“Christmas is for the kids (!).” To me that’s like saying, “I’m too old for Christmas.” My response is, “Really?!” Are We too old then to celebrate our birthday, or Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving?
Celebrations grow ‘old’ when we get distracted from their original purpose. The joy, excitement, or value of festivities includes giving, eating, and togetherness. At the heart of this is gratitude – to GOD, for a birth, a gift, or a blessing. Indeed, God is good!
I hope you had a very merry Christmas! Christmas is about CHRIST; we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. What does God want us to ‘take away’ or really SEE about Jesus’ birth?
1. That ‘Jesus Gets Down To Earth’ is a FACT OF HISTORY:
Historical documents (the Bible) record detailed eye-witness testimony of that time. Even enemies like Herod the Great acknowledged Jesus’ birth. News of these events was very public.
The stated significance is that God had come down to earth to live in human form. “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16). Jesus experienced human virgin birth; He was the ‘God-man.’ This fact changed history. Eye-witnesses rejoiced in this!
2. That ‘Jesus Gets Down To Earth’ indicates a FOCUS ON HUMANITY:
The Son of God became “flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14). Over His thirty-three years He grew up in a community, wore our clothes, spoke our language, was known in the family business (carpentry), and was faithful to His Father in heaven. He was a man of integrity.
History records that while living among us He served people. He healed the sick and crippled, cast out demons, walked on water, miraculously fed 5,000, raised the dead, and taught us about the “Living God.”
He embodied God’s love and power to us. Eye-witnesses affirm, “We have SEEN His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
The record also states the Good News that, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). This evidence reveals that this ‘God-man’ proved His ability to save us from sin and death.
3. That ‘Jesus Gets Down To Earth’ presents to us a FOUNDATION OF HOPE:
To our broken world Jesus came so that we can SEE – see Him, not as merely another of many prophets, teachers, priests, or gods. We see Him as the one and only Lord God.
God’s stated intention is clear: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life through His name” (John 20:30-31). The Father sent Him to give us forgiveness, hope and peace with God.
Because ‘Jesus Gets Down To Earth’ we have the record of why CHRIST-mas is for everyone. I believe Jesus! I received Him as my Saviour and Lord. I live with the assurance of eternal life because He promised.
“Are you with me?”
Pastor Bill Terris