Missing Christmas
A Meditation for Christmas Eve 2020
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. – Luke 2:1-20 (KJV)
ILLUSTRATION: The Wright Brothers write a letter to their sister back home.
◦ We miss Christ, too, when we allow our pride to overcome our devotion.
“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes every day and the death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
◦ We can be reconciled to God by trusting God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. – Ephesians 3:20 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: The ambition of George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent God’s Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – I John 4:10 (NASB)
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. – Romans 5:6 (NASB)
Questions for Reflection
Have you ever felt like skipping out on Christmas on purpose?
How is the story of the first Christmas meaningful to you?
Have you ever thought about Herod’s role in the Christmas story? How is his character completely different from the story of the Magi in the Nativity?
If you were selfish, how would you know it?
Is there any area of your life in which you are trying to occupy your own “throne?” What is keeping you from trusting it completely to God?
What do you think Joseph and Mary’s conversation looked like when she broke the news to him about the pregnancy? How do you think each of them felt?
What did it take for Joseph to trust God with the situation? What will it take for you to completely trust God with your pain or disappointment?
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. – Luke 2:1-20 (KJV)
ILLUSTRATION: The Wright Brothers write a letter to their sister back home.
- Like the innkeeper in the true Nativity Story, we can be distracted by the pressures around us and completely miss out on the miracle of the Christmas story.
- Like “Herod the Great,” we can miss out on the opportunity to welcome the true King of kings.
◦ We miss Christ, too, when we allow our pride to overcome our devotion.
“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes every day and the death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
- Joseph almost missed out on being part of God’s plan, but he overcame his fear and disappointment by placing his faith in God.
◦ We can be reconciled to God by trusting God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. – Ephesians 3:20 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: The ambition of George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
- The reality of Christmas is that Christ has come and the Messiah has been born!
- The hope of Christmas is that when Christ was born, so was our HOPE!
- The miracle of Christmas is that Jesus was born to save us from sin and death!
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent God’s Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – I John 4:10 (NASB)
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. – Romans 5:6 (NASB)
- The message of Christmas is our Savior has come!
Questions for Reflection
Have you ever felt like skipping out on Christmas on purpose?
How is the story of the first Christmas meaningful to you?
Have you ever thought about Herod’s role in the Christmas story? How is his character completely different from the story of the Magi in the Nativity?
If you were selfish, how would you know it?
Is there any area of your life in which you are trying to occupy your own “throne?” What is keeping you from trusting it completely to God?
What do you think Joseph and Mary’s conversation looked like when she broke the news to him about the pregnancy? How do you think each of them felt?
What did it take for Joseph to trust God with the situation? What will it take for you to completely trust God with your pain or disappointment?