What's so special about christmas

What’s So SpecialWhat’s So Special
About ChristmasAbout Christmas
Luke 2Luke 2
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory
of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news that will cause great joy for all theyou good news that will cause great joy for all the
people.people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
1414
““Glory to God in the highest heaven,Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
January 2016January 2016
Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

Jan 2016 Nativity Feast 2
OutlineOutline
• You Are Important To GodYou Are Important To God
• Your Life Matters To GodYour Life Matters To God
• Your Faith Matters To GodYour Faith Matters To God
• The Relevance of ChristmasThe Relevance of Christmas
• The Reality of ChristmasThe Reality of Christmas
• The Reason for ChristmasThe Reason for Christmas
• The Result of ChristmasThe Result of Christmas

What has Christmas really meant for us this year?What has Christmas really meant for us this year?
• Time off study and workTime off study and work
• Time with Family and loved onesTime with Family and loved ones
• Buying gifts for themBuying gifts for them
• ……....
• Stats show that there is a steep rise in divorceStats show that there is a steep rise in divorce
over Christmas – January often sees twice asover Christmas – January often sees twice as
many couples begin divorce proceedings asmany couples begin divorce proceedings as
any other time of the year.any other time of the year.

You Are Important To GodYou Are Important To God
• When God makes His announcement, it isWhen God makes His announcement, it is
delivered to shepherds. It is like Jesus saying indelivered to shepherds. It is like Jesus saying in
the Sermon on the mount, "If God cares aboutthe Sermon on the mount, "If God cares about
sparrows & lilies, then He cares about you." Ifsparrows & lilies, then He cares about you." If
God cares about shepherds, He cares aboutGod cares about shepherds, He cares about
you!you!
• We all need to hear that. All of us have knownWe all need to hear that. All of us have known
feelings of rejection. All of us have knownfeelings of rejection. All of us have known
feelings of being left out. Christmas comes. Thefeelings of being left out. Christmas comes. The
light shines, & God says, "light shines, & God says, "No! You’re wrong. INo! You’re wrong. I
made the announcement to shepherds, & Imade the announcement to shepherds, & I
make it to you. Unto you a Savior is born."make it to you. Unto you a Savior is born."Jan 2016 Nativity Feast 4

Your Life Matters to GodYour Life Matters to God
• Those shepherds must have sat around theThose shepherds must have sat around the
campfire many times & wondered if life wascampfire many times & wondered if life was
really worthwhile or not. "What difference doesreally worthwhile or not. "What difference does
it make if we watch the sheep or not?“it make if we watch the sheep or not?“
• Maybe we wonder as well, "What differenceMaybe we wonder as well, "What difference
does it make if I get up every morning or not? Itdoes it make if I get up every morning or not? It
seems as if my life is an endless cycle of thingsseems as if my life is an endless cycle of things
that really don’t mean anything. I just wonder ifthat really don’t mean anything. I just wonder if
life is worth living at all?"life is worth living at all?"
• You see, every life matters. We are alwaysYou see, every life matters. We are always
influencing someone, either for good or for bad.influencing someone, either for good or for bad.

Your Life Matters to GodYour Life Matters to God
• Oscar Schindler:Oscar Schindler: In those years, millions of Jews died in theIn those years, millions of Jews died in the
Nazi death camps like Auschwitz, but Schindler's JewsNazi death camps like Auschwitz, but Schindler's Jews
miraculously survived.miraculously survived.
To more than 1200 Jews Oscar Schindler was all that stoodTo more than 1200 Jews Oscar Schindler was all that stood
between them and death at the hands of the Nazis. A man fullbetween them and death at the hands of the Nazis. A man full
of flaws like the rest of us - the unlikeliest of all role models whoof flaws like the rest of us - the unlikeliest of all role models who
started by earning millions as a war profiteer and ended bystarted by earning millions as a war profiteer and ended by
spending his last pfennig and risking his life to save his Jews.spending his last pfennig and risking his life to save his Jews.
An ordinary man who even in the worst of circumstances didAn ordinary man who even in the worst of circumstances did
extraordinary things, matched by no one. He remained true toextraordinary things, matched by no one. He remained true to
his Jews, the workers he referred to ashis Jews, the workers he referred to as my childrenmy children. In the. In the
shadow of Auschwitz he kept the SS out and everyone alive.shadow of Auschwitz he kept the SS out and everyone alive.
And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an
entire world. — Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9. Video link

Your Faith Matters To GodYour Faith Matters To God
• Shepherds were men of faith. They probablyShepherds were men of faith. They probably
had more faith than some of the scribes &had more faith than some of the scribes &
Pharisees who went to the synagogue everyPharisees who went to the synagogue every
day.day.
• They believed in a Messiah. All of God’sThey believed in a Messiah. All of God’s
chosen people believed in a Messiah. Whenchosen people believed in a Messiah. When
things got especially hard, during times ofthings got especially hard, during times of
poverty & enslavement & exile, they wouldpoverty & enslavement & exile, they would
think about the Messiah & God’s promise thatthink about the Messiah & God’s promise that
one day the Messiah would come.one day the Messiah would come.

