Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Radicalness Of Christmas

MATTHEW 1:18-23 – Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

THEME OF THE DAY. THE RADICALNESS OF CHRISTMAS. The world does a really good job at “hijacking” Christmas. And this isn’t some “knee jerk” reaction. It starts early. Like late October, picking up steam in November and then goes all-out right after Thanksgiving. Calendars get filled with social gatherings, office parties, and events. Town and community events offering fun, festivities, and an air of nostalgic sentimentality abound. Neighborhoods are aglow with yard and window decorations. What is noticeably absent is the void of what Christmas is all about; the centrality of Him who is Christmas; the Lord Jesus. Drive through neighborhoods, go to a mall, a shopping plaza, or any place of merchandise and look for two things; nativity scenes proclaiming the “King is born” or bold signs in windows and yards reading, “Jesus is the Reason for the season.”

Yes, the world is quite effective in “hijacking” Christmas and Christians are not free from being victims. We, too, may easily get caught up in the secularization of Christmas. I wonder how many Christians will spend more time in secular gatherings, parties, events, activities, stores, and on-line shopping this Christmas than in church and Christ-centered celebrations of His birth? Do an inventory in our own lives and measure the hours we are giving over to a worldly-led Christmas versus a Word-centered Christmas. To keep us from being “hijacked” at Christmas, Christians need to constantly be in awe of the radicalness of Christmas. Let’s consider four radical things God did at Christmas in sending Jesus to earth.

First, God made Himself known – “in the last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). At Christmas, God invaded our world. He revealed Himself in the Lord Jesus that first Christmas morn. But the radicalness of Christmas went further . . .

God, not only made Himself known, but made Himself knowable to man – Jesus prayed, “Father, You have given me all authority to give eternal life to all whom you have given me, and this is eternal life that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3). Think about this radical truth. Through Christ, you and I can know God; not knowing about God, but knowing God – all because of the radicalness of Christmas.

A third radical truth of Christmas is that God became a servant to His creation – “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus, God in the flesh, who had every right to be served and to be submitted to, laid aside those rights to serve mankind; a rebellious mankind who would crucify Him. How radical that the Creator becomes a servant and that because of Christmas.

Finally, the radicalness of Christmas is seen in that God became a sacrifice for those who deserve his wrath, not his love – “The Son of Man came to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Christ’s cradle is connected to His cross. He was born to die so that we might be delivered from death. This is radical and life-altering truth.

Friends, we don’t have to be “hijacked” by the world at Christmas. Or for that matter, any time. All it takes is to allow our hearts and minds to be renewed by the radical truths of what God accomplished by sending Jesus at the first Christmas.

PRAYER: “Father, help me not to lose the awe of what You did at Christmas by sending Your Son.”

QUOTE: “Take time this Christmas for extended times meditating and praying over the truth of Immanuel.”