THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Luke 2:8-20 [NKJV] Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

The beautiful birth of our Savior, our Redeemer. The story continues to spread all around the world even 2000 years later.

Why? Because it is so much more than a story! In the true story of the birth of Jesus and the real meaning of Christmas, there is a grinch also and his name is Satan.

Satan has tried to steal or stop Christmas since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. 

He tries to steal its true meaning!

Today we see so many things about Christmas that have nothing to do with the real reason for the season.

Our job as Christians is to never forget the reason we celebrate this holy day and to be a reminder to others why we celebrate this Holy Day!

WE recently watched the movie, “Christmas with the Kranks”: About Skipping Christmas, No lights, no gifts, no celebrations, no Christmas parties.

What if we tried to skip Christmas? What would that mean for us?

Christmas is about family time. It is a time families gather and enjoy each other. It is a time our jobs and businesses recognize we want to be with our families, we want to celebrate Jesus’s birth.

It is a time we take pictures together because it is the one time of the year we are all there.

It is a time we make memories with family and friends as we feast and play games and exchange gifts.

BUT WHAT IF THERE WAS NO CHRISTMAS! 

There would be no holiday off work to come together.

There would be no Christmas school break.

No parties at work or school

No giving or getting gifts

No Santa

No searching for the perfect tree or dragging our tree from storage and putting it up.

No Christmas lights

No decorating the tree or the house

No Christmas movies or Christmas songs on the radio

No helping others that cannot afford Christmas gifts or even food for their Christmas dinner.

There is a lot of stress with what gifts to get everyone, all the shopping and over-spending. Maybe no Christmas would be a good thing!

BUT what if there was no Christmas?

What if Jesus was never born?

There would be No Good News to share,

No Salvation

No Rejoicing

No Praise and Worship

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me,

I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.

No Jesus,

No one to give thanks to. Thanksgiving day would be completely different if at all!

Without Christmas there would be no Easter

If there is no Virgin Birth, if there is no baby Jesus

There is no Cross of Calvary or a savior to die & raise

from the grave for our hope in eternity.

No Redeemer therefore, No Redemption: 

Romans 6:23 [NLT] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 3:11-13 [NLT] But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” ¹¹ So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

¹³ But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

John 3:17 [NKJV] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Because of Christmas we share the greatest love story of

ALL TIME

Jesus came, was born into a cruel, dark, sinful world.

He came through a miraculous birth, laid in a manger in a dirty

barn our Messiah was born, so we can know Our God and that He has not forgotten us.

Because Christmas is real

WE can go and tell others about Jesus, the man that knows everything you have ever done, yet loves and forgives you.

You can go tell of a God who cares and can change your life and give you purpose and meaning!

You can go tell that there is hope, love & joy in spite of circumstances.

You can go tell of a God that Loves us in spite of our sin, unconditionally

You can go tell about a God who doesn’t need me, but wants me

Peace, Joy and Love comes because of our redemption

In Revelation Jesus said, Behold, I make all things new.

2 Co 5:17 [NKJV] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

Yes we can find fault with Christianity, there has always

been and always will be throughout our days on this earth those who will abuse the name of Christ for selfish gain.

Just like in every aspect of our lives there are always those that do wrong!!!!

But the celebration is because a baby was born in Bethlehem who can change mankind’s hearts, giving us new life, making us new men and women of God, and therefore can change the world!

Christmas is the beginning for that change!

God’s gift to mankind started in Bethlehem

Isaiah 9:6 [NKJV]

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, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We rejoice at Christmas not just because a baby was born, but that a Savior was born to wash away our sin by taking it on Himself so we too can have everlasting life.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! LET US REJOICE!

Eph 2:8 [NKJV] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Pastor Sherry