Contemplating Christmas

As we focus on Christmas, consider what I John 4:9 says, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him." Charles Spurgeon said, "The holiday will come and go, so we must now take the opportunity to exalt Jesus Christ."

Christmas is not just a date on our calendar. Christmas is the heralding of the entrance of God into human history! It is heaven descending to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Our response should be the same as the angels on Christmas Eve: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14).

The Gifts of Christmas

The Magi had seen Christ's star in the east and had come specifically to worship the newborn King. They were humbled by Christ's coming and fell at His feet (Matthew 2:11). They presented to Him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Observe how these gifts symbolize precious truths concerning worship and sacrificial giving. Should we not fall down before Him and worship Him with our gifts?

1. Gold - Nothing less than a gift of gold was worthy of their act of worship. The dignity of the occasion required the best that they could give. Gold was a recognition of Christ's sovereignty. "What an indictment this is on our approach to worship in our day! So often we hurry to church without real preparation of heart and mind"(Olford).

2. Frankincense - This was used by the priests in connection with an offering of sacrifice to God. Figuratively, it speaks of devotional fervor and recognition of Christ's deity (Jesus is God).

3. Myrrh - Nicodemus brought myrrh and aloes to the grave to embalm the body of Jesus (John 19:39). Myrrh speaks of suffering. This was a recognition of Christ's humanity.

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)

Bible Verses for Christmas Evangelism

John 10:10,11
"… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: The good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

I Timothy 3:16
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

Isaiah 9:6
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

II Corinthians 8:9
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

I John 2:1-2
"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Fulfilled prophecies of Christmas

God never works haphazardly! He is a God of order. At precisely the right time in history, Jesus Christ was born (Galatians 4:4-5). Furthermore, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would come at just the right time in Israel's history (Isaiah 49:8). As the Jewish fathers choose the time for their sons to become adult sons, so the Heavenly Father chose the time for His Son to arrive.

The message of Christmas was prophesied over 700 years before the birth of Christ. The theme of Old Testament prophecy is the coming of a king. There are at least 189 prophecies in the New Testament that associate Christ to His coming as King.

1. He would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5). "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

2. He would be called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:19-21).

3. There would be weeping in Rama (Matthew 2:17-18). " Rachael weeping for her children" (Jeremiah 31:15)

4. He shall be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).

5. He shall be virgin born and rise out of Israel. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6) "…there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." (Numbers 24:17)

As you contemplate Christmas this year, make sure that your focus is on the CHRIST of Christmas.