WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT CHRISTMAS?
Introduction:
– We are about to enter a wonderful time of the year.
– It is a moment when the world pauses to remember the greatest Gift of all that came in the form of a Baby but was in fact the Saviour of the world.
– There is a well-known song that calls it ‘The most wonderful time of the year!’
– It is time for singing carols and the giving and receiving of gifts.
– It is also called the ‘festive season’ which includes the period immediately leading up to Christmas. The very word ‘festive’ speaks of a time of celebration, joy and happiness and this includes festivities and in particular the Christmas celebration.
– In another one of the famous Christmas songs are the words ‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la!’
– Sometimes I think we need a season where we have more joy and delight and less fear and doubt.
– Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but what is so special about Christmas?
– What is it that causes the world to pause and show kindness and what is it that makes this time of the year so unusual and so unique?
1. GOOD NEWS
– Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news.’
– The good news that the angels spoke and sang about, that first Christmas, was the Good News of the birth of someone Who would change the world.
– It was the Good News that the promise of a Saviour was fulfilled.
– It was the Good News that hope had arrived for humanity and that salvation had come to the human race.
– In the great carol, Hark! The herald angels sing, it says these wonderful words: ‘God and sinner reconciled!’
– The Christmas story is all about the Divine reaching out to humanity.
– It is all about the Saviour of the world reaching out to YOU!
– Jesus, Whose Name means ‘GOD IS WITH US’ was true, and He was with us.
– The end result was that God would be with us forever in a way that humanity had never known before.
– John 14:16 ‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may be with you forever.’
– You can celebrate because of this Good News and because of the knowledge that the living reality of Jesus can be a living truth within your heart.
2. GREAT JOY
– Luke 2:10 The angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’
– Christmas is a time when we should embrace and hold onto the great joy that God wants to bring into each of our lives.
– Great joy was a contrast to a condition of great despair and sorrow into which the world had sunk.
– This is the great joy that we have, that even in the greatest adversity and sorrow we may have to endure, because of His presence in our lives, we will find joy!
– Regardless of where we may find ourselves, He brings the possibility of great joy in our hearts.
– Psalm 42:5 ‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.’
– You may have had a challenging and difficult year. You may be facing a great battle, but take this moment and put your hope in God afresh and know that there is a very real possibility that you could emerge out of despair and experience His great joy.
– GREAT JOY to ALL people – that includes you.
– As you give your broken heart to Him, let Him come and restore, heal and fill your heart with His great joy – REJOICE!
– May this be a season when your heart is filled with joy.
– Make room in your heart for more of His joy in your life.
– Joy to the world – the Lord is come!
3. GREAT PEACE
– Isaiah 9:6 ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And He will be called Prince of Peace.’
– The idea that great peace can be a reality in our lives comes from the promise of a Saviour mentioned in Isaiah 9:6. In specific, we find this comfort in one of the Names that the Saviour would be given – Prince of Peace.
– You can know the Prince of Peace and His peace can come and flood your heart.
– The Prince of Peace is here, and His peace has come to live in your heart.
– The concept of this peace can also be seen in the message from the angels.
– Luke 2:14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.‘
– As His child, you find favour with Him. His favour comes to rest on you, and the outflow of this is that His peace is available to you.
– I pray that the turmoil, distress and challenges of this last year will give way to a wave of His peace in your heart and mind.
– May you know His abiding peace deep within yourself and may you never doubt His love and goodness towards you ever again.
– The everlasting Prince of Peace wants you to know His great peace forever.
– Come and receive and experience His peace flowing towards you at this time of the year and always.
4. GREAT GIFT
– Isaiah 9:6 ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.‘
– At this time of the year we remind ourselves of the greatest Gift ever given.
– The birth of Jesus Christ brought us the greatest Gift that was ever given.
– This Gift represents love, salvation and hope and the prospect of peace, joy and ultimately the gift of eternal life.
– John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’
– Because of the example that was set for us when God gave the greatest Gift of all, we can emulate this great generosity by giving and being a blessing to others.
– We can reflect God’s kindness by showing kindness to those around us and to those we love and hold dear.
– The act of the giving and receiving of gifts is something that mirrors and reflects the very act of kindness and selflessness that God demonstrated in sending Jesus as the greatest Gift of all.
– So, receive the greatest Gift and be a gift to your Saviour, and to those around you.
5. GREAT HOPE
– The great hope of Christmas is the promise of a better future.
– Hebrews 6:18 ‘So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.’ NLT
– The world is a better place because our Saviour came and made His presence felt among us.
– And all of us who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence and hope in Him.
– No matter how dark things may seem or become, because He is with us we have what it takes to look the giants in the eyes and declare that ‘greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world’.
– Matthew 1:23 She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’
– Everything is better, because regardless of what we may face or go through, we are not alone.
– The Lord Himself is with you and that makes all the difference.
– Isn’t He wonderful, isn’t He wonderful – HE IS!
By Andrew W Roebert
These notes may be shared with others.
