The meaning of Christmas in society has become over indulgence. To the watching world Christmas is about in the decorations, magic, flying reindeer, and over eating.To nonbelievers Christmas is a time to celebrate one’s social status. Society is confused, they have a carnival mentality; which, does not reflect the humble birth of Jesus in a stable.
We have the enemy of man’s soul to think for this confusion. We have winter celebrations and parties of all sorts, but they do not focus upon the Christ Child. We have bright twinkling lights; instead of the star. We have cheap plastic toys; instead of the focus of salvation as the free gift of God. They have replaced the field of the stable with the idea of clean white snow. Society has eight flying reindeer confused with a heavenly host of angels. Satan has tried to replace the nativity scene with the North Pole and Santa clause, because Satan is pulling out everything he can before The son of man returns to get his bride.
For nonbelievers it is hard to see through the confusion that the devil has developed, but for the Christian Christmas is the beginning of our Hope.
We can approach Christmas by studying the Old Testament prophecies that predicted the birth of Jesus Christ. We could explain the events of Christmas by exploring the bits and pieces of the birth of Jesus. We could investigate the lives of Mary and Joseph. we could share the Christmas story through the angels, the shepherds, The star, and the magi which came much later. However, for today let’s examine Christmas through the words of apostle Paul. Let’s examine what scripture tells us in Philippians chapter 2 verses five through 11.
Philippians 2:5-11 (New International Version) “5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(A)
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,(B)did not consider equality with God(C) something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing(D)
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(E)
being made in human likeness.(F)
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death(G)—
even death on a cross!(H)
9 Therefore God exalted him(I) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,(J)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(K) in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(L)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(M) to the glory of God the Father.”
By verse five Paul tells us who Christ Jesus is and by the end of the verse Paul gives us the significance of Jesus ‘s identity. If we squeeze the Scriptures together we can conclude that this happening began with who is God and ends with our Lord.
Jesus Christ is God and is Lord.
This is the true message of Christmas. It’s all about Jesus! It’s all about his birth and his sacrifice for us; so that we could be reconciled back to God. This is our hope this Christian season! The hope to have an eternal life, spent with God in heaven; instead of spending eternity burning in Hell.
This scripture, written by Paul, is the theology of Christmas. It is the first part of the gospel message. This scripture tells us what happened from the divine side.
According to verse six Jesus abandoned and he is divine position. He left all of his splendor to become a man child Born into poverty. According to verse six, Jesus existed in the form of God. This is he is essential nature. Man was created from dust the ground, but Jesus existed as part of God. It is unchangeable and unalterable that Jesus is God. This is why Matthew wrote that Jesus was Emmanuel. Emmanuel means God with us. Jesus is the radiance of God‘s glory and that exact and his exact representation of his nature. (hebrews). In Colossians chapter 1:15 he is the image of the invisible God. this is where we start with the person of Jesus Christ. that is the word being.
Now, the scripture also says being in the form of God. this is the unchangeable attributes of God. in second Corinthians, yes reminds us that we are transformed into the image of Christ. it does not mean that we are physically or externally need to look like Jesus, things that we are internally conformed into what he is. Paul even says that he wants to be conformed to Jesus his death meaning Paul wants to be like him. In terms of characteristics and attitudes. Jesus is no less than God in the fuller sense. He is God in the flesh.
In verse seven Jesus was willing to leave all of His glory; so, that man could have this blessed hope.
7 rather, he made himself nothing(D)
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(E)
being made in human likenes.
The scripture says he was willing to empty himself. In the Greek this means to pour everything out. exactly what did he empty of himself. Have not emptied his deity, because that is his attributes and that is who he is. He remained holy God. For example, John 17: 4 he asked is father to give him back the glory which he once was bestowed. Jesus emptied himself of his glory. On this earth glory was nailed. Remember, on the mount of transfiguration his glory fell down. according to the New Testament, Jesus was disrespected, mocked, and hated. He was treated with scorn and was crucified on a Roman cross. Second Corinthians chapter 8 verse nine said that Jesus left his riches to become poor. he empties himself of all the treasures in heaven and became man to live amongst poor and needy. He left streets of gold to come and walk the dusty streets of man.
Jesus even gave up his own will. And John chapter 6 Jesus said that he came to do the will of the father. He says that he does what pleases his father. He came to fulfill prophecy. those are some of the things that Jesus Christ emptied himself of. this is the nature of his love; which, was humiliation. Easier said, Jesus gave up his privileges.
