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Around the Christian world, more people look forward to the Christmas season than just about any other time of year. Even in the depths of winter, with its short days and freezing weather, people seem to get a sparkle in their eyes and a new sense of optimism about the future.
And why wouldn't people be happy? For most Christians, this is the season that traditionally marks the birth of Jesus Christ. And today we are going to celebrate that moment when God took it upon Himself to become one of us.
The story is told that years ago some police officers raided an apartment on the seedy end of town, because they heard that drug addicts and derelicts were using it as a flophouse.
They took a battering ram to the door and when they broke through into the dusty darkness, the sight that met their eyes was unbelievable. It used to be a dance hall and there were still paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling to commemorate much better days for this part of town. There were people strewn across the floor in filthy squalor, sleeping off their latest excursion into substance abuse, and the smell was nearly overpowering.
Quickly they rounded everyone up, and when the cases finally came to court, an amazing story bubbled to the surface. One of the derelicts said to the judge, "Your honor, I think you'll find if you conduct an investigation that I am an honest and upstanding citizen of the community. I do not use drugs or alcohol. And I was simply in that house to take care of other people."
Well, there was something about him that made the judge want to investigate the story. And it turns out, it was all true. His name was John Sargent Kram.
But the people from the seedy end of town called him Papa Deo, which means "Father God," because he was so kind to everybody. He had been paying for the keep of all those drug addicts and derelicts out of his own pocket. But you wouldn't know it when you walked into the room because he looked just like everyone else.
The truth is, he chose to be like the others so that he could better take care of their needs. And if you think about it, that's actually the message behind the birth of Christ.
Here is what it says in Philippians, chapter two; "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him a form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men."
Now, if you think about it, that's the message of the birth of Christ. He willingly gave up the glories of heaven to become just like you and me. And the reason He did it was so that we could experience the glories of heaven.
One of the things my family always did at Christmas time when I was growing up was to read the story of Christ's birth together from the words of the Bible.
Today, why don't you join us as my family reads that same story together?
JEAN: Would you girls like to hear the Christmas story?
GIRLS: Yes.
JEAN: OK. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that the entire world should be registered. This census first took place while Cyrenius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child.
So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over the flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid.
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. For there is born to you this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth good will toward men."
You know, it says in Luke, chapter two that all the world was being taxed by Augustus Caesar at the time that Christ was born. Now, if I had been living back then, I would probably think my tax bill was pretty big news. And if the whole world was being taxed at the same time, it probably would have made the front page of the Jerusalem Times.
But unbeknownst to most people, the biggest story of the day had nothing to do with governments, Caesar, or taxes. Instead, it had to do with a little baby that didn't even have a proper home the night he was born. It was God in human flesh. It was one of the most earth-shattering stories in the history of the planet, and still only a handful of shepherds knew about it.
And the angels of heaven were rejoicing over the marvelous condescension and love of God, but most of the human race went on sleeping that night, unaware that God Himself had just stepped into their midst, that thousands of years of heavenly promises had just come true.
The appearance of Jesus came as a surprise for a lot of people. Some people confusing the prophecies of Christ's first and Second Coming, were expecting a great political leader who would throw off the yoke of Roman oppression and set the nation of Israel free. Some of the religious leaders were looking for someone who looked just like them, a traditional, higher-education standing in society and a seat on the Sanhedrin. But that's not what God sent us, because that is not what we needed.
Years ago, someone penned some amazing words and I wish I could tell you who it was, but the author's name has been lost. Still, here is what he or she said: "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior."
I can't tell you how many times I have wished that I could have been there the night that Christ was born. Just imagine what it would be like to step back in time to the village of Bethlehem and see what God in human flesh looks like as He sleeps in a manger, as helpless as any other child.
What would it be like to be one of the Wise Men who came so far to bring their gifts, and what would you bring if you were invited? This Christmas season, I know exactly what gift you could bring that would put a smile on the face of Christ.
The Bible says that the whole reason Jesus came was to "seek and to save that which was lost." And that means He humbled Himself the way He did for you. Take a moment over the holidays, as the whole world is at least paying lip service to Jesus, to ask yourself WHY He came.
And what you will find is that He came for you. And when we think about Christ in a manger, the truth is, He was thinking about us in the courts of heaven.
So, let me ask you this season, as you listen to His voice, can you think of a single good reason to say "No" to this kind of love?
This Christmas season, as families are gathered in homes all across the land, we remember how important it is to spend time together and share our love, but it's also important at this season to remember our heavenly Father's love and to spend more time with Him. So why don't we bow our heads and speak to Him right now?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we marvel at the kind of love that would give up heaven for this old planet. This holiday season, as the whole world is celebrating, we want to celebrate your love, and we want to draw closer to a God who loves us this much. In Jesus' name we ask it, amen.
Scriptures Used in “Away in a Manger”
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
—Luke 2:1-20 NIV