|
Christmas Eve Sunday, "What
is the More Behind Christmas!" Luke 2:1-20 Preached at By Pastor Dennis R. King The Grace and Mercy of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, be with you all. Amen. This
year how many of you have seen the movie, "How the Grinch Stole
Christmas?" based on Dr. Seuss's book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
It is a book that has truly become a classic. Remember the scene where the
Grinch was puzzled because, "Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall
and the small, was singing! Without any presents at all! He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming; it
came! It came without ribbons! It came without
tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags! Then the Grinch thought of something he
hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, He thought, doesn't come
from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a
little bit more!" What is the
"more" behind Christmas? What is Christmas about? At
Christmas time we hear a lot of talk about love, happiness and joy. This is
the time of year for heart warming television specials centered on attitudes
of kindness, love, and sacrifice. These emotional stories always warm our
hearts and cause us to remember the less fortunate among us. Even Charles
Dickens' story, "A Christmas Carol" . . . have you noticed that
everything always works out in the end? Somehow the magic of the season works
a miracle and everyone ends up happy? Is that how it works out in your life?
Christmas is a time for sharing our joy, happiness and good will towards all.
But Christmas is more then just those emotions. It is more than doing good
deeds. It is more than exchanging
presents. It is more than all those feelings that after Christmas leave us
empty and unfulfilled. Have
you heard the story about the grandfather who found his grandson jumping up
and down in his playpen, crying at the top of his voice? When Johnnie saw his
grandfather, he reached up his little hands and said, "Out, Gramps,
out." It was only natural for the grandfather to reach down to lift him
out of his predicament, but as he did the mother of the child stepped in and
said, "No, Johnnie, you are being punished so
you must stay in." The grandfather was at a loss to know what to do. The
child's tears and hands reached deep into his heart. But the mother's
firmness in correcting her son must not be taken lightly. But then Gramps
found a way. He could not take his grandson out of the playpen, so he climbed
in with him. This is what God did for us at Christmas, He climbed into the
world with us. We who were once far away have been brought near. We who were
lost are found. We who were in danger of the fires of Hell, have been
promised Heaven. We, who deserved nothing, have been given everything in
Christ. Christmas is about giving, but only because of the great gift that
has been given to us. It is in our God giving His very best for us, the
giving of Himself that we find the true spirit of Christmas. The
story is told about a young child who was having trouble keeping up in
school. He worked really hard to keep up with the others in his classroom,
but because of his unique challenges, he kept falling behind. As a result,
his backpack was crammed full with homework every night. There was no letup.
He could no longer play outside with his friends after school. By the time he
had worked on his homework, it was time for bed. The parents consulted with
the elementary school guidance counselor and decided that their son needed to
be placed with a class of slower learners. It quickly became apparent that
the right decision had been made. The third grader got his childhood back,
complete with after-school play; a more positive outlook, and grades that
soon turned into A's and B's. After several weeks of asking his dad if they
could play together after dinner, he grew weary of the same response,
"I'm sorry, buddy, I have a briefcase full of work I have to do."
One day he simply said, "Well, Dad, can't
they just put you in a slower class too?" If we are going to
keep from missing the meaning of Christmas . . . we are going to have to get
into a slower class. Someone has tragically observed that, "Our
generation worships our work, works at our play, and plays at our
worship." Is it any wonder then that our lives are often empty? We have
missed the meaning of Christmas and failed to see that God has climbed into
the world with us to bring courage, joy, love, and hope. Dr. Clovis Chappell in
the book, Christmas, imagines one of the shepherds who had been a youth
on the first Christmas night and has now become old. His grandson sits on his
knee as the old shepherd recalls, "A long time ago, when I was little
more than a boy, I was out on the Judean hills, one night with some other
shepherds, keeping watch over the flock. And the angel of the Lord came upon
us and the glory of the Lord shone roundabout us. And we were so afraid. But
the angel said, "Fear not . . . for unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord . . .. You
shall find the babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." The old man's lips
cease to move, and there is silence. Then the lad turns and looks with wide,
puzzled eyes into his grandfather's face and says, "But, granddaddy, is
that all? What did you do when you heard the good new? Was what the angel
said really true? Was the Christ Child ever really born?" The old shepherd sadly
shakes his head and answers, "I never knew. I never went to see. Some
say that it is all a myth. Others say they found in Him the light of God, the
power for life. But for me, I could never be quite sure. I never did go to
see." Aren't we glad that
the shepherds in the Scriptures were faithful, went to the stable, and spread
the "Good News" received from the angels? The song of the angels
sets the tone for all others who came on the stage of the Christmas drama.
The angels adored Christ Jesus, and so we see the shepherds also adored
Christ Jesus. To adore is to worship with intense devotion. Adoration of the
Christ Child is the key ingredient in the true meaning of Christmas. The
angels added wonder, but they also lead the way in worship as well. There is
no need to wonder about what Jesus most wants for His birthday. There is no
gift we can give better than what the angels gave that first
Christmas-adoration. We may not
have treasures of glory or gold, Or
perfumes to pour at His feet, But, oh,
if we knew of the worth of the Christ, We would
give Him our devotion complete! Our
cherished desires we would open anew And yield
Him our hearts and our all; As incense
we'd offer our praises to Him, Adoring,
before Him would fall! The Savior
is worthy of all we can give, Whatever
our coffer may hold; Oh, may we
then pour out our treasures to Him And
worship as they did of old! Christmas means
salvation to man, but it means Glory to God, and it is never complete unless
God gets adoration. If you want to give God the very best you can give, then
follow the angels and give Him adoration. We need songs to adequately express
adoration. Love songs are so popular because love needs music for its highest
expression. The loving heart needs a poem and a tune. Love needs to be sung.
That is what adoration is. It is love expressed in a song. Phillips Brooks
wrote long ago - "The earth has grown
cold with its burden of care But at Christmas it
always is young, The heart of the jewel
burns lustrous and fair; And its soul full of
music breaks forth on the air, When the song of the
angels is sung." Let us remember what
the appearance of the angels tells us, Christmas is the greatest day of
wonder in history. The adoration of the angels tells us, the best we can give
to God, in response to His gift to us, is the gift of worship and praise. What do you think? Was
Dr. Seuss on the right track? "Then the Grinch
thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he
thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . .
perhaps . . . means a little bit more!" Oh, Mr. Grinch you are on the right track, but Christmas means a whole lot more and that is a fact. Amen. |