Not everyone finds Christmas time to be a season of joy or celebration. As we look to the birth of Jesus this advent season, we will see why Jesus’ birth is worth celebrating. And we will discover how Jesus’ birth is good news of great joy for all people. --- Advent is a time to remember and reflect, but it's also a time of looking forward with hope and anticipation. The word advent itself means “arrival” or “an appearing or coming into place.” Christians celebrate Christ’s “first advent” or coming to earth at Christmastime. Each Christmas, we remember the significance of the arrival of baby Jesus to earth, and we look forward with great anticipation to his coming return, or His “second advent”. But the greatest hope of all is that Jesus is fully present in this world, making Himself known to us, each and every day. Advent is a season of hope in the promises of God. Let’s take time together this Christmas to focus on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and increase our sense of expectancy to see his promises fulfilled in our everyday lives.
Luke 2:1-12 NLT
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
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Three reasons why Christmas is worth celebrating:
1. Jesus came for you – it is personal.
2. Jesus’ coming is good news of great joy – it is beneficial.
3. Jesus came for all people – it includes everyone.
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Supporting Texts:
Matthew 1:1-17
Galatians 4:4-5
John 3:16-17
Romans 1:16-17
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Challenge: Finding joy in the Christmas season can happen when we understand who Jesus is, why He has come, and accept what He can bring to our lives. Jesus truly is good news that brings great joy to all people – He is the Savior of the world. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you have done, where you have been, or where you are going, Jesus is good news for you, and He wants to be your Savior too. And that is worth celebrating!