• They prayed over & over again, "Let the Messiah come.They prayed over & over again, "Let the Messiah come.
Let Him come today!" They prayed that prayer forLet Him come today!" They prayed that prayer for
hundreds of years, & they must have wondered, "Is ourhundreds of years, & they must have wondered, "Is our
faith worth anything? Does God hear our prayers? Doesfaith worth anything? Does God hear our prayers? Does
God keep His promises? Will the Messiah ever come?“God keep His promises? Will the Messiah ever come?“
• There must have been many who quit praying, & quitThere must have been many who quit praying, & quit
having faith. But when the announcement came tohaving faith. But when the announcement came to
shepherds, God was saying, "Your faith matters, & it is notshepherds, God was saying, "Your faith matters, & it is not
in vain. I am a God who hears & who keeps His promises.in vain. I am a God who hears & who keeps His promises.
Now the Messiah has come, & I have kept My promise.“Now the Messiah has come, & I have kept My promise.“
• How about us? Sometimes we become weary. There mayHow about us? Sometimes we become weary. There may
be times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going tobe times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to
church. There are times when we wonder if it is worthchurch. There are times when we wonder if it is worth
sacrificing for God.sacrificing for God.

• The shepherds keeping watch over theseThe shepherds keeping watch over these
sheep knew the purpose for the lambs undersheep knew the purpose for the lambs under
their care. And their job was to keep thetheir care. And their job was to keep the
animals under them from becoming injured oranimals under them from becoming injured or
blemished. It was to those watching overblemished. It was to those watching over
animals destined for temple sacrifice that theanimals destined for temple sacrifice that the
angels announced Jesus’ birth. “For today inangels announced Jesus’ birth. “For today in
the city of David there has been born for you athe city of David there has been born for you a
Savior, who isSavior, who is ChristChrist the Lordthe Lord” (Luke 2:11).” (Luke 2:11).
• Link to song “If you think you’re not important”Link to song “If you think you’re not important”

The Relevance of Christmas:The Relevance of Christmas: God Came toGod Came to
EarthEarth
• Lord Jesus “always had the nature of God …” (PhilippiansLord Jesus “always had the nature of God …” (Philippians
2:6) Jesus was God, and he came to live among us for a2:6) Jesus was God, and he came to live among us for a
while (John 1). That is the relevance of Christmas.while (John 1). That is the relevance of Christmas.
• Lord Jesus didn’t start in the stable. He existed evenLord Jesus didn’t start in the stable. He existed even
before Creation. The pre-eminence of Christ is explainedbefore Creation. The pre-eminence of Christ is explained
in Colossians, where we are told he is the exact Image orin Colossians, where we are told he is the exact Image or
Icon of the unseen God, he existed before anything else,Icon of the unseen God, he existed before anything else,
and, in truth, he is the Creator who made everything inand, in truth, he is the Creator who made everything in
Heaven and on Earth (Colossians 1:15-16).Heaven and on Earth (Colossians 1:15-16).
• Lord Jesus is God in the flesh. The Bible says if you’veLord Jesus is God in the flesh. The Bible says if you’ve
seen Jesus, you’ve seen God (John 1). If Lord Jesus reallyseen Jesus, you’ve seen God (John 1). If Lord Jesus really
is God and God came to Earth, then Christmas is the mostis God and God came to Earth, then Christmas is the most
relevant event of history.relevant event of history.

The Reality of Christmas:The Reality of Christmas: God BecameGod Became
ManMan
• The reality of Christmas was that Jesus ChristThe reality of Christmas was that Jesus Christ
was a real man, flesh and blood, bones andwas a real man, flesh and blood, bones and
hair. He was a real person — not a myth, not ahair. He was a real person — not a myth, not a
fable, not a nice story.fable, not a nice story.
• The Bible says Jesus “of his own free will heThe Bible says Jesus “of his own free will he
gave up all he had, and took the nature of agave up all he had, and took the nature of a
servant. He became like a human being andservant. He became like a human being and
appeared in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7).appeared in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7).
• Why would Jesus come as a human being?Why would Jesus come as a human being?
• Story of AntsStory of Ants

The Reality of Christmas:The Reality of Christmas: God BecameGod Became
ManMan
• He was born like usHe was born like us..
• He grew like usHe grew like us..
• He was tempted like usHe was tempted like us. The Bible says Jesus. The Bible says Jesus
was tempted, just like us, yet he was withoutwas tempted, just like us, yet he was without
sin (Hebrews 4:14-16).sin (Hebrews 4:14-16).
• He suffered like usHe suffered like us. Jesus felt pain and. Jesus felt pain and
disappointment. He became tired, He grieved,disappointment. He became tired, He grieved,
he cried, he was human. In Gethsemane Jesushe cried, he was human. In Gethsemane Jesus
said, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that itsaid, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it
almost crushes me” (Matthew 26:38).almost crushes me” (Matthew 26:38).

