ROGER BARRIER FIRST CHRISTMAS SERMON WHAT GIVES CHRISTMAS ITS MEANING? MAYBE IT’S THE DATE-December 25 There’s nothing important about December 25. The only thing we know for sure is that Christ was not born on December 25. The shepherds were abiding in the fields. They didn’t do that in December. It was probably March or April. December 25 th came from the pagan observance of the birthday of the “Sun.” It was an old Roman holiday, two weeks of green trees, lighted candles and gifts. Christians wanted to Christianize it, so in 336 Constantine declared December 25 to be an official Roman-Christian holiday. December 25 th has nothing to do with Scripture. It’s not like July 4 th , it’s not historical. MAYBE IT’S THE NAME There’s probably something of significance here. “Christmas” is a shortened from of “X-mas.” There was an old Roman Catholic Mass established in 1038. Christ-Mass has nothing to do with Scripture. It is not a divinely prescribed holiday.
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ROGERBARRIERFIRSTCHRISTMASSERMON
WHATGIVESCHRISTMASITSMEANING?MAYBEIT’STHEDATE-December25There’snothingimportantaboutDecember25.TheonlythingweknowforsureisthatChristwasnotbornonDecember25.Theshepherdswereabidinginthefields.Theydidn’tdothatinDecember.ItwasprobablyMarchorApril.December25thcamefromthepaganobservanceofthebirthdayofthe“Sun.”ItwasanoldRomanholiday,twoweeksofgreentrees,lightedcandlesandgifts.ChristianswantedtoChristianizeit,soin336ConstantinedeclaredDecember25tobeanofficialRoman-Christianholiday.December25thhasnothingtodowithScripture.It’snotlikeJuly4th,it’snothistorical.MAYBEIT’STHENAMEThere’sprobablysomethingofsignificancehere.“Christmas”isashortenedfromof“X-mas.”TherewasanoldRomanCatholicMassestablishedin1038.Christ-MasshasnothingtodowithScripture.Itisnotadivinelyprescribedholiday.
Infact,itwasn’tuntil1224thatSt.FrancisofAssisibegantopopularizetheworshipofBabyJesusinamangerasbackgroundfortheworshipofMaryasanewcult.MAYBEIT’SSANTACLAUSNo.That’snottherealmeaningofChristmas.ThetraditionofSantaClauscameintoexistencethrougha4thcenturyA.D.BishopnamedSaintNicholas.St.Nicolasgaveallofhispossessionstopoorpeople.Supposedlyhebroughtbacktolifetwochildrenwhohadbeencutinpieces.ItwasnaturalforpeopletolookatSt.Nicolasasthegiverofgiftsandonewhoisparticularlyimportanttochildren.St.NicholasisverypopularinHolland.Infact,itcametotheUnitedStatesbywayofHolland.DutchchildrenexpectedSantatovisitonDecember5th.ItwasthecustomforchildrentoplacewoodenshoesbythefireplaceandSantawouldfillthemwithgoodies.Ofcourse,wefast-thinking,verycapableAmericansknowthatyoucangetalotmoreinasockthanyoucaninawoodenshoe!CHRISTMASISN’TSANTACLAUS,ORADATE,ORANAMEMaybeit’sChristmascards.Butitcan’tbethat.Christmascardshaveonlybeenusedinthelasthundredyears.Thisyear,fiftymillionfamilieswillspend$800milliononChristmascardsandwillpurchase$200millionworthofstampstomailthem.ISITTHESPIRITOFGIVING?Ifitisn’tChristmascards,maybeit’sthespiritofgiving.It’snotreallythespiritofgiving.It’sthespiritofindulgence.Haveyoubeentothetoystores?Thisyear,1976,parentswillspend$10billiondollarson1.5billionpresents.Incidentally,theywillbewrappedin$150millionworthofwrappingpaper.(Thisyear,Christmasgiftspendingwillbe$3.19trilliondollars)!Seven-year-oldLindajustlearnedtoread.ShewasgiventhehonorofdistributingthefamilygiftsfromaroundthetreeonChristmasday.Afterallgiftsweredeliveredwithlovingcare,Lindakeptlookingallaroundthebranchesunderthetree.“Daddy,”sheasked,“whereisit?”Dadsaid,“Whatareyoulookingfor?”“IthoughtthatChristmaswasJesus’birthdayandIwasjustwonderingwhereHispresentis.IguesseveryoneforgotHimthisyear…”Penetratingwordsfromthelipsofachild!WHATISTHEREALMEANINGOFCHRISTMAS?WHENYOUTAKEALLOFTHATAWAY-THEN,WHAT’SLEFT?
