The Real Meaning of Christmas
Introduction
Think for a few minutes about the real meaning of Christmas. We would mostly agree it’s about Jesus being born. Correct, but there is so much more to the Christmas story. Jesus was born in a stable. The bible clearly gives us the reason for this in Luke 2:7 …because there was no room for them in the inn. The emphasis here is on “for them”. Of course there was room for soldiers, the census takers and the wealthy. But for Mary and Joseph there was no room. The bible teaches us that there is no room for Jesus in the lives of most people! For so many people Christmas is just a time to shop, give to one another, attend productions, eat, drink and be merry, but no room for Jesus. Why did He have to be born anyway?
I. So our senses could be pricked, vs. 1-2.
A. He expounds the mind of God, vs. 1.
…spake in time past… vs. 1. Before the birth of Christ God spoke through certain people at certain times. What is the real meaning of Christmas – So God Himself could speak to us all. What a gift! A personal relationship with God! There were many great prophets – Jonah, Jeremiah, David, Daniel, Moses. They could all speak for God, but none of them could say…It is finished! Only God could say that! Christmas was for that purpose, to expound the mind of God and make the plan of redemption crystal clear. Not only can we see He expounds the mind of God, but also He executes the will of God.
B. He executes the will of God, vs. 2.
…whom he hath appointed heir of all things… vs. 2. …the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… John 1:14. God hath appointed Him heir of all things because in the flesh Jesus did exactly what God wanted Him to do. No one else up to that time or since had perfectly executed the will of God. Why do we have Christmas? So Someone could perfectly execute the will of God. Not only do we see that the real meaning of Christmas is so our senses could be pricked, but also so our souls could be purchased.
II. So our souls could be purchased, vs. 2-3.
A. Because of what He is, vs. 2.
…heir of all things… vs. 2. Sometimes we think God owns it all but we forget about our souls. Scripture tells us clearly that Christ holds the coupon of my soul and He can redeem it. Where did He get that coupon? I Peter 3:18-20, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. …put to death… vs. 18. …By which also he went… vs. 19. These verses describe “death” as the vehicle Christ used to enter hell and get the coupons for my soul. He paid the price to redeem it. He is the Deliverer. Underline these words in your KJV of the bible His glory – His person – His power, Hebrews 1:3. The real meaning of Christmas is to have someone care so our souls could be purchased. Not only do we see our souls could be purchased because of what He is, but also because of Who He is.
B. Because of Who He is, vs. 3.
…and the express image of his person… vs. 3. The Greek word is “charakter”. It’s different than “charagma” a copy or “engraved mask”. This word means the person of Jesus Christ is the person of God. It’s a predicative nominative, those parts of a sentence that makes an assertion about the subject. Jesus is God! He is God’s love, His kindness, His goodness, His meekness, His mercy and His forgiveness. The real meaning of Christmas was not only so our senses could be pricked or so our souls could be redeemed, but also so our sin could be purged.
III. So our sin could be purged, vs. 3.
A. Purged by His power, vs. 3.
…when he had by himself purged our sins…Notice “by himself”. You don’t work them off. You don’t get help from the clergy. Christ paid the price for our sins by the shedding of His blood and He came to save His people from their sins. No other life could be given but that Jesus Christ born in a manger in Bethlehem on Christmas day! As this message winds down do you hear a voice within you saying “No room, no room”? God is waiting to forgive you of every sin you’ve ever committed. He’s waiting to redeem your soul. I know He’s pricked your senses. He purged us with His power, but also He purged us with His promise.
B. Purged us with His promise, Romans 10:13.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13. Christ promised us cleansing and redemption if we’d call upon Him. The real meaning of Christmas is not to bring Christ to you – but to bring you to Christ! Will you come? You’ll hear Him say “There’s room at the cross for you. Though millions have come, there’s still room for one. There’s room at the cross for you!”