A Christmas Baby

                                                                                          

 Luke 2:1-20

 

What does Christmas mean to you?

Does it mean giving or getting presents?  Or maybe having a good Christmas meal?

Many children think about Santa, the Christmas tree and maybe decorating the house.

For some people it’s just another excuse to have a party, or to go on a nice vacation.

Some think of friends and loved ones getting together for good fellowship

Sadly, to most of the world these and other similar reasons are the meaning of Christmas.  But there’s only one true meaning of Christmas to a believer, which is to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus.

1. HIS BIRTH

 

          A. He was born of a virgin.

 

               A young woman, devout in her worship of God, was selected by God to be the mother of Jesus.

 

          You see, Christ began as a miracle, one that has never been duplicated either before his birth or after.

 

          God knew the heart of man and the questions man would ask in deciding if he should follow this man Jesus.

 

          So God made himself, in the flesh, to live the life of a mortal man, to be tempted in all ways such as we are and yet show us that we too can be victorious over temptation and sin.

 

          So then, this Jesus, by his birth of a human mother became literally, the "God-man,"  God incarnate in the flesh.

 

          B. He was born in a manger, a stable, a place where they kept the livestock, perhaps only a windbreak type of shelter.

          You see, there was no room for Joseph and Mary at any of the inns there in Bethlehem so a gracious innkeeper said they could use his stable if they would like.

 

          And then, I suppose the innkeeper went back to his crowd of people, warmed himself  by the fire, perhaps even got drunk...................

 

          But most likely he never again gave thought to that couple who had come to his door looking for a place to stay.

 

          Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my and open the door I will com in and sup with him."

 

          Jesus knocks at the door of hearts still today but we say, "there is no room."

 

          Oh, we have room for work, time for play, time for food, for family, fame and fortune, pleasure, selfish pursuits, personal ambitions, even time for our friends............but no time for Jesus.

 

          Like that night in Bethlehem so long ago, he gets crowded out and we relegate him to the stable of our life.

 

          C. But, you see that Jesus was born among at least a few friends.

 

                There were some who weren't too busy to come and worship Him.

 

          We see the shepherds, the wisemen, his humble parents, and cerainly the angels from heaven.

 

          There are always those who make sure that they spend time in worship before they get lost in their secular interests.

 

          How many of us get caught up in lifes pressures and put Jesus on the "back burner" of our life?

 

WE sing, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" but friends return their friendship.......is Jesus your friend?