one and only son to live
with us.
Even with
all the wars and crimes and other catastrophes, God not only loves this world
but wants to live with us. And the name that he would be called by would be
Immanuel which means God is with us.
Christmas is
the most astonishing event in the whole history of time. In fact we determine time as before Christ and
in the year of the Lord – BC and AD. What is so extraordinary of this occasion?
On this night, God became human. And he did so in order that humankind might be
forever united with God in the most intimate of ways. And it was not just
extraordinary for us but also for God. That he was so proud and honoured in
what had happened that he didn’t send just one angel but a multitude of angels
to sing to the shepherds in the field.
A great
company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his
favour rests.”
Please don’t
ever lose the joy of this occasion – unto us a child is given – Jesus Christ
our Lord -the Son of God. And for 2000 years the joy of Christmas has continued
to sing out despite many attempts to silence it. People have been trying to
silence Christmas from the day Jesus was born with Herod issuing a decree to
have Jesus killed.
One day
while Jesus was entering into one of the towns he was visiting the whole crowd
of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices echoing the angels’
song: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest!” Some of the
Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” Tell
them to be quiet! Jesus said “I tell you if they keep quiet, the stones will
cry out.”
The world
will not and cannot silence the joy of Christmas. Only our hearts can silence
Christmas in our own hearts when the joy of Christmas is hardened. Don’t let
the busyness and franticness of Christmas do that to you.
Enjoy this
momentous occasion because it endorses God’s love for you and assures you that
not only does God want to live with you here on earth but God wants and assures
you that you will one day live with him in Heaven forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment