As I sit here today there are only a few days
before Christmas. The day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
I remember as a child watching “Charlie Brown's
Christmas” every year. Listening to Linus read the Christmas story as it is
laid out in Luke 2. As a boy it didn't mean much to me, it was a good show and
Linus was just part of the show.
As I grew older and continued watching those words
Linus said started to have a real meaning to me. Words that today might be
preached in church but are so alive to me. I used them as part of a message several
years ago and they come back to me even more alive tonight.
A simple cartoon for kids, with the Gospel message
so that all of us could appreciate the real meaning of Christmas.
Read those words, what do they mean to you?
Jesus’ Birth in
Bethlehem
Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)
Now in those days a
decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the
inhabited earth. This was the first
census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for
the census, each to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea,
to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
family of David, in order to register
along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were
completed for her to give birth. And
she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid
Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
In the same region
there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their
flock by night. And an angel of the
Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them;
and they were terribly frightened. But
the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of
great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord. This will be a
sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.” And suddenly there appeared
with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the
highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
When the angels had
gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another,
“Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the
baby as He lay in the manger. When they
had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about
this Child. And all who heard it
wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things,
pondering them in her heart. The
shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard
and seen, just as had been told them.
What a day!
When Jesus was born, He made “A Way In A Manger On
A Not So Silent Night” Jesus made a way for all of us to come into the throne
room of God. Jesus In that manger that we sing about every year, that we
display on our lawns, at the front of our churches. In that manger lay the King
of Kings our Saviour Christ the King.
Jesus came down to earth, so that we could be
saved. We may sing Oh Silent Night, but it wasn't silent. Angels proclaiming
Jesus arrival. Shepherds coming to see Him. The Kings from the East. The
worship of Jesus that He would have known in Heaven came down to earth to
announce to a world that desperately needed Him that Emmanuel – God With Us,
had arrived.
Today we have the privilege to be able to talk with
the Lord, to come into His presence, the gift of salvation, the grace of God
and so much more. We have all of that because Jesus was Born in the City of
David all those years ago.
It isn't about the Christmas gifts we find under a
tree. It isn't about a stocking stuffed full, or a turkey with all the
trimmings. It is all about Jesus!
Jesus would have us open our doors to those who are
less fortunate. Jesus would have us give to others, before we get something
ourselves. Jesus gave us His all, His life, His everything. Through all that He
gave us we get eternal life, only by accepting Jesus as our Lord.
As simple cartoon for kids, with the Gospel message
so that all of us could appreciate the real meaning of Christmas, yet has that
message remained in the hearts of man. Did that message touch many lives, I
believe it did, it may just have to be awakened?
Friends for a few moments look at Christmas, look
at your Christmas. How much of a blessing to the world around you is it? Is
Christ the centre of your Christmas?
Jesus the Christ the reason we celebrate Christmas.
Let’s put Him back in Christmas.
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