It Cost \u2026<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost Mary and Joseph the comforts of home during a long period of exile in Egypt to protect the little babe.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost mothers, in and around Bethlehem, the massacre of their babies by the cruel order of Herod.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost the shepherds the complacency of their shepherd\u2019s life, with the call to the manger and to tell the good news.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost the wise men a long journey and expensive gifts and changed lives.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost the early Apostles and the early church persecution and sometimes death.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost missionaries of Christ untold suffering and privation to spread the Good News.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost Christian martyrs in all ages their lives for Christ\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
\u2022 More than all this, it cost God the Father His own Son\u2014He sent Him to the earth to save men.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It cost Jesus a life of sacrifice and service, a death cruel and unmatched in history.<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
The Crown<\/b><\/p>\n
At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana\u2019s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth!<\/p>\n
Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, \u201cMa\u2019am, oh, ma\u2019am, I\u2019m sorry, ma\u2019am. I didn\u2019t recognize you without your crown!\u201d<\/p>\n
Today in the Word, November 16, 1995, p. 23.<\/p>\n
Would We Know?<\/b><\/p>\n
If we had been the shepherds one night long ago, I wonder if we\u2019d recognize the star or if we\u2019d know the reason for His birth and if we\u2019d really go to worship at the manger. I wonder, would we know?<\/p>\n
Is it really any different than if Jesus came today? I wonder, would we recognize His face in any way? Or would we turn away from Him not knowing what to say?<\/p>\n
If Jesus walked among us in our hurried, busy pace, I wonder if this stranger would really find a place?<\/p>\n
Rebecca Barlow Jordan<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Can This Be Christmas?<\/b><\/p>\n
What\u2019s all this hectic rush and worry? Where go these crowds who run and curry? Why all the lights\u2014the Christmas trees? The jolly \u201cfat man,\u201d tell me please!<\/p>\n
Why, don\u2019t you know? This is the day For parties and for fun and play; Why this is Christmas!<\/p>\n
So this is Christmas, do you say? But where is Christ this Christmas day? Has He been lost among the throng? His voice drowned out by empty song?<\/p>\n
No. He\u2019s not here\u2014you\u2019ll find Him where Some humble soul now kneels in prayer, Who knows the Christ of Christmas. <\/p>\n
But see the many aimless thousands Who gather on this Christmas Day, Whose hearts have never yet been opened, Or said to Him, \u201cCome in to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
In countless homes the candles burning, In countless hearts expectant yearning For gifts and presents, food and fun, And laughter till the day is done.<\/p>\n
But not a tear of grief or sorrow For Him so poor He had to borrow A crib, a colt, a boat, a bed Where He could lay His weary head.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m tired of all this empty celebration, Of feasting, drinking, recreation; I\u2019ll go instead to Calvary. <\/p>\n
And there I\u2019ll kneel with those who know The meaning of that manger low, And find the Christ\u2014this Christmas.<\/p>\n
I leap by faith across the years To that great day when He appears The second time, to rule and reign, To end all sorrow, death, and pain.<\/p>\n
In endless bliss we then shall dwell With Him who saved our souls from hell, And worship Christ\u2014not Christmas!<\/p>\n
M.R. DeHaan, M.D., Founder, Radio Bible Class<\/p>\n
Mystery of Christ\u2019s Humanity<\/b><\/p>\n
The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding. – Martin Luther, <\/p>\n
Table Talk<\/p>\n
Mary Had The Little Lamb<\/b><\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth; Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth. (Micah 5:2)<\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall\u2014 Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall. (Isaiah 7:14)<\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God; Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod. (John 6:38)<\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free. (1 Peter 1:18)<\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lamb\u2014men placed Him in the grave, Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave! (Matthew 28:6)<\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He; All work on Earth is ended, our Advocate to be. (Hebrews 4:14\u201316)<\/p>\n
Mary had the little Lame\u2014mystery to behold! From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold. (Revelation 5: 5, 6)<\/p>\n
When the Day Star comes again, of this be very sure: It won\u2019t be Lamb-like silence, but with the Lion\u2019s roar. (Psalm 2:12; Revelation 19:11\u201316)<\/p>\n
Marv & Marbeth Rosenthal, Copies of this poem may be used without written permission from the authors.<\/p>\n
The Unspeakable Gift<\/b><\/p>\n
Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, \u201cI am your king!\u201d The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn\u2019t. Instead he said, \u201cYou left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n
The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, \u201cthe unspeakable gift!\u201d <\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Twas The Night Before Jesus Came<\/b><\/p>\n
Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there.<\/p>\n
The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.<\/p>\n
When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!<\/p>\n
When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!<\/p>\n
The light of His face made me cover my head It was Jesus returning just like He said And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.<\/p>\n
In the Book of Life which He held in his hand, Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as he searched for my name; When He said, \u201cIt\u2019s not here\u201d my head hung in shame.<\/p>\n
The people whose names had been written with love, He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound While all the rest of us were left standing around.<\/p>\n
