MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:1-20
Christmas Eve Worship
December 24, 2016
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
On this Christmas Eve we are going to focus on four miracles that happened at Christmas. First there was the miracle of who came at Christmas. Then there was the miracle of how he came. Then third there was the miracle of who he came to. Finally there is the miracle of why he came. My prayer is that by the end of this message you’ll understand that Jesus came for you.
So what is the big deal about this evening? Christmas in reality is the celebration of an invasion. About 2016 years ago God invaded the earth. It was a pretty big deal some years ago when a man walked on the moon; it was a much bigger deal when God walked on the earth.
That’s the first miracle of Christmas; about 2016 years ago God came to earth. Yes God himself came to earth because Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus is Emmanuel...God with us. God came to earth as a little baby who grew up; died on a cross; rose again on Easter.
Lots of people of course say “I believe Jesus was a good man;” “he was a great teacher.” However there is one major problem with that; Jesus never claimed to be a good man; he claimed to be God. Therefore Jesus is either who he says he is or he was the biggest con-man (liar) to ever live. Jesus said in John 10:30, “The Father and I are one.”
This then is the first miracle of Christmas. It is the most significant event in all of history; that’s why we celebrate it. It was God himself who came to earth. It didn’t start out some flashy way; he came in a simple way. God came in a far off distant place…a manger in Bethlehem.
The second miracle of Christmas was how he came. Think about it...if you were God would you have come as a baby? Of all the ways God could have come into the world he came the same way you and I came into the world—as a baby. Everyone of us came the same way.
Why do you think God would do that? Because God sent Jesus to save you—not to scare you. Nobody is afraid of a baby. Lots of people today are actually afraid of God. There are those who get really nervous and uneasy if you talk about God to them. Just think if God had come in thunder/lightning—it would have terrified a lot of people; yet no one's afraid of a baby.
God wants you to know him. He knows all about you. He knows everything that has ever happened to you. He has watched every single moment of your life. He saw you in your mother’s womb. He knew that you were going to be here tonight. He knows all about you. He wants you to know him.
God then had a communication challenge. He needed to come in a way that we could truly understand. If God had wanted to communicate with birds he’d have become a bird. If God wanted to communicate with donkeys he’d have become a donkey. Yet God wanted to communicate with you and me so he became one of us.
The Bible says that God was just like us. He was born like us; grew like we did—spiritually, physically, socially. He was tempted like we are; had the same needs, desires, problems, pressures in life. The reason God went through all this was so that he could relate to us.
Therefore no matter what you are going through tonight God understands because he’s been there. He came and lived a human life; he experienced real pain. There were times when Jesus was lonely, tired, fatigued, under pressure. There were times when he was disappointed, misunderstood, criticized; he understands all that.
Here’s the point...God came to earth at Christmas so he can understand us and so we can understand him. That's the good news; he wants to have a relationship with you. The Bible says that God created you as an object of his love. However if you don’t understand this you’ve misunderstood the whole purpose life. You have the capacity to know God.
The third miracle of Christmas is that God came to ordinary people. When Jesus was born he didn’t come to a select few. He didn’t come to the privileged class; he didn't even come to the religious people. He came to the people who couldn’t care less about religion; he came to lowly shepherds; he came for all of us.
The Bible says that when Jesus was born he wasn’t born in a palace; not even a nice hotel; he wasn’t even born in a hospital. He was born in a barn; in a manger. A manger of course is a feed box for cattle with all their saliva on it. When God came to earth he came in the real stuff of life, in the stench of animals. You can’t get any lower than that.
Then the first to be invited to see Jesus were the shepherds; the nobodies; the outcasts of that society. Later on wise men from the east would come and bring rich gifts. This means that from the highest to the lowest in society they were invited. In other words Jesus is available to us all.
What then is the good news? God meets us where we are. You may think that with all you have done with your life you could never have a relationship with God. Either that or you may think that God doesn’t care about you; that he doesn’t have any time for you. However you’re wrong. God says, “I love you; I know you; I want you to know me.”
The fourth and greatest miracle of Christmas is why he came. He came for our benefit; he came for you and for me. Then what is this truth? This truth is that you matter to God; you really do. You matter so much that he came as a baby, grew up, died on a cross, was resurrected. As a result he now says, "I want you to live with me for all eternity.”
Jesus said, “I came that you might have life.” The greatest tragedy is to go through life and not know why you are here. It is true that lots of people today aren’t living—they’re just existing. They simply get up in the morning; go off to their jobs; come home; eat dinner; watch TV; go to bed. The same exact thing day after day. Yet that’s not living—it’s just existing. You are not here on this planet to just take up space.
I read a saying one time, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need on earth had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an accountant. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.”
“But our greatest need was forgiveness so God sent us a Savior.” One day Jesus stretched out his hands on a cross. They nailed him to it and he paid for your sins and mine. He in essence said with his arms outstretched, “I love you this much.” That’s God’s Christmas gift to you.
I know people who celebrate Christmas every single year of their life yet they’ve never unwrapped God’s gift to them. That seems pretty crazy doesn't it? God says I’m offering you life. That means your past can be forgiven; your future can be secured; you can have purpose right here and now.
Unfortunately, lots of people rather spend their lives regretting the past; worrying about the future; wasting today on things that aren’t that important. Jesus however promises that he will give you meaning and purpose f you will simply trust in him. That’s God’s gift. However many individuals have never accepted God’s gift.
I’ve never been able to understand why some people put up a tree; sing Christmas carols; do all the things of Christmas yet do not accept God’s gift by faith. Can you imagine if you gave me a Christmas gift, put it under my tree and a year from now you asked, “How did you like the gift?” Yet I’d say, “I’m sure it was a great gift but I just haven’t had time to unwrap it.” You’d think I was crazy. However lots of individuals do that with God’s gift.
Now I’m not talking about religion. You may be Catholic; Protestant; Atheist. It doesn’t matter what you are. I’m not talking about religion. I’m talking about a relationship to Jesus Christ. He wants you to know him personally. In fact that’s why you’re here tonight.
We all came to Christmas Eve Worship for different reasons. Some of you came because it is the traditional thing to do; you always go to church on Christmas Eve. Some of you came because you were invited by friends/relatives; somebody cared for you. Perhaps you didn’t even want to come yet you said you would go. Some of you came for the music; for the beauty of the trees and lights. Perhaps you came because you feel a little lonely tonight.
Regardless however of the reason you think you came tonight you are not here by accident. I firmly believe that God led you here tonight so he could get your attention; so he can say to you, “You matter to me. I have a plan and purpose for your life. I came to earth 2000 years ago; grew up; died on the cross to pay for your sins. All you need to do is to receive it; trust me; follow me.
That is truly the miracle of Christmas. Won’t you please accept that gift tonight?