That,myfriend,istherealmeaningofChristmas.ThomasR.ConnallytoldthispoignantstoryfromtheKoreanWar.ItwasChristmas,1951thesnowwasgentlyfallingfromtheblacksky.Thetreeswerecoveredinwhite.WhatabeautifulsettingforChristmasEve.Botallwasnotsowell.Connallywasamong150AmericanprisonersofwarbeingmovednorthtoanotherPOWcampinNorthKorea.ThegroupwasheavilyguardedbyNorthKoreans-buttheAmericanswerenotverydangerous.Manywerewounded;manystarving,andtheywerewearingtattereduniformswalkingwithfrostbittenfeet.Theywerepushedandproddedtowardasmallvillage.Upontheirarrival,theguardsscatteredtolookforfood.POW”Swereforcedtokneelinthemiddleoftheroad.Thevillagerstimidlyappearedwithblankexpressions-nosmilesorfrowns.Finallyayounggirlsteppedforward.Shewassevenoreightyearsold.Shewatchedquietly,thenapproachedayoungmarineandgavehimahandfulofrice.Heateithungrily.ShesaidinbrokenEnglish:“Christian.”Themarinesmiled,“MerryChristmas.”Atfirstshelookedpuzzled,thenhereyeslitup.“ChristmasisJesus.”HerEnglishwasn’tverygood.ShespokewithanAmericanaccentfromtheMidwest,andwasprobablytaughtbyanAmericanmissionary.SheneverknewaboutSantaClausorChristmastrees.SheprobablyneverexchangedChristmasgiftswithanyone..ShehadneverheardaChristmascarol.“ChristmasisJesus,”shesaid.Atthatverymoment,oneoftheguardsspottedher.HescreamedatherinKorean.Theprisonersawthefearinhereyes.Theprisonerraisedhishandtotheguardandshowedtheguardshehadonlygivenhimahandfulofrice.Inaninstant,theguardraisedhisrifleandshother.ThePOW’swerequicklyforcedtotheirfeetandweremovedoutofthevillage.Insilence,150Americansshuffledpastthesmallfigurelyinginthereddeningsnow.Connallysaid,“IbelieveitwasoneofthegreatestgiftsevergivenonChristmas.Ofalltheprayersandcarolsthatwillbesung,nonewilleversay“Christmas”asmuchasthatlittlegirl’ssacrifice.Shegaveasmallgiftofloveandsaidsimply,“ChristmasisJesus.”1THEREALMEANINGOFCHRISTMASISJESUS.Nowlet’sexaminetheChristmasstoryinMatthew:Matthew1:18-25:
ThisishowthebirthofJesustheMessiahcameabout[a]:HismotherMarywaspledgedtobemarriedtoJoseph,butbeforetheycametogether,shewasfoundtobepregnantthroughtheHolySpirit.19BecauseJosephherhusbandwasfaithfultothelaw,andyet[b]didnotwanttoexposehertopublicdisgrace,hehadinmindtodivorceherquietly.20Butafterhehadconsideredthis,anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid,“JosephsonofDavid,donotbeafraidtotakeMaryhomeasyourwife,becausewhatisconceivedinherisfromtheHolySpirit.21Shewillgivebirthtoason,andyouaretogivehimthenameJesus,[c]becausehewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.”22AllthistookplacetofulfillwhattheLordhadsaidthroughtheprophet:23“Thevirginwillconceiveandgivebirthtoason,andtheywillcallhimImmanuel”[d](whichmeans“Godwithus”).24WhenJosephwokeup,hedidwhattheangeloftheLordhadcommandedhimandtookMaryhomeashiswife.25Buthedidnotconsummatetheirmarriageuntilshegavebirthtoason.AndhegavehimthenameJesus.”
