The Implications of Christmas

The word "Christmas": what would most people say it brings to mind?

Something positive, surely.

Maybe friends and family. Traditions. Goodwill. The "spirit of giving". Something along those lines.

The meaning of Christmas stirs up strong feelings, too. Especially among those that try to defend the historical and traditional Christmas from it's commercialization.

But have you ever wondered about the implications of Christmas?

What do I mean by the question? Simply this: the fact that there WAS a first Christmas should draw our attention to the 'WHY' it had to happen in the first place. Have we asked this 'why' lately?

Look at the very familiar announcement in Luke2:10-11

"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."

The announcement describes the news, who it is for, how it should be received, and what it is about. How often to you see an important message where you are told about the emotional response to it? This one did. It was a message of great joy.

But it was not a private message of personal joy. This was a message of larger scope. The shepherds probably would not have known that this "all" was to include the entire world, and not the Israel only. But it was most certainly to all Israel, since it was the announcment of the awaited Saviour's arrival.

It has the 'When". Suddenly everything changed. People had waited, and watched, and prayed and hoped and longed for the promised Saviour. Families became nations, nations and empires rose and fell, and yet the promise was still always seen in the future tense: "Someday"

Suddenly, the vague and future "someday" crystallized into the force and reality of "today". God HAS been faithful. He kept his promise. It is really happening.

What is?

A Saviour was born. (More on that in a moment) He was identified by birthplace and title.

He was born in the City of David, during the census where everyone was to report to their ancestral home. This points to the Davidic line of Kings from which Jesus was descended. (Ancestry was critical to credibility as the Son of David.)

The child was also introduced as "Christ the Lord". Christ meant messiah- the annointed Saviour for whom all Israel longed. Put simply: The One. He was also called "Lord". This is a word for someone who has and exerts complete authority. A man can be lord over his property. A king can be lord over a nation, and God alone can be Lord over all Creation.

The Good news is for "all people", and therefore that Lordship is global.

Strange talk to commoners living in the days of Herod the Great, one of the most dynamic, influential and politically powerful kings in Israel in hundreds of years. Numerous of his buildings survive to this day. A baby -- a peasant, no less -- born in a village is this long-awaited king? And this baby is (not 'Will be') Lord?

But wait. He is a Saviour.

Christ did not come for a visit, to a wonderful world where everything was perfect. He came into a world chafing under its own rebellion against the very God who made it. There was a literal aspect to the "hell in a handbasket" adage.

He came not because we were wonderful, righteous people.

He came because we were broken, miserable and weak. Worse still, we were too blind and proud to know it of ourselves.

He came to bear in himself the punishment for our sin, that we might be granted eternal life.

Christmas has implications.
So does this message.

Implication One: if we enjoy and celebrate Christmas, we must acknowledge ourselves as the very purpose of His Incarnation. He took on flesh, to save a wicked and rebellious people. If we had never sinned, he would not have had to do so. It is evidence against us of our weakness, and our need of a rescuer.

If we do not accept this point, Christmas is a farce and a game. It has been emptied of any meaning and is on par with Labour day or Groundhog day. Any Christmas traditions you have without this are a testament to your own hypocrisy. Having nothing sacred to celebrate yourself, you've simply hijacked someone else's holiday, and you have no more authentic right to Christmas than you do to Hanukkah, Ramadan, or some forgotten feast for Athena.

But more than that, the Incarnation is evidence FOR God and his great love toward us, that while we were still actively his enemies, he came to seek and save us.

Second Implication: receive Jesus. If Christmas is to mean anything for us, we must receive him on His terms. Accept him as Saviour and Lord. Be the recipient of a transformed nature, heart, will and affections. Begin a new life with Him.

Third Implication: message of great joy for All people.

The Shepherds did not stay silent. If they had, we'd never know their story.

Ask yourself: do you believe that this is truly joyous news? That it matters? That it changes lives?

Then tell someone.

Every news that excites us, we tell people, whether they want to hear or not. (How many people have seen pictures of other people's grandchildren without really wanting to?)