I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.<\/p>\n
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There\u2019s only one life and when comes the last call, We\u2019ll find that the Bible was true after all!<\/p>\n
Copyright 1984, Bethany Farms<\/p>\n
History Shaped in Cradles<\/b><\/p>\n
Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.<\/p>\n
For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England\u2019s finest statesman. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner.<\/p>\n
On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby\u2019s name? Abraham Lincoln.<\/p>\n
If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I\u2019m certain these words would have been heard: \u201cThe destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.\u201d But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news\u2014when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Saviour.<\/p>\n
Adapted from Charles Swindoll <\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Fear Not<\/b><\/p>\n
In the Christmas narratives, there are several \u201cfear not\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
1. The \u201cfear not\u201d of salvation: \u201cAnd the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings…which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord\u201d (Luke 2:10, 11).<\/p>\n
2. The \u201cfear not\u201d of the humanly impossible: \u201cFear not, Mary, \u2026 the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: \u2026For with God nothing shall be impossible\u201d (Luke 1:30, 35, 37).<\/p>\n
3. The \u201cfear not\u201d of unanswered prayer: \u201cFear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John\u201d (Luke 1:13).<\/p>\n
4. The \u201cfear not\u201d of immediate obedience: \u201cJoseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife. \u2026 Then Joseph \u2026 did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him\u201d (Matthew 1:20, 24 NPS)<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Christmas Expenses<\/b><\/p>\n
Americans used 28,497,464 rolls and sheets of wrapping paper, 16,826,362 packages of tags and bows, 372,430,684 greeting cards, and 35,200,000 Christmas trees during the 1989 Christmas season. <\/p>\n
Garbage Magazine, quoted in Signs of the Times, 12\u20131991, p. 7<\/p>\n
When Was Jesus Born?<\/b><\/p>\n
When was Jesus born? No, not on December 25. Though Christians had adopted that date by A.D. 336, Christ was born \u201cwhen shepherds watched their flocks by night.\u201d In other words, most likely in the spring. And no, He wasn\u2019t born in the year A.D. <\/p>\n
The Bible tells us that Herod the Great ruled Palestine when Jesus was born, and Herod died in 4 B.C.\u2014so Jesus had to have been born not long before that. (Blame Dionysiuys Exiguus for this one\u2014he\u2019s the sixth century monk who came up with the idea of splitting history into A.D. and B.C. He just chose the wrong date to do so, that\u2019s all.) <\/p>\n
Signs of the Times, Dec, 1991, p. 6<\/p>\n
The Christ Child<\/b><\/p>\n
The Christ-child lay on Mary\u2019s lap, His hair was like a light. (O weary, weary is the world, But here is all aright.)<\/p>\n
The Christ-child lay on Mary\u2019s breast, His hair was like a star. (O stern and cunning are the kings, But here the true hearts are.)<\/p>\n
The Christ-child lay on Mary\u2019s heart, His hair was like a fire. (O weary, weary is the world, But here the world\u2019s desire.)<\/p>\n
The Christ-child stood at Mary\u2019s knee, His hair was like a crown. And all the flowers looked up at Him, And all the stars looked down.<\/p>\n
G.K. Chesterton in The Wild Knight<\/p>\n
Weather Songs<\/b><\/p>\n
To avoid offending anybody, the school dropped religion altogether and started singing about the weather. At my son\u2019s school, they now hold the winter program in February and sing increasingly nonmemorable songs such as \u201cWinter Wonderland,\u201d \u201cFrosty the Snowman\u201d and\u2014this is a real song\u2014\u201dSuzy Snowflake,\u201d all of which is pretty funny because we live in Miami. <\/p>\n
A visitor from another planet would assume that the children belonged to the Church of Meteorology.<\/p>\n
Dave Barry in his \u201cNotes on Western Civilization\u201d (Chicago Tribune Magazine, July 28, 1991)<\/p>\n
Christmas Wrappings<\/b><\/p>\n
To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year. <\/p>\n
E.B. White in The Second Tree from the Corner<\/p>\n
Our Greatest Need<\/b><\/p>\n
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; <\/p>\n
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; <\/p>\n
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; <\/p>\n
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; <\/p>\n
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
The Big News<\/b><\/p>\n
IN December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their \u201cflying machine\u201d off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: \u201cWe have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.\u201d Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, \u201cHow nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.\u201d He totally missed the big news\u2014man had flown! <\/p>\n
Our Daily Bread, 12\u201323-91<\/p>\n
Much More<\/b><\/p>\n
Twas much, that man was made like God before, But that God should be like man much more.<\/p>\n
John Donne<\/p>\n
God Came Near, Max Lucado, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 21ff, 39ff<\/p>\n
Opaque Revelation<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWithout God\u2019s explanatory word, God\u2019s redemptive action could not be recognized for what it was. The clearest revelation of God (the incarnation) is nevertheless the most opaque to man.\u201d <\/p>\n
J.I. Packer, New Bible Commentary, p. 15<\/p>\n
Celebrating the Birth<\/b><\/p>\n
Two women who were having lunch in an elegant hotel were approached by a mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal. <\/p>\n
One lady replied, \u201cWe are celebrating the birth of my baby boy.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cBut where is he?\u201d inquired the friend. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d said the mother, \u201cyou didn\u2019t think I\u2019d bring him, did you?\u201d <\/p>\n
What a picture of the way the world treats Jesus at Christmas.<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Probability of Prophecies Fulfilled<\/b><\/p>\n
