It’s Christmas Time – Click here to download

In our world today, there seems to be an unnecessary amount of confusion over Christmas. So many people have so many opinions about what Christmas means. Some say it is about international peace. Some say it is about family. Some say it is about having a few days off from work or school. Some say it is about the spirit of giving. Some hope it is about getting. This plethora of opinions is perfect for our postmodern world … Let everyone believe what he or she wants to believe about Christmas and if there is some confusion or differences of opinion that’s not a problem.
Is it really so difficult to know what Christmas is all about? Has God been so unclear that it is just not possible to know what the birth of Jesus Christ means? Hardly. We only need to go back to the Christmas story recorded in the Bible and listen to what the angels say in that story. The angels are, after all, God’s messengers. What did God’s messengers have to say about Christmas?

In Luke’s gospel chapter two, the angel says to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (v. 10). What is the good news? Is it peace in the Middle East? Is it people being nicer to each other on the street? No! these are all good and nice things, but that’s not the message of Christmas. The angel tells us, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (v. 11). A Savior has been born to you! My friends, that is the good news. Notice the clarity here. There is no confusion. There is no question about who Jesus was. The message of the angel was simple. A Savior had been born to you!

Let me now make a simple application. The angel said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” “Unto you.” “For you.” He came for you. This is where Christmas becomes intensely personal. It’s not enough to say abstractly that you believe Christ came. Millions of people say that and are still lost in their sins. It’s not enough to say that Christ came for someone else. You can never be saved until you say, “Christ came for me. He died for me. He rose from the dead for me.” He came for you. Do you believe that?

This week we will be celebrating Christmas. Families will gather around the tree to open their presents. Children have been counting the hours until that glad moment arrives. When you receive your gifts this Christmas, what will you do? Will you not open them? What use is a gift that is never opened? – The great news is that two thousand years ago God sent to us a gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Jesus is God’s Christmas gift to you. But you will never experience the joy of Christmas until you personally receive God’s gift – the Lord Jesus Christ.
The real meaning of Christmas is that Christ came to us so that we would never try in vain to reach God on our own. In the humility of the manger, God stepped into our world, our suffering, and our sin. Christmas declares that salvation is not humanity’s climb toward heaven, but heaven’s descent to earth. Because Christ came near, forgiveness is possible, hope is secured, and redemption is offered to all who trust in Him. I hope and pray that you all know and experience this season the real meaning of Christmas.

I would like to close with the beautiful words penned by Arthur Ward

“Christmas is not just a season,
Christmas is not just a day,
Christmas is more than a reason
For parties, presents and play.
Christmas is truly the essence
Of joy that the Savior brings;
Christmas is surely the presence
Of Jesus, the Kings of Kings!”

Merry Christmas to You All, Dear Friends!

Love you all!

Pastor John Todor