The Meaning of Christmas
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
….a Sacred Romance
It reveals the purpose of our lives
Mary
an ordinary, young Jewish women living in Nazareth in 6 BC
Nazareth was a small town mostly made up peasants …of no reputation
God’s eye was on Mary.. Likely only 15-17 years old, persevered in fidelity to the Lord
A pure, virgin, a vessel to be used by God …one of the most important jobs in history
Isaiah 7:14 .. a sign of Messiah’s coming “ the virgin shall conceive … Immanuel”
Mary was betrothed …engaged, but in a legally binding commitment in Jewish culture
Joseph
An older gentleman, possibly in his 30’s …scholars say, he was a widower
Joseph was a ‘just man’ (Matt 1:19) , feared God, and kept the law…looking for Messiah
Just a carpenter (a builder) ….But an observer of the holy feasts of the OT Scriptures
Joseph was a son of David, of the tribe of Judah, a descendent of Abraham
The Crisis – Luke 1 V 26-33
One day God sent His angel Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth …” Fear Not ..you will conceive”
“ you are highly favored …you will bear a Son … Immanuel …He shall be Great !
He shall be called the Son of the Highest … Sit on the throne of David… His Kingdom -forever
“ HOW CAN THIS BE ?....I’m never been with a man …” You will conceive of the Holy Spirit”
Why did Jesus have to be born of a virgin ? …HE WAS WITHOUT SIN
Mary is thinking ..BUT WHAT WILL JOSEPH THINK ? HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THIS TO MY PEOPLE ?
Luke 1:38 “ Mary said…Be it according to your word … I am the Lord’s servant “
Can you imagine her telling Joseph ….You’ll never believe what just happened to me ….
Mary – departs for the hill country of Judah to stay with Elizabeth for 3 months
Joseph is thinking through all this … How ? Why ? What will happen … she’s in danger
He decides … I’m going to divorce her… that’s the proper thing to do..
Joseph is torn … He’s facing humiliation … He loves Mary … how could this happen ?
The angel of the Lord visit’s him in a dream (Matt 1:20) …Fear Not, take Mary your wife
She has conceived of the Holy Spirit … You’ll call His name Jesus…
He’s come to save His people from their sins (Matt 1:21) … THIS is the Story of Christmas
The Birth of Jesus – Luke 2 V 1-7
A decree went out from Caesar Augustus …everyone to their town of ancestry
Mary was about to give birth…but they must travel to Bethlehem – ( Micah 5:2)
They travelled on a donkey 70 miles through mountainous terrain to Judea
When they reached Bethlehem,…there was no room in the inn
They showed them a cave where animals took shelter and lay on hay feeding
Mary brought forth her first born Son, wrapped him in linen, …laid him in a feeding trough
The angel said…” I bring you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY to ALL PEOPLE”
Today, in the city of David …a SAVIOUR is BORN … CHRIST THE LORD” (Luke 2:11)
God sent His One and Only Son ….here to save YOU – John 3:17
We …. YOU…. (the entire World) is so LOVED by God (John 3:16)
God launched the greatest rescue mission of all time … HE CAME TO SAVE YOU
We were stolen, deceived by Satan, fallen in sin, cursed, lost, and became ENEMIES of God
Colossians 1:21 – Alienated from God …Then, we turned our backs on God .. (Isaiah 53:6)
Our lives were ruined, struck by arrows of sin…dead spiritually (Eph 2:1)
First God sent his messengers … the Prophets … we DIDN’T listen… last of all He sent His Son
He came veiled in flesh… a man…undercover … (VERILY GOD HIMSELF)
He came right down into enemy territory …The whole world lay under the power of the evil one
Light came down into darkness ( Isaiah 9:2) …He Risked it ALL to COME and SAVE YOU !!
He showed HIS EVERLASTING, UNCONDITIOANAL LOVE …coming to reconcile His enemies
Romans 5:10 …while we were enemies…we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son
Jesus Christ came into the world to SAVE YOU…HE DIED on a CROSS, HE ROSE Again…
THIS, ….is the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
