A Beautiful Christmas

Beautiful Christmas
Deacon Joshua Chan, 21/12/2008

In this Christmas season, we see decorations and hear carols in the shopping malls. To many people, beautiful lightings, nice decorations, buying and giving gifts, parties and turkeys are Christmas.

What does a beautiful Christmas mean to us? Some of us have known the Lord Jesus for some time and we know Christmas is about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We may have watched plays and dramas on this. Many of these plays were based on Luke.

We will read from Luke 1 to see Mary’s response to the call of God.

There was a 400-year period between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Jesus when God seems to be silent. The Jews were waiting for the promised Messiah. They were a chosen people proud of their identity. They see themselves as a class above others. If a child did not learn well, it’s not the fault of the child but the fault of the teacher. Not only God has chosen them but God also has established a covenant with them. In Gen 12, God promised to make Abraham a great nation and that all that blesses him will be blessed.

In 2 Sam 7:16, God promised David that his throne would be established forever. But David’s kingdom lasted only about 300+ years. The Babylonians conquered them and the Jews were taken into exile. This certainly cast doubts in the hearts of the Jews. The nation of Judah no longer existed. Yet, God has not given up hope on his people.

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jer 23:5-8 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (6) In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' (7) "Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' (8) but 'As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' Then they shall dwell in their own land."

The prophecies mentioned in Isaiah and Jeremiah did not happen very soon. In the times of Malachi, the people were impatient and some stopped to listen to God. It’s as if God is giving the silent treatment to the Jews. The antidote to a silent treatment is repentance. During those years, the Jews were under tremendous pressures. There were many enemies. Even the freedom to worship God was oppressed. The Jews were not allowed to observe the Sabbath. No one was allowed to read the Torah in public. Circumcisions and other Jewish customs were banned. Violation of the law is punishable by death. Generations passed without any sign of the fulfillment of God’s prophecy of the Messiah.

After 400 years, God broke the silence. He sent forth His messenger to make an announcement.
Hear the Message of Christmas
Luk 1:26-33 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (27) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. (28) And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" (29) But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. (30) And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."  

This message carried so much hope for Mary. It showed that God is still a God of hope when everything seems bleak. God is always working. He chooses the right timing to fulfill His promises. If we are in a difficult situation, do not give up hope. Let this message given by the angel remind us that there is hope. The world cannot give us security. But Christians have hope and we can share this hope with the world. We should take the opportunity to share the good news.
Ask about the Message of Christmas
Luk 1:34-38 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (35) And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. (36) And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. (37) For nothing will be impossible with God." (38) And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Mary asked the angel how it could that she would bear a child as she was a virgin. The Apostle’s Creed emphasized the virgin birth of Jesus. Jesus Christ was born of the work of the Holy Spirit and not by human conception. Why was a virgin birth necessary? There were many opinions including sexual purity and having no part of a human father. If Jesus was born via ordinary human conception then he would have inherited Adam’s sin. If Jesus had inherited Adam’s sinful nature then he would be corruptible and hence could not save himself and others. For a redeemer to save the sinners, he must be sinless. There are no other religious leaders in the world who are sinless. Only Jesus is qualified to save us.

Besides being born of a virgin, Jesus also performed many miracles, including turning water into wine, feeding 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. He calmed the storm and walked on water. He proclaimed and empty nests were filled. He healed many. The lame walked. The blind saw. The dead rose again.

Joh 3:5-6 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Salvation for mankind can only be obtained from a spiritual birth. No one could earn his / her salvation on his / her own. We must come to Jesus who is our only hope. The divine birth was so unique and significant in the history of mankind that even the angels rejoiced. Unfortunately, many did not take seriously this account of supernatural birth.

As Pastor Intern Melissa prayed, God withheld nothing. He gave His only begotten Son to us.

Let us return to God with a purpose. Do not forsake the first love. Do not wait until God gave us a silent treatment.

Mal 4:5-6 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. (6) And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."

God warned Israel. He then did not speak to them for 400 years.
Announce and Celebrate the Message of Christmas
Mary hurried to the town to announce the Christmas message to Elizabeth with a song.
Luk 1:46-49 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, (47) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (48) for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; (49) for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Luk 1:54-56 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, (55) as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." (56) And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

When God spoke, there was once again hope and assurance. When God spoke, He fulfilled the prophecy of the everlasting kingdom of David. When God spoke, he brought good news and joy to the world. To Mary, it was the greatest news ever. The Might One has finally remembered His people.

As Christians, are we as excited as Mary? As we celebrate Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas, are we celebrating the truth as well? Do not let Christmas be just another festival. Allow the Christmas message to stir our hearts to once again be passionate to proclaim the good news to the world.