The heart of Christmas

1. The Heart of Christmas – 21st
December 2015
”But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,Mary; youhave foundfavor withGod. 31
Youwill
conceive andgive birth to a son,and you are to call him Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31)..
Christmasisan annual festival commemoratingthe birthof JesusChrist,observedmostcommonlyon
December25 as a cultural celebrationamongbillionsof people aroundthe world.AsChristianswe all
know the reasonfor thisseasonbutimportantlywe needto consciouslybearinmind asthe apostle Paul
didinmany of his epistles,topreach the message that“JesusChristasLord.” Jesusisthe heart of
Christmas,andhonoringHimand exaltingHimmustbe atthe heartof everythingwe do.
Christiansaroundthe world believeinthe virginbirthof JesusChrist,butitwasnot actuallythe birth
whichwassupernatural.Itwasthe conceptionwhichwassupernatural.Jesuswasconceivedbythe Holy
Spirit.Afterthe supernatural conception,Jesuswasbornjustlike anyotherbabyisborn. Jesusalso
experiencedlife like anyotherperson.AsacarpenterinNazareth,Hishandsgrew roughthrough hard
work,His feetgottiredanddirtyas He walkedthe roadsof Palestine,andHe evengotblisters,like any
otherman. He worked,He played,He laughed,He cried,He grew tired,He grew hungry,He grew thirsty,
He knewloneliness,He knew weariness,He knew sorrow,He knew happiness.He experiencedlifelike
youand I do, andall this waswithoutsin. The biblical writerscalled Jesus“Emmanuel,”whichmeans,
“God withus.” What didtheymean?Theymeantthatthere had neverbeenapersonlike Jesus,nor
wouldthere everbe apersonlike Himagain.InJesusChrist,theycame face to face withGod. We can
learninHebrews 1:2-3, “…whomheappointedheir of all things,andthrough whomalsohe madethe
universe. 3
The Son isthe radianceof God’sgloryandthe exact representationof his being,sustaining
all thingsby his powerful word. After he had providedpurificationforsins,he sat downat the right
handof the Majesty in heaven”.
Some may wantto knowas to whyGod took onflesh andcome to earth as one of us? We can learn of
twoprimaryreasons: Firstlytoreveal tous what we couldneverknow onour own. A scholar stated
“JesusisGod spellingHimself outinlanguage thatmencan understand.” Secondwastopay forus what
we couldneverpayon our own. Therefore atthe heartof Christianfaithisthe goodnewsof redemption
for our sinthroughone whowouldstandinthe sinner’splace asthe atoningsacrifice.Ina spiritual
sense onlyahumanbeingshouldstandinthe place of humans;Whocoulddo that? One whoisGod and
yet,at the same time,perfectman,the Lord JesusChrist.”
Thoughhe wasGod, he didnot thinkof equalitywithGodassomethingtoclingto.Instead, He gave up
hisdivine privileges asthe sonof God; He tookthe humble positionof a simple man andwasborn as a
humanbeing..inamanger. Whenhe appearedinhumanform, he humbledhimself inobediencetoGod
and dieda criminal’sdeathonacross. We can learnin Philippians2:9 -11, “Therefore Godexalted him
to the highest placeand gave himthe namethat is above every name,10
thatat the name ofJesus
every knee shouldbow,in heaven andon earth and under the earth,11
andevery tongueacknowledge
that Jesus Christis Lord, to the glory ofGodthe Father”.

2. In summerywe canlearn of the feelingof Christmas fromabeautifulChristmassongtitledthe Heart of
ChristmasbyMatthewWest that says:
I’m gonna make a wishthis Christmas,I’m gonna say a little prayer
I’m gonna stop here for a moment,Before the momentdisappears…
The world’sin a hurry this December,Citystreetsand shoppingmalls
I wish we could slow down and remember,The meaningof it all.
Wherever you are, no matter how far, Come back to the heart,
the heart of Christmas…
Live while you can, cherish the moment, The ones that you love,
make sure they know it And don’t miss it,
the heart of Christmas…
Let’s make it feel the way it used to, Let’s find that wonder of a child
You can see the magic all around you, Come on, and open up your eyes…
You can find it in the warm embrace of your family, Or calling up a long lost friend
You can even find it in the eyes of a stranger, When you reach out a helping hand.
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas, Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it, Don’t miss it, the heart of Christmas
In the shadow of a steeple, In a star that lights the way
You will find Him in a manger, The heart of Christmas has a name…
Song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJktrBObrI
Whereveryouare, no matter how far, Come back to the heart,
the heart of Christmas…