Inthispassage,twonamesofChristareenunciated-theyreallyembodythesignificanceofJesus.Matthew1:21-JESUS-GodSaves.Matthew1:23-EMMANUEL-GodWithUsThisistherealsignificanceofChristmas
1. ChristcametorevealtheFathertous.2. Christcametodieonthecrosstosaveusfromoursin.
THEKEYTOITALLISTHEVIRGINBIRTHOFJESUSIFJESUSCHRISTISNOTVIRGIN-BORN,THENHEISNOTTHESONOFGOD.HEISNOTGODWITHUS,ANDHEDIDNOTHINGFOROURSINWHENHEDIEDONTHECROSS.Let’sexaminethismostimportantBiblicaltruth.Matthew1:18:Thebackgroundhereisstupendous!WelearnfromJosephus’pointofviewThemarriagecustomwastobeengagedforoneyear-betrothedorespoused.Thepurposewastobecertainthatthegirlwaspureandchaste.Afteroneyearthehusbandtookthebridehomeandthemarriagewasconsummated.Ifthegirlbecamepregnantduringthistime,itwasconsideredtobeadultery.
Duringthistimeofbetrothal,Maywasfoundwithchild.Josephknewthatitwasnothischild.HecouldonlyconcludethatMaryhadbeenunfaithfultohim.Whatashock!Josephhaddreamsofahappyhome.Theywereshattered.Hisfiancéwaspregnant!Itwasnothischild!Josephhadtheimpossiblechoiceofdoingtwothings!
1. Haveherstonedtodeathforheradultery.2. Writeher“billofdivorcement”anddealwithherasaprivatematter.
SoJosephmadehisdecision.Matthew1:19:“BecauseJosephherhusbandwasfaithfultothelaw,andyet[b]didnotwanttoexposehertopublicdisgrace,hehadinmindtodivorceherquietly.”Hedecidestodivorceherquietly.Howheartbreaking!Heapparentlymadehisdecisionatnight.Hestruggleduntilhewasexhaustedandthenslept.Asherdreamed,andangelappearedtohim.Butafterhehadconsideredthis,anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid,“JosephsonofDavid,donotbeafraidtotakeMaryhomeasyourwife,becausewhatisconceivedinherisfromtheHolySpirit.21Shewillgivebirthtoason,andyouaretogivehimthenameJesus,[c]becausehewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.”22AllthistookplacetofulfillwhattheLordhadsaidthroughtheprophet:23“Thevirginwillconceiveandgivebirthtoason,andtheywillcallhimImmanuel”[d](whichmeans“Godwithus”).24WhenJosephwokeup,hedidwhattheangeloftheLordhadcommandedhimandtookMaryhomeashiswife.25Buthedidnotconsummatetheirmarriageuntilshegavebirthtoason.AndhegavehimthenameJesus.”NLT
Josephawoke,andtookherashiswife.HegotuppraisingGod.Mary,hisbeloved,wasnotunfaithfulafterall!Instead,shewasGod’schosenvesselbywhichGodHimselfwouldenterthearenaofworldhistorytotelluswhatGodisallabout!NOWTHAT’STHEMEANINGOFCHRISTMAS.Josephwasquiteaman.Hetookthestigmaofhershameashisown.Yousee,oneofthegreatestinsultshurledatChristthroughoutHislifetimewasthatJosephwasnotHisfather.InJohn8,thePhariseesdeclared,“weknowwhomourfatheris-youdon’tknowwhoyourfatheris!Maryprobablyheardthatinsultuntilthedayshedied.
