12-09-2018 – The Priority Message of Christmas

This is the bulletin insert to follow along. The full sermon notes can be downloaded as well.

12.09.18 ~ The Priority Message of Christmas

Christmas is a compound made up of two words: Christ
[anointed One], and Mass [religious observance]. Was Jesus born on December 25?
See Luke 1:39-41... Elizabeth’s baby, “leaped in her womb,” at Mary’s presence.
Luke 1:56 says Mary stayed for three months.
John was most likely born around Passover, in the month of Nisan (Mar/April); and Jesus was most likely born about the time of the Feast of Tabernacles in month of Tishri (Sept-Oct),
Christmas is more likely the time of Jesus’ conception, when His life began in the womb of His mother Mary.
Luke 2:8 says when Jesus was born, “there were shepherds living out in the fields watching over their flocks at night.” A little research suggests no shepherds in the fields in December, for it is cold and rainy.
Ezra 10:9, 13, “all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. ...on the twentieth day of the ninth month, sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed, because of the rain.”
Jeremiah 36:22, “the king in his winter apartment, with a fire in the firepot in front of him.”
The temperature of Palestine in December, especially at the higher elevations, can drop below freezing at night.
Luke 2:1 says a census was taken at the time of Jesus’ birth, everyone returned to their ancestors’ town; not a good idea in December, but September or October would provide a much easier time of travel.
How did December 25 come to celebrate Christ’s birth?
The festival of Saturnalia, December 17-25, celebrated the birth of the s-u-n god; during the middle of the fourth century, Emperor Constantine, promoted the celebration of Christ's birth during that time, in order to Christianize the pagan celebrations already in place.
Whether or not Jesus was born on December 25th, doesn’t matter; but the fact that the Light of the world has come, is the reason for Christmas.
SeeJohn1:1-4,14,18... God’sSonputonflesh, showed us the Father (cf John 14:6, 9), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Jesus paid for our sins (Luke 23:34), “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” (John 19:30), “‘It is finished,’ then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Christmas allows people to be open to the gospel of God’s gracious gift, Jesus Christ, sent by God to save us.
Christmas is a time for worship, because the Savior of the world has been born, and it is a wonderful time to share God’s greatest gift: His own Son.
The majority of the world rejects Jesus, is confused about Him, or just doesn’t care.
As a Christian, the greatest gift you can offer is the Good News about Jesus, Immanuel, born in Bethlehem, put to death on a cross, buried, only to come out on the third day - that is the priority of Christmas!