1. Introduction
Luke 2:11 NKJV
“ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Christmas is a wonderful time to remember God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this world for us. Christmas is not about what we want to receive, but about what we have already been given.
Luke 2:1-20
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
There are many things during the Christmas season that can remind us about Jesus. A few of them are: the angel on the top of the tree or over the manger scene, the stars in your Christmas decorations or on the top of your tree, stockings, gifts, Christmas lights, snow, gingerbread men or gingerbread houses, and candy canes.
2. Memory Verse
Luke 2:11 NIV
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…”
3. Angels
Angels are messengers of God. Angels have a part in the Christmas story.
An angel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Christ.
Luke 1:26-38
“ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I [c]do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
An angel appeared to Joseph telling him that what was conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:20-21
“ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
An angel appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus after which “a great company of the heavenly host” appeared.
Luke 2:8-14
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”
4. Stars
The stars that we see remind us of the star that God used to guide the wise men to Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-12
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
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6. Stockings
Stockings can remind us that we need to have “beautiful feet” meaning we need to tell others the Good News.
During the Bible times when people were at war (battle) a person would run from the scene of the battle across the land (mountains) to the city waiting for news. The message of this runner was salvation, meaning that they had won a victory. They were running to tell the people that they had been delivered from their enemy or foe. This was good new or glad tiding. According to the Bible beautiful were the feet of those who ran with the good news of their salvation!
Isaiah 52:7 NKJV
“How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ”
One definition of beautiful is very pleasing to see or hear. The people waiting to hear news of the battle would have seen the feet of the runner as beautiful because of the news that they brought.
As we proclaim the good news of salvation to those who are being held captive, God sees our feet as beautiful. He is pleased when we tell others that the victory over their enemy was won by Jesus, and that they have been delivered from their foe.
2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…”
As a Christian, the ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to us. We are to tell all people that God wants to restore them to a right relationship with Himself through Jesus Christ, His one and only Son.
As a person that has been reconciled with God, we should bring good news to the world, we should proclaim peace, we should bring glad tidings of good things, we should proclaim salvation, we should exclaim that the Lord God reigns.
7. Gifts
The gifts of the holiday season can remind us of the gift of salvation.
2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
God has given us a wonderful gift, but we have the power to accept it or reject it. It is up to each one of us to make our own decision – Will we accept the gift of salvation that God offers through Jesus or will we reject the offer?
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9. Lights
Christmas lights can remind us that we are to be a light for Jesus.
Luke 11: 33 NKJV
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.”
We are not to hide the light of Jesus Christ in us or keep it to ourselves (don’t be stingy). As followers of Jesus, we are to take the light placed within us and share it with others.
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Everything we do and say should point people to God. When people look at us they should not see us, instead they should see the nature of Jesus in us. There are people watching each and every one of us. Just as the heavenly bodies shine forth in brightness against the blackness of the night, so the lives of true believers lighten the darkness of the world. We are to shine as lights to both the lost and the saved.
10. Snow
Snow can remind us that when we ask for forgiveness, God will wash our sins away.
Our sins, which are as scarlet can be made as white as snow.
Isaiah 1:18-20 NKJV
“ ‘Come now, and let us reason together, ’Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the lands; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword’; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Reason together means to come to a legal decision. God is not a God of compromise, and we must align our opinion of sin up with His. We must come into agreement with God concerning the seriousness of our sins. God is a holy God and sin cannot enter into His presence. Man is full of wickedness and far from innocence. Deceit fills our hearts (thinking, feelings and actions). Without God’s plan for salvation we would be hopelessly lost, and unable to enter into His presence. Through God’s plan our sins, which are as scarlet can be made as white as snow.
God is willing to forgive (pardon) man’s sins if they will repent and turn to Him. We can receive this forgiveness only through Jesus Christ. Jesus left His home in heaven and came to this world (born as a baby) for one reason and one reason only, to die. Jesus was willing to come and take our punishment for our sins. He took all our sins upon Him. He became our sacrifice for our sin.
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12. Lunch
13. Gingerbread
Gingerbread can remind us that Jesus turns our stink into a sweet aroma that God accepts.
The sweet smells of the holiday season can remind us of the gift of salvation. Salvation spices up our life – through the blood of Jesus our stinky lives become a sweet smell to God. Jesus spices up our life!
When we have sin in our life we stink to God, and we are unacceptable. God hates sin. He does not hate the sinner, but He hates the sin.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become a sweet smell to God. We are accepted by God only through the blood of Jesus.
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
If we have accepted salvation when God looks down upon us, he does not see the sin that we committed, all He sees is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Jesus truly spices up our live and makes us acceptable to God, our Father. He paid for our salvation (made us acceptable to God) with His own life and blood.
14. Candy Canes
Candy canes can remind us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
A candy maker wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he came up with the idea of a red and white candy cane. He incorporated several aspects of Jesus‘ life: the birth, the ministry, and the death of Jesus.
The candy maker began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White symbolize the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus.
The candy was made hard to symbolize that Jesus is the solid rock, the corner stone, and the foundation of the church.
The candy was made in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The shape of the candy also represents a shepherd staff. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He wisely and tenderly provides for all our needs. He also protects and watches over us. Like a shepherd, reaching down with his staff, He reaches down into the low and dangerous places of this world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like sheep have gone astray.
The candy was stained with red stripes. Three small stripes were used to show the trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three small strips also represented the stripes of the scourging Jesus receives by which we are healed.
The large red stripe was for the blood Jesus shed on the cross so that we can have eternal life.
Over time this candy became known as the candy cane – for many, a meaningless decoration at Christmas time. However, the meaning is still true. God loved us so much that He sent His very own Son, Jesus Christ, to become our sin offering.
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