If you are not excited about this news, ask God's help for renewing the joy of your salvation.

The Thrill of Giving

When you pick out the perfect gift, and know how much joy it will bring, you can sometimes be even more excited about it than the person who'll unwrap it.

The first Christmas I was married, this is exactly what happened. I managed to get some tickets to Les Miserables, something my wife had dreamed of seeing live. I saw someone at the music store with a shrink-wrap machine. Long story shorter, on Christmas morning, there was a very ordinary looking Les Miserables CD with a wonderful secret hidden inside it.

On Christmas morning, I was practically vibrating with excitement. I wasn't so much interested in what I was going to get, so much as what she was going to get. Trouble was, it was a little TOO ordinary-looking. You see, Karen had gone out of her way to similarly go "all-out" for Christmas. She got a fancy present for me that was 'just right'. Then she opened hers, and was understandably disappointed to find an ordinary CD inside.

It almost ruined the entire day. She didn't want to even look at it. I had to prod her to open it, which she would have to do to reveal the 'real' gift. Once she found the tickets, she was thrilled and all was well.

You see, I, the giver, was excited about a gift that she, the recipient didn't even recognize as being something that she wanted.

Isn't that what happens with God so much of the time?

God had a plan. Since Jesus is the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8), Adam's Fall did not change the plan, it simply set it in motion. Even at one of the darkest moments of human history, our loss of innocence, and eviction from paradise, God couldn't help Himself. He had to let us in on the secret, if only a little bit. (Genesis 3:15) Something is happening. He couldn't let us in on the whole story. So he did what any parent would do.

Guess what! I can't tell you what it is, but there's a really great surprise coming up for you. I can't wait for you to see it.

The parent hasn't given anything away, but he is building anticipation, trying to let the child share the joy of this excitement.

If a regular citizen of our nation were mis-represented as much as God is by His own Church, there would be a really good case for slander and libel action. God forgive us since we, His very own people -- on purpose or by accident -- have far too often portrayed Him as legalistic. As sour, dour and hard to get along with.

This is the Same Jesus whose first miracle was making wine for a wedding feast!

He REJOICES when the lost return to Him!

Now let's look at the Christmas story through fresh eyes. Don't imagine Linus from Peanuts reading in the semi-monotone voice, the same passages you have heard in so many Christmas pageants.

Instead, think of the God who was excited to get everyone in the house up on a Christmas morning.

Hey guys! Shepherds! I can't tell you the whole Story, it would ruin it. But I'll give you a clue:

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

God was excited. HE knew about the incarnation. HE knew about Jesus' humiliation, trial, crucifixion, and subsequent resurrection from the dead. HE knew that death would be conquered, that the power of sin would be broken, that men could be reconciled to God, and enter into everlasting life. HE knew that. But we didn't yet.

But He couldn't help but give a clue. Peace (What peace? An end of hostility?) Yes, exactly. But with war raging all around us all down the centuries, how has earth had peace? Man still is at odds with man, and (according to Jesus' own words) He did not come to bring peace, at least in that sense.

Peace with God, of course! Glorious!

But wait... we can have no such peace with God, because He cannot look on sin. Peace with God can only come with sin's power being broken!

Don't you see? God was letting the angels proclaim the Good News!

Israel at that time, thought the answer to their problems could be found in a great national leader, like David.

They got their Saviour, but they didn't recognize Him, because they were looking for a solution to the wrong problem.

They thought their problem was Rome. Their problem, in truth, was Sin.

They cried out to be saved from the oppression of a tyrant. Jesus came and overthrew the tyranny of sin and death.

What do you see when you open the Gift?

Do you see the CD or the concert tickets inside it?

Do you see a Jesus: moral teacher / man / myth / historical figure?

Is He just Ghandi with more hair?

Or do you see the Incarnate Son of the living God, who came to bear upon Himself the Justice of God against Sin, so that we could receive the Mercy of God as adopted sons and daughters.

God bless you this Christmas, as you remember what it's really about!