The Reason for Christmas:The Reason for Christmas: Jesus cameJesus came
to dieto die
• Jesus didn’t stay in the manger. He went to aJesus didn’t stay in the manger. He went to a
cross and voluntarily laid down his life for us.cross and voluntarily laid down his life for us.
Philippians 2:8 (NIV)Philippians 2:8 (NIV)
• 88
And being found in appearance as a man,And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himselfhe humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!even death on a cross!
• Nobody put him there without his permission.Nobody put him there without his permission.
Why did he allow himself to go to the cross?Why did he allow himself to go to the cross?

The Reason for Christmas:The Reason for Christmas: Jesus cameJesus came
to dieto die
• To demonstrate God’s love:To demonstrate God’s love: The Bible says,The Bible says,
Romans (NKJV)Romans (NKJV)
• 8 8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• His motivation was love.His motivation was love. John 15:13 (NKJV)John 15:13 (NKJV)
• 13 13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down
one’s life for his friends.one’s life for his friends.
• Redeeming man through dying on our behalfRedeeming man through dying on our behalf
• Restoring the Image and Knowledge through ourRestoring the Image and Knowledge through our
senses of God in mansenses of God in man
• Revitalising man and uniting His Nature with oursRevitalising man and uniting His Nature with ours

The Angels’ JoyThe Angels’ Joy
• Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, forThen the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for
behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which willbehold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will
be to all people. For there is born to you this day in thebe to all people. For there is born to you this day in the
city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Lukecity of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke
2:10-11)2:10-11)
• They knew why there was cause for great rejoicing.They knew why there was cause for great rejoicing.
The promised Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer ofThe promised Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer of
mankind, had finally been born. The unbounded joy ofmankind, had finally been born. The unbounded joy of
the heavens was seen by the shepherds. Suddenlythe heavens was seen by the shepherds. Suddenly
with the angel who had spoken to them there was awith the angel who had spoken to them there was a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God andmultitude of the heavenly host praising God and
saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earthsaying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)

• What was the source of the angels' joy? What did theWhat was the source of the angels' joy? What did the
birth of the Lord on earth mean to them?birth of the Lord on earth mean to them?
• The angels had known that the Lord would be born onThe angels had known that the Lord would be born on
earth ever since the first hint of evil had appeared inearth ever since the first hint of evil had appeared in
mankind.mankind.
• With horror they recognized that eventually the humanWith horror they recognized that eventually the human
race would turn so far away from the Lord that it wouldrace would turn so far away from the Lord that it would
no longer know anything true nor be able to dono longer know anything true nor be able to do
anything good.anything good.
• A complete separation took place, no human beingA complete separation took place, no human being
would ever choose a heavenly life and would bewould ever choose a heavenly life and would be
condemned to the anger, discontent andcondemned to the anger, discontent and
destructiveness of an evil life.destructiveness of an evil life.

• Yet at the time of the first hint of evil, the LordYet at the time of the first hint of evil, the Lord
immediately foretold in prophecy that He would beimmediately foretold in prophecy that He would be
born as a Savior to ensure that all people wouldborn as a Savior to ensure that all people would
always have a real choice between a heavenly life andalways have a real choice between a heavenly life and
a hellish one.a hellish one.
• The Lord showed the infinite wisdom and the infiniteThe Lord showed the infinite wisdom and the infinite
love that had been hidden by the darkness of evil andlove that had been hidden by the darkness of evil and
the obscurity of limited human thought.the obscurity of limited human thought.
• The Lord became the Word made flesh so that weThe Lord became the Word made flesh so that we
might behold His glory, so that we might have the lightmight behold His glory, so that we might have the light
that will give us life.that will give us life.
• He took of what was ours so that we may take of whatHe took of what was ours so that we may take of what
is His.is His.

• Because He humbled himself – the angels glorified allBecause He humbled himself – the angels glorified all
the more.the more.
• Because He left the heights of Heaven - the angelsBecause He left the heights of Heaven - the angels
adorned the lowliest pastureadorned the lowliest pasture
• Because He chose to come silently – the angels couldBecause He chose to come silently – the angels could
not help but proclaim the greatness of these events.not help but proclaim the greatness of these events.
•

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