Well, it’s that time of year again! It’s time for Christmas! Society is concerned about Santa Claus and his reindeer, but Christmas is about so much more. It’s so much more than scheduled time off of work. It’s so much more than receiving a gift. So much more than snow and sleigh riding.
It’s the season of love. It’s the Season that Christians celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus.
Today, many families and even some businesses put up Christmas lights. I happen to love Christmas lights and I don’t see any harm in putting them up around your home and property, but Christmas lights are not the true lights of Christmas. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. He is the light in our darkness. Remember, to let your light shine through the darkness this Christmas season.
To understand Christ this Christmas we need to evaluate our life. Let’s have clear site lines instead of operating under the darkness that we are used to. So let’s examine the life of some folks in the Bible that ran into Jesus and let’s see what they saw. Let’s see how there Visio. Was impacted meeting the light.
The most obvious person that we should speak about is mother Mary. She was Jesus‘s earthly mother. Lets look into Luke chapter 1. An angel comes to Mary and says do not fear and tells Mary that she is going to have a baby. For Mary, this presents a biological dilemma, because she is a virgin. Because she has not known by a man. Mary says in Luke 1:34. “how can this be?” I would call this a very practical question! She has never been intimate with a man. She must have been thinking, I am a virgin, but you just told me that I was going to have a child. Biologically this is impossible! In the day of Mary, they did not have a scientific processes like we have today. There were no fertility doctors. There was no one who could take the eggs of a woman and the sperm of a man to make an embryo; then, plant embryo in the womb. For Mary, who is looking upon the angel, realizes what the angel is saying is impossible. Of course, she is going to question how did this thing be? The angel tells her the Holy Spirit is going to come upon her. In verse 35, the angel tells her: “that the power of the most high going to overshadow you, and you are going to become pregnant.” Most of us today would probably say, “yeah right!” Pop Furthermore, the angel instructed her that this will be the son of God and his name shall be called Jesus.
You see, the Holy Ghost taught me several years ago that one lesson of Christmas is that we are not to put God in a box. Because when God wants to do something he can transcend our logic and our laws. now let’s move on to Zacharias! Let’s compare and contrast their lives and their reactions to what the angel tells them.
Now, we don’t want to miss what verse 37 says! Verse 37 says: now Mary you need to buy this, because there is nothing that is impossible with God.
Zacharias is married to Elizabeth. this couple is a relative to Mary. Zacharias and Elizabeth are over the age of menopause. Therefore, biologically they are unable to conceive and and have children. Even today, once a woman has hit menopause, scientifically there’s nothing a doctor can do to help the couple conceive.
An angel of the Lord comes to Zacharias and tells Zacharias that he is going to conceive a baby with Elizabeth and they are going to have a son. For this we have to go back up to verse 13 of Luke chapter one and it says the following: “When he saw the angel, he was terrified. But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John” (Luke 1:13). Zachariah said to the angel, how will I know this for certain? it’s ironic, because this was the same question Mary. She said, how will this thing be? both of them thought with their physical heart; instead,. Hope we do this today? it’s a logical, because both instances we are talking about biological things. Not logical that a virgin logical that a couple, advanced, and conceive A child. So you see they were both thinking glee, but not spiritually.
Now, look what the angel says in response to the reaction of Zacharias. We find this reaction recorded in Luke chapter 1 verse 20. The angel of the Lord told him that he would not be able to speak until the baby was born.
Because Zacharias did not gods messenger, the angel, was punished for his unbelief. In contrast to Mary’s reaction she did not understand how it would happen, but she accepted miracle. Therefore, both of their had similar situations. Both of them had doubts and both of them had questions. Today, when you are faced with something that does not make sense, That has been revealed by God, there are two things that could happen. One, your doubt can bring discipline or your doubt can bring a miracle. Here, is the difference, it is revealed in Luke 1:38. it says there is nothing that is impossible with God. Mary said, “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” You see, both situation would require a miracle. Zachariah says doubt led him to unbelief; while Mary’s doubt led her to submission.
You see, if God says it, we don’t have to understand it, and we don’t have to figure it out. We are just called to accept it and obey it. Then, the supernatural enters into the natural. Lets not go into the new year with our natural human understanding. Let’s not enter into the new year with our education and our information. let’s not put God into a box! Our human understanding can interfere with the supernatural. We have to let God work! Sometimes, we just have to get out of the way. nothing is impossible with our God! we must enter the new year with expecting God to blow up our box! God can reverse our direction and he can do it on a dime.
Let’s continue with our scripture! Mary comes to visit Elizabeth. Luke narrates in his Gospel how the Virgin Mary, after receiving news about her cousin’s remarkable conception in her old age, “arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1:39-40).
What happens? They both receive a confirmation from God. Have you ever needed confirmation from God? Sometimes, when you’re doing the work of the lord you need confirmation from God. This is a time that we should worship him and testify of him to others.
Luke 1:41-44 (New International Version) “41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.(A) 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,(B) and blessed is the child you will bear! “
Mary and Elizabeth were great comforting each other, because they were going through something very similar. We see, his kindness the Lord gives Mary three months to spend with Elizabeth, to prepare her for going back to Nazareth to face all that was to come. It’s a blessing when God puts together!
In addition, eventhough Elizabeth had been barren and her time for having a baby was over, God caused her to conceive. Our God is a God of surprises. Sometimes, when we least expect it, he touches us with a miracle and our life is changed forever. God can work miracles only as strong and as big as our faith is!
