Christmas 2022 – An extension of “Hear It Comes”

If someone were to ask you, “what is your first thought when you hear the word “Christmas,” what would be your answer? I can only imagine what would be heard, and the variety of answers would astound, I am sure.

I would be willing to wager (if I were a betting man, which I am not) that the number one answer would not be – Messiah, Yet, is that not what this season is supposedly about? Jesus Christ, the Messiah, appearing on earth, incarnate God, coming to give His life to purchase  redemption  from the curse of sin and death. While many will celebrate that in some manner or the other, our Society could not care less, and many of our Churches, rather than upping the supply of Good News, are canceling services, closing the doors on more about Christ, and having “gift exchanges,” “Christmas Dinners,” and all sorts of “parties.”

I am not opposed to having a Christmas party, or two, but let’s be honest. There is now much more emphasis on Earthly things than Heavenly things. It’s the Season for Llove and Peace we say, and are nearly trampled to death in the Department Store by those out to get the best deal. More money, and time, will be spent by Believers on Christmas gifts and decorations than will be spent by those same Believers on reaching the World with the message of Christ’s appearance on Earth. One has to ask, “which is more important?”

EMMANUEL – Matthew 1:23 – See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel,[ which is translated “God is with us.”

This child in Bethlehem was  God incarnate. God in human flesh, taking on the attributes of a man, a human, a finite being, like the one He Himself created in Eden.

The real narrative regarding Christmas is found not in Matthew and Luke, but in the writings of Paul the Apostle, in Philippians 2:5-8:

Listen: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, HE humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of  death, even the death of the cross. 

He laid aside His honor, He disrobed from His majesty, discarded His Infinite Power, excised His Omnipresence, threw down His Omnipotence, turned His back on Omniscience, abandon His throne, and fled from His matchless Glory to the dark, dreary town of Bethlehem in Israel.

It was a solemn occasion, that night in Bethlehem. Shepherds came to see what this was all about. They were quick to spread the news given to them by those who sang with Angelic voices  on the hillside – “For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ (Messiah) the Lord.”

Some two years later, give or take, Wise Men came to see, and brought gifts fit for a King, They were followed by Roman soldiers who brought swords, and left in their savage wake, death and suffering, but the Messiah was gone, and their task would never be forgotten. 

How does that narrative morph into the “celebrations” of Christmas in 2022?

The only correct answer is, “it doesn’t.” Unless we allow the Enemy of Christ, the one who brings destruction and death to every narrative of life, to rule in the lives of those who are the Children of God through the redemption of Messiah’s blood, freely poured out on Calvary’s cross, to end the curse of sin and death.

We must return to a focus on Christ, the Messiah, Join with the Shepherds of 2000 years ago, sharing the GOOD NEWS,  Messiah has come, and we are free from the curse. He is risen from the dead, and He is Lord. Lord of Life. Lord of Peace, Lord of Joy…….Lord of Christmas, Lord of all!!

And when that is done, really done, and we have shared our faith with all who will hear, buy a gift for a friend, share a table with those you llove, bless the needy, with joy and peace, and give them what you can while you can. Celebrate the greatest  gift ever given – Eternal Life! It is ours for the claiming, because Messiah has appeared and we proclaim His arrival. . .in the little village Bethlehem, and the little town of Big Sandy, Texas, and around the World.

He came, He died for us! He’s alive! Celebrate!