IcanstandbeforeyouandpraiseGodthatJosephwasnotJesus’father.NoonelessthantheHolySpiritHimselfconceivedhim.Doyouseethemiraculousconceptioninverse23?“Beholdavirginshallconceiveandbringforthachild…”Itdoesn’tsay,“Aprincessshallconceiveandbearason!”No.Itwasavirgin.Hervirginitywasherhighesthonor.HervirginitywastheproofthatJesuswastheSonofGod.IfthereisanythingthattheBibleiscleartoteach,itisthatJesuswasbornoftheVirginMary.Matthew1:20:“conceivedoftheHolySpirit.”Matthew1:16:“husbandofMaryofwhom(feminine)wasbornJesus.”Luke3:23:“being(aswassupposed),theSonofJoseph.“Iwaswitnessingtoawomanwithanominalchurchbackground.“Ibelievealot,butIcan’tbelieveintheVirginBirth.”DoyouhavetobelieveintheVirginBirthtobesaved?ThethiefonthecrossneverheardoftheVirginBirth.IbecameaChristianwhenIwassevenyearsoldanddidn’thavetheslightestideawhatavirginwas!ButIseehownoonewhoreallyunderstandstheissuesinvolvedcouldeverrefusetobelievetheVirginBirthandstillclaimtobeaChristian.Now,becauseHeisbornoftheVirginMaryandbecauseHeistheSonofGod,weareabletoseeinHimtherealmeaningofChristmas.“ChristmasisJesus.”THEREALMEANINGOFCHRISTMASISTWO-FOLD.
1. EMMANUEL(v.23)2. JESUS(v.21)
ThosetwonamesembodytherealmeaningofChristmas.WhenyouthinkofChristmas,alwaysthinkofEmmanuel=Godwithus!I’lldescribeitlikethis.Haveyoueversteppedonananthill?Sorry,theonlywaytocommunicatewiththosetinyantsistobecomeone.Yousee,ChristmasisGodbecomingman-Godwithus-toshowuswhatGodislike.
WhenwethinkofChristmas,meditateonthename“Jesus.”That’sGodSaves.”That’stherealChristmas.There’sanoldlegendofhowJesusbecameourSavior.GodtheFathercalledallofthehostsofheavenbeforeHim.Hedescribedman’slostcondition-Someonehadtogotoearthtosavelosthumanity.Someonehadtoredeemmankind.ABRAHAM,theFriendofGod,theFatheroftheFaithfulsaid,“I’llgo.”“I’llgivemyselfforthem.”Godsaid,“No,youhadsinwhenyoulivedonearth.Youliedaboutyourwife.”MOSES,thegreatestmanintheOldTestament,leaderduringtheExodus,said,“I’llgoandshedmybloodfortheworld.”“No,”Godsaid,“yoursinatMeribahkeptyououtofthePromisedLand.”DAVID,thesweetpsalmistofIsraelandthemanafterGod’sownheartsaid,“I’llgo.”Godreplied,“YousinnedwithBathsheba-youcan’tgo.”JESUScamebeforethethrone,“Father,Ilovethem.I’llgoandshedmybloodonbehalfoftheirsin.”Thelegendsays,“Allheavenburstoutwithprotestsandopposition.‘No,Jesus,”“Youcan’tgo!”Jesussaid,“Imustgo.Iamtheonlyoneperfectandworthytodieforallthesinsoftheworld.”That’swhyHeiscalledJesus.HesavedHispeoplefromtheirsins.Butyouknow,HeonlycomestothosewhowillreceiveHimastheirpersonalSaviorandcommittheirlivestoHim.HoonlycomestothosewhomakeroomforHimintheirlives.OneofthesaddestversesintheBibleisfoundinLuke2:7.Whatatragedy!TheSonofGodcomesintotheworldandcan’tevenfindaroom.Here’ssomethingevenmoretragic!Heknocksonthedoorofyourheartandmine,andsometellHimthattheyhavenoroom.HereisalovelystoryfromGuidepostMagazinethattoldofonelittleboy’sfaithwhochangedthemeaningofChristmasforsomany:“Wally'sperformanceinoneannualproductionoftheNativityplayhasslippedintotherealmoflegend.Buttheold-timerswhowereintheaudiencethatnightnevertireofrecallingexactlywhathappened.
