The Correct Christmas Response
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Christmas of course is nearly upon us, and I must admit that as each year passes i can see that Christmas is becoming a highly emotive issue for many.
Christmas is time that brings many responses both negative and positive within Christendom, never mind the secular world.
Illustration - Pastor Moore Letter - “Why God hates Christmas”
Many get on the offensive at this time of year, not to remind us of the birth of Christ but to attack those who participate in Christmas activities.
So much uproar, because CHRIST wasn't actually born on the 25th of December! It’s funny nobody gets themselves in such a twizzle at easter because Christ wasn't crucified on a Friday
Now, whatever your view on Christmas, and you are free to have you own views. If it brings you to a place that has you on the attack, if it brings you to a place of a negative response, then its the wrong response, because behind all the debate, about then when and where of the birth of Christ, there can be no doubt about the why!!!
You see the incarnation was good news. Paul tells us in 1 corinthians 15, that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and it is, but its also the birth and life of the Lord Jesus, its all part of the good news, the gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ.
So this morning I want to look at some of the responses of those who witnessed the birth of Christ first hand, and maybe we can learn a thing or two about how we should respond when we remember the brith of our Lord
Firstly, let’s turn to Luke 1:39-56
Example Number 1 - Elisabeth & Mary
There was Joy
Luke 1:39-44
Notice the reaction to the presence of Christ
The baby in the womb (John the Baptist)
leaps in the womb
isn't that wonderful
That Christ if though only in embryo form produces such a reaction
The mother in the room
Elizabeth is filled with the Holy ghost
and she prophecies
forth telling
under the power of God
blessed are you Mary among women
to be the mother to the messiah was a craved position among jewish women
never forget the Jews were waiting for their messiah
then notice in Luke 1:44
why did the baby leap in the womb?
“for joy”
this is the response we should have to the incarnation
joy, not misery
joy, not mockery
joy, not malice
The king has come!!! rejoice!!!!
and what does the joy lead to? well the natural progression of joy is to praise, to praise the one who supplies and brings the joy
Illustration - that’s what we do at Christmas when it comes to presents dont we, we receive something that brings us joy and then we praise the one who gave the gift
There was Praise
Luke 1:46-56
this is what is known as Mary’s magnificat or song of praise
The Magnificat is a poem of praise to God, praising Him for His blessing to Mary and His faithfulness to Israel.
The Magnificat also highlights a series of reversals in which the proud are humbled and the humble are exalted—not the least being a poor young girl who will be the mother of the Messiah.
The Magnificat is full of quotations of and allusions to passages in the Old Testament. Many of the truths Mary expresses find a counterpart in Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10.
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2 There is none holy as the Lord: For there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, And they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry ceased: So that the barren hath born seven; And she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, To set them among princes, And to make them inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And he hath set the world upon them. 9 He will keep the feet of his saints, And the wicked shall be silent in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; Out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; And he shall give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.
The Magnificat also foreshadows many themes that are addressed later in the book of Luke and in the ministry of Jesus.
It’s a wonderful song of praise to God
born out of the great joy the incarnation manifested in those that understood that it was the messiah, the promised one, the deliverer that was in the womb of Mary.
So we have our first example of a proper response at the incarnation, which is what we remember this Christmas, that response is joy followed by praise
Example Number 2 - Angels & Shepherds
There was Joy
luke 2:1-12
here we move to the birth of Christ, and the angel declares to the shepherds
luke 2:10
fear not i bring you???? tiding of great joy!
joy which shall be to all people
this brings us back to the Abrahamic covenant
gen 12:3
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
again the jew was acutely aware of this covenant promise from God
it underpined the other unconditional covenant promises of God
There are 8 Covenants in scripture, split into conditional and unconditional, as well as tjsoe to israel
the edenic - conditional to mankind - gen 1:28-30 & Gen 2:15-17 cross ref Hosea 6:7
the adamic - unconditional to mankind - gen 3:14-19
the noahic - unconditional to mankind - gen 9:1-17
the abrahamic - unconditional to Israel - Gen 12:1-3, Gen 12:7 & Gen 13:14-17
The Land Covenant - unconditional to Israel - the land promise to abraham - Deut 30:1-10
The Davidic Covenant - unconditional to Israel - the seed promise to abraham - 2 Sam 7:12-16
The New Covenant - unconditional to Israel - the blessing promise to abraham - Jer 31:31-34
the mosiac covenant - conditional to Israel - Ex 19
the Jews was aware of the covenants and especially those to them so they were generation after generation desiring that the messiah would come
they know that the messiah was good news not just for them but for allpeople!
and the angel declared this great joy
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
the word tidings in the greek comes from the same word family that we get the word for Gospel, or good news
the birth of Christ is one that demands the response of joy
There was Praise
luke 2:13-20
notice the praise
firstly from the angels
luke 2:13-14
suddenly the scene explodes with the presence and praise of the angelic host
Glory to God
the joy is manifested in praise of the one who gave
john 3:16
Isa 9:6
then from the shepherds
luke 2:20
once the shepherds had visited the manger and saw Christ they returned
notice what they where doing?
praising God
the joy had manifested into praise
Conclusion
We have looked at Elizabeth and Mary, followed by the Angels and the shepherds to see there response to the incarnation
they were filled with joy, which outworked itself in praise to God.
Now, shine the spotlight away from them, all the way forward to us here and now.
What is our response going to be this Christmas?
Are we going to get into a holy fight with anyone who has a Christmas tree, or are we going to focus upon the real reason for the season.
to remember the birth of the Lord Jesus, to remember the incarnation, God came in the flesh, to walk among us, to go to the cross, to be our substitute, our passover lamb, rising again the third day defeating death and hell, ascending unto to the father, to return one day in power and glory and make all things right.
Because if we remember that, our hearts will be filled with joy and and our lips will then overflow with praise, and thats folks is the correct response this Christmas for the child of God
Let’s pray