Christmas is Jesus!

Luke 2:13-14

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”

The angel praised and proclaimed the coming of Jesus.

Matthew 2:11

On coming into the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

The magi worshiped Jesus and gave Jesus gifts.

Luke 2:16-18

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 the child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

The shepherds shared the truth about Jesus.

That first Christmas, the focus was on Jesus.

The focus was on Jesus not because of what Jesus had done but because of who Jesus is and what Jesus would do.

Luke 2:11

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

Jesus is the Christ or Messiah.

He is the Anointed One.

In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked His disciples who they believed Him to be. In verse 16 Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus as Christ is God in the flesh. He is Immanuel, God with us.

Christmas is about the God of all creation giving up the glories of heaven to take on the limitations and struggles of being a human being. He became not just a man, but a servant; and not just a servant, but a servant who died on the cross for our sin.

Jesus is the Savior.

2 Corinthians 2:10

He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again.   

Jesus as Savior will deliver us. He will deliver us from:

The Penalty of Sin

The Power of Sin

The Fear of Death

Eternal Death

The Control of Satan Over Our Lives

The Hopelessness and Meaninglessness of Life

Jesus is the Lord.

Revelation 19:16

On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus as Lord is our King. He is the supreme and sovereign Ruler of all creation.

Jesus is the one who has the right to direct and control our lives.

On that first Christmas:

Angels praised and proclaimed Jesus

Magi worshiped Jesus and gave Jesus gifts

Shepherds shared the truth about Jesus

It was because of who Jesus is; and who Jesus is determines what Jesus does.  

And what Jesus does is as God:

He delivers us from the destruction that sin brings

 And rules our lives for His glory and our benefit.

I love Christmas.

I love the decorations.

I love the songs.

I love the spirit of caring.

I love the children’s musicals.

I love the corny movies.

I love saying, “Merry Christmas”.

I love the cards and letters.

I love the gifts.

But as much as I love these things about Christmas, they are not Christmas. They are only things about Christmas. They are the wrappings of Christmas.

Christmas is about Jesus.

I remember the first Christmas after I became a follower of Jesus. Christmas became new for me. I knew and understood for the first time why we celebrate Christmas. It was so cool because I knew I was not celebrating a what but a Who – Jesus.

Christmas had become and remains a celebration of the fact that God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son into the world to die for our sin.

I pray that your Christmas has been filled with the glory, power and love of Jesus.

His glory is His presence.

His power is His desire and ability to free us from sin.

His love unconditional and never ending.

Celebrating Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                               Joe