Wallywasninethatyearandinthesecondgrade,thoughheshouldhavebeeninthefourth.Mostpeopleintownknewthathehaddifficultykeepingup.Hewasbigandawkward,slowinmovementandmind.
Still,Wallywaswelllikedbytheotherchildreninhisclass,allofwhomweresmallerthanhe,thoughtheboyshadtroublehidingtheirirritationwhenWallywouldasktoplayballwiththemoranygame,forthatmatter,inwhichwinningwasimportant.
They'dfindawaytokeephimout,butWallywouldhangaroundanyway—notsulking,justhoping.Hewasahelpfulboy,alwayswillingandsmiling,andtheprotector,paradoxically,oftheunderdog.Iftheolderboyschasedtheyoungeronesaway,itwouldbeWallywho'dsay,"Can'ttheystay?They'renobother."
WallyfanciedtheideaofbeingashepherdintheChristmaspageant,buttheplay'sdirector,MissLumbard,assignedhimamoreimportantrole.Afterall,shereasoned,theinnkeeperdidnothavetoomanylines,andWally'ssizewouldmakehisrefusaloflodgingtoJosephmoreforceful.
Andsoithappenedthattheusuallarge,partisanaudiencegatheredforthetown'syearlyextravaganzaofcrooksandcrèches,ofbeards,crowns,halosandawholestagefulofsqueakyvoices.NooneonstageoroffwasmorecaughtupinthemagicofthenightthanWallacePurling.TheysaidlaterthathestoodinthewingsandwatchedtheperformancewithsuchfascinationthatMissLumbardhadtomakesurehedidn'twanderonstagebeforehiscue.
ThenthetimecamewhenJosephappeared,slowly,tenderlyguidingMarytothedooroftheinn.Josephknockedhardonthewoodendoorsetintothepaintedbackdrop.Wallytheinnkeeperwasthere,waiting.
"Whatdoyouwant?"Wallysaid,swingingthedooropenwithabrusquegesture.
"Weseeklodging."
"Seekitelsewhere."Wallyspokevigorously."Theinnisfilled."
"Sir,wehaveaskedeverywhereinvain.Wehavetraveledfarandareveryweary."
"Thereisnoroominthisinnforyou."Wallylookedproperlystern.
"Please,goodinnkeeper,thisismywife,Mary.Sheisheavywithchildandneedsaplacetorest.Surelyyoumusthavesomesmallcornerforher.Sheissotired."
Now,forthefirsttime,theinnkeeperrelaxedhisstiffstanceandlookeddownatMary.Withthat,therewasalongpause,longenoughtomaketheaudienceabittensewithembarrassment.
"No!Begone!"theprompterwhispered.
"No!"Wallyrepeatedautomatically."Begone!"
JosephsadlyplacedhisarmaroundMaryandMarylaidherheaduponherhusband'sshoulderandthetwoofthemstartedtomoveaway.Theinnkeeperdidnotreturninsidehisinn,however.Wallystoodthereinthedoorway,watchingtheforlorncouple.Hismouthwasopen,hisbrowcreasedwithconcern,hiseyesfillingunmistakablywithtears.
AndsuddenlythisChristmaspageantbecamedifferentfromallothers.
"Don'tgo,Joseph,"Wallycalledout."BringMaryback."AndWallacePurling'sfacegrewintoabrightsmile."Youcanhavemyroom."
Somepeopleintownthoughtthatthepageanthadbeenruined.Yettherewereothers—many,manyothers—whoconsidereditthemostChristmasofallChristmaspageantstheyhadeverseen.”2
Whatwasthedifference?SomehadroomforJesusandsomedidn’t.
Now,doyou?
1. https://ifarus.com/remembered-prisoners-lewis-carlson 2. https://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/people-helping-people/trouble-at-the-inn
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