Let’s move on. The second group of people that did not miss Jesus were the shepherds. These shepherds were tending to their flocks. You’ll find this in chapter 2 of the Luke at verse 18. So, suddenly an angel appears to this group of shepherds. Of course, they are scared to death. they have never seen anything like this before. Therefore, the first words from the angel is do not be afraid or do not fear. In fact, the angel says behold behold simply means to look upon God intensely. For us today, this means for us to keep our paw keep our eyes upon the Lord. When we keep our focus on the Lord our problems become small. When we come into the presence of the Lord or is no fear. Light passes away the darkness. So, whatever makes you afraid or causes you to fear, in the new year, focus on God. God has a way of taking our fears and turning them into Comfort and joy.
The angel tells the shepherd that our savior going to be born. Not only that, but the angel says a sign will be revealed.
Verse 12 says, that you will find a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothing, laying in a manger.
What is unique about the situation? I think the king James version says that you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothing. Well, who is the angel speaking to? He is speaking to a group of shepherds.
These are not just general shepherds! The shepherds that the angel comes to are shepherds that are watching over the lambs that would be offered as sacrifice. These lambs were watched very closely, because they had to be without spot or blemishes! One commentary I read said that the lambs could not have any cuts or any scars on them.
So, back in Jesus’s day the Shepherds would wrap all the newborn lambs in cloth to prevent the lamb from rubbing on stuff, because that could scar it. Then, if scared, it would not be good enough for the sin offering. Therefore, when the shepherds heard that they would find a baby wrapped like one of the lambs; that was a true sign. You see, the son of God was to be offered as the sacrifice for mankind! The way Jesus was wrapped was important, because Jesus had to be the son of God! The lamb without spot or blemish! The sinless Lamb of God!
Thus, the Shepherds came and the angels came forth and they were singing! The shepherds in verse 20 went back glorifying and praising God. They were all excited about what they had just experienced. Here in scripture, we see one of the miracles of Jesus’s birth! Until this Christmas the Holy Spirit never showed this connection to me, but maybe it’s not just for me! Maybe it’s for you!
The shepherd’s recognized the uniqueness of the Savior and responded accordingly! Now let’s allow the Holy Spirit to show you somebody else who didn’t miss the meaning of Christmas! Jesus is the light of Christmas! Let’s consider Simeon chapter 2 verse 25.
Luke 2:25, ESV: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Simeon lived in Jerusalem. In fact, he lived in the temple day and night. It had been revealed that he would see the Lord Jesus Christ before his physical death. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, because this was the custom of the law.
According to the law circumcision was completed on the eighth day of birth and then Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God! Simeon was righteous and devout! He had committed his life to the lord!
So, let’s not miss the meaning of Christmas and really experience God! In the new year if you really want to make the most out of Christmas a live that seeks to please God. Be holy on the inside and on the outside! Be fully committed to him! Follow the example of Simeon, being devout, and then keep your eyes open for him!
God is going to give us a warning here! He gives us the warning in verses 34-35. “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother Jesus will cause the fall and rise of many in Israel.
The worst part is that a sword will pierce even your own soul. This Scripture foretold of Jesus’s life and it gives us a great understanding of the significance of Christmas.
Simon said a commitment to Jesus will be overwhelming, but others will hate Him. For many of us Christians we are safe because we don’t want to offend anybody! We stay quiet and bite or tongues! We are afraid of taking a stand and confronting the evil before us. Let’s consider Matthew 10! Here is what it says: “Matthew 10:33 (English Standard Version) but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
So, if you affirm me before men Jesus will affirm you before God. However, if you’re embarrassed to be associated with Jesus, He will be embarrassed of you. If you don’t want your friends to know that you believe in Jesus; then Jesus will also deny you before God.
Christmas is all about Jesus. We need to treat Jesus as something special, like he’s the son of the living God, like he is the savior, and your lord of your life!
Finally, let’s consider the Kings who found Jesus! The wise men in Matthew chapter two! We remember as part of the Christmas story and set them in every nativity scene, but there were no wise men at the manger with the shepherds. In chapter 2 verse 11 it says the following: Matthew 2:11 (King James Version) “11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”
Scripture says, the wisemen came into the house and they saw the child! So, when the wise men got to Jesus he was not in the in the manger! He was a house! The verse also tells us that he was a child and not a baby! The wise men saw his star when the child was born it says they came from the east on camel. The wisemen travels for months to get to Jesus! What’s wrong with us today? We don’t want to come to church if we have to drive more than fifteen minutes, we don’t want to come to church if it’s to cold or to hot? The Wiseman said we have come to worship him because he is worthy! They went the distance and even brought him offerings or we can call them gifts! Today, we have a problem, most of us don’t want to do eighter! In the new year, let’s change our attitude and worship the king of kings and the lord of lords, because he is worthy!
Christ, who was born in Bethlehem is, worthy of your worship. Therefore, give him his worth this Christmas! When we get yoked up with God the Holy Spirit gives us a new direction. He talks to us! He protects us! Consider the warning God gave the wisemen in a dream. Matthew 2:12 (King James Version) “12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” You see, when you get Jesus in the right place and give him the right worship -he can tell you which direction to take!
Jesus is the light of the world he wants to illumine your light in the new year!
Everyone that found Jesus found guidance, found miracles, and found the supernatural!
So, as time gives way to Christmas then to the New Year, we can have a plain ordinary life and just use your own human understanding or you can decide -No this Christmas I’m banking on the supernatural! We are not going to lean to my own understanding. We are going to bank on this Christ child! – who has now risen from the dead, because Jesus is the light of the world!
And when we see the Christmas lights, we will use the opportunity to spread the message that Jesus is the true light of Christ!