If you want to test a leader give them privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities. A responsible person will do the work required, because you pay them. A noble person will use his or her privileges to help others. A good leader will somehow take those privileges and spend them on other people. A poorer leader will use his or her privileges to separate them from the people. those leaders want to be elevated above the rest. Jesus had all the privileges of being God and he chose to set those privileges aside to serve sinners in the fathers will. so he’s like a king that takes off his robe and crown. He gives up or empties up himself his privileges; so, he can help the downtrodden, the needy, the sinners, and the sick. This is the guy that we serve. For this and much more we have a Kohl’s to celebrate Christmas.
So, the story of Christmas begins with God abandoning his sovereignty and coming into the world not to condemn it, but to save it. He accepted the position of a slave. Now back to verse seven:
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus took off the clothing of majesty and put on the clothes of slavery. if we look at the last part of Isaiah, Jesus is for filling that prophecy, he takes on the characteristics and attributes of a slave. He came not to be served but to serve.
Matthew 20:28 says the following:
(New International Version) 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus was in absolute submission to the wheel of his father: God. he became a slave so that he could serve us at our deepest need.
First he abandon yes position in heaven, secondly he became a servant, and a thirdly he sought out sinners. Jesus was made in the likeness of man. in this form he accomplished redemption. Verse 8 says it like this: “8 And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross! That’s again, the verb to be or being. he literally left eternity to become human and die. he became a true man. He wasn’t like man, but he put on mortality and became man. He is not half God and half man. He is all God and all human. Then, he approached sinful people. Verse eight informs us that he was found in the appearance of man. Jesus did not walk around with a gold halo over his head or appear glorious in nature, but he appeared to be man. he didn’t have a robe that stayed white and never needed to be washed. He didn’t walk above the streets of dust and dirt therefore he too needed to wash his feet. he experienced the things that human beings experience in their daily lives. he was born in natural childbirth, he grew up from a babe, and matured into an adult.
Now, I like the song away in the Manger, but one of the verses says the following:
The cattle are lowing The Baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus No crying He makes
According to verse eight, God was fully man and holy God. Jesus did in fact weep.
I found three times in Scripture that Jesus wept (John 11:35; Luke 19:41; Hebrews 5:7-9). Each is near the end of His life and each reveals what matters most to our loving God. He truly is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15).
So, of course Jesus cried as a baby. We also know that Jesus slept, just as man, because several scriptures revealed this action. We even know that Jesus became exhausted, because he fell asleep in a boat that was in the middle of a storm.
Fourthly, Jesus became a selfless man, because according to verse eight he died on the cross. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins. His selflessness also showed up in the garden of Eden when Jesus said let this cup pass from me, but your will be done. He humbled himself when he washed the feet of the disciples, but every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord. Jesus lived a humble life. His father probably taught him how to yoke up an oxen, build a chair for somebody, and perhaps build a table, but he was and is the master of the universe.
Lastly, according to verses nine through 11 Jesus Christ ascended as Lord. For this reason, because he perfectly obeyed his father, we are now reconciled to God. God raised him from there as a sign that he was well pleased. then, God exalted Jesus to his own right hand. finally, God bestowed on Jesus that his name was and is above every name. in fact Hebrews chapter 1 informs us that Jesus has been at the right Hand of God. Yes humiliation on the cross was immediately followed by his exultation in heaven. He regained his rightful place in heaven. He received his full glory. he accomplished our restitution and God exalted him. it says in verse 10 that every knee will bow to him. these knees include of those who are in heaven, those who are on the earth, those that are in Hale, we will all acknowledge him as Lord. inverse 11, every tongue shall confess, before his father in heaven, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This is the affirmation of his Lordship. Do not think for a second that those in hell do not know Christ is lord, because the Bible explains that though they are in a place of constant burning friction know they have rejected him; therefore, they know who Jesus Christ yes in heaven. The rejecting of Jesus Christ is what earns people there position in hell. every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. If you confess Jesus Christ is Lord and believe he was resurrected; your sins will be forgiven and heaven is your reward! Choose you this day! Hell is a real place for those who reject Jesus Christ. Once this life is over your set for eternity. Heaven or hell will be your home. Choose you now!