In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight prophecies regarding Christ. He says, \u201cThe chance that any man might have …fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.\u201d (one hundred quadrillion). <\/p>\n
Stoner suggests that \u201cwe take 10 to the 17th silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state 2 feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly… Blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up [that one marked silver dollar.] What chance would he have of getting the right one?\u201d <\/p>\n
Stoner concludes, \u201cJust the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man,…providing they wrote them in their own wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Praise God<\/b><\/p>\n
Praise God for Christmas. Praise Him for the incarnation, for the word made flesh. I will not sing of shepherds watching flocks on frosty nights, or angel choristers. I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem, or lowing oxen, wise men trailing star with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.<\/p>\n
Tonight I will sing praise to the Father who stood on heaven\u2019s threshold and said farewell to his Son as he stepped across the stars to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
And I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son, who became most finite, a baby who would one day be executed for my crime. Praise him in the heavens, Praise him in the stable, Praise him in my heart.<\/p>\n
Joseph Bayly<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Content with Stable<\/b><\/p>\n
Christ was content with a stable when he was born so that we could have a mansion when we die.<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
The Microwave<\/b><\/p>\n
Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas. Here\u2019s how he recalls the experience: <\/p>\n
\u201cThey were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, literally within seconds, the microwave transformed two smiles into frown! Even after reading the directions, they couldn\u2019t make it work. Two days later, my mother was playing bridge with a friend and confessed her inability to get that microwave oven even to boil water. \u2018To get this darn thing to work,\u2019 she exclaimed, \u2018I really don\u2019t need better directions; I just needed my son to come along with the gift!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
When God gave the gift of salvation, he didn\u2019t send a booklet of complicated instructions for us to figure out; he sent his Son. <\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
A Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled, Within my heart, that it may be A quiet chamber kept for Thee.<\/p>\n
My heart for very joy doth leap, My lips no more can silence keep, I too must sing, with joyful tongue, That sweetest ancient cradle song,<\/p>\n
Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given While angels sing with pious mirth. A glad new year to all the earth.<\/p>\n
Martin Luther<\/p>\n
Source unknown<\/p>\n
Gifts Without Cost<\/b><\/p>\n
Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value: <\/p>\n
\u2022 Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, \u201cI love you.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u2022 Give something away\u2014anonymously. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Forgive someone who has treated you wrong. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Turn away wrath with a soft answer. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Visit someone in a nursing home. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Apologize if you were wrong. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Be especially kind to someone with whom you work. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy. <\/p>\n
C. Swindoll, Growing Strong, pp. 400-1 <\/p>\n
The Word Made Flesh<\/b><\/p>\n
The Word of the Father, by whom all time was created, was made flesh and was born in time for us. He, without whose divine permission no day completes its course, wished to have one day for His human birth. In the bosom of His Father He existed before all the cycles of ages; born of an earthly mother, He entered upon the course of the years on this day. <\/p>\n
The Maker of man became man that He, Ruler of the stars, might be nourished at the breast; that He, the Bread, might be hungry; that He, the Fountain, might thirst; that He, the Light, might sleep; that He, the Way, might be wearied by the journey; that He, the Truth, might be accused by false witnesses; that He, the Judge of the living and the dead, might be brought to trial by a mortal judge; that He, Justice, might be condemned by the unjust; that He, Discipline, might be scourged with whips; that He, the Foundation, might be suspended upon a cross; that Courage might be weakened; that Security might be wounded; that Life might die. <\/p>\n
To endure these and similar indignities for us, to free us, unworthy creatures, He who existed as the Son of God before all ages, without a beginning, deigned to become the Son of Man in these recent years. He did this although He who submitted to such great evils for our sake had done no evil and although we, who were the recipients of so much good at His hands, had done nothing to merit these benefits.<\/p>\n
St. Augustine, Sermons on the Liturgical Seasons, Trans. Sister Mary Sarah Muldowney, R.S.M., Vol. 38 in The Fathers of the Church, ed. Roy Joseph Deferrari (New York: Fathers of the Church, Inc.), p. 28.<\/p>\n
The Gift of Himself<\/b><\/p>\n
In his book The Life of God in the Soul of Man, Henry Scougal, the seventeenth-century Scottish minister, said, \u201cGod hath long contended with a stubborn world, and thrown down many a blessing upon them; and when all his other gifts could not prevail, he at last made a gift of himself.\u201d <\/p>\n
Christian Theology in Plain Language, p. 86.<\/p>\n
Resources<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 God Came Near, Max Lucado, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 21ff, 39ff<\/p>\n
\u2022 Cf. Swindoll, Growing Pains, p. 34.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It Cost \u2026 \u2022 It cost Mary and Joseph the comforts of home during a long period of exile in Egypt to protect the little babe. \u2022 It cost mothers, in and around Bethlehem, the massacre of their babies by the cruel order of Herod. \u2022 It cost the shepherds the complacency of their shepherd\u2019s … Continue reading “Christmas, incarnation”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}