December 24th, 2016

This is message delivered on Christmas Eve.  We look at some of the characters in the Christmas Story, and why they missed the real meaning of Christmas.

This message is based on Luke 2:1-14.   To read it now, click here.
 

 
There is a story of two men who went to the train station with a friend. The train was running late so they sat down for a cup of coffee. They got to talking and drinking their coffee, and were enjoying themselves so much they forgot all about the train. One of them just happened to catch the last call for the departing train. They all got up and started running. They ran down the tracks as the train was pulling out of the station. Two of the men made it to the last car, but the third just wasn’t fast enough. As he slowed to a stop he started laughing. An onlooker walked up him and said, "What are you laughing for? You just missed your train."
 
“You’re right, I did miss my train. What’s funny is those two men came to see me off.”
 
I think we might be a little like this guy who missed the train. Only we don’t miss trains. We miss Christmas. We don’t miss the day –we miss the real meaning of the day – God Himself came to this earth as a baby and his name was Jesus. Many people miss the baby so tonight I want to very briefly talk about some people who missed Christmas.
 
The first person who missed Jesus was the inn keeper. Inns in those days weren’t like they are today. People usually just spread out their mat on the floor and slept wherever. Well we are told that this particular year there were many travelers on account of a census being called. Caesar Augustus, wanted more money so he imposed a tax. And to ensure he got what was owed to him, he wanted to count all the people, so everyone had to go and register where they were born and pay their dues. Well this meant that Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem, about 80 miles from their home in Nazareth, Lynda pointed out at an Awana night a couple weeks ago, that’s like from here to Syracuse. They most likely walked all the way. Mary was very pregnant though and pregnant women don’t travel quickly, so when they finally arrived at Bethlehem, the inn was full. There was no room for them.
 
If the innkeeper had known that the baby to be born that night was to be God – the creator of the world, maybe he could have found room!!! But he missed the Baby. He was preoccupied with the concerns of the world. He was just too busy with running a business, making a living and saving for retirement to recognize that this Baby was the promised one who would save all of mankind. Is that you tonight – too concerned what the World has to offer – money, career, ambition. Too concerned with surviving or making a living to see that this baby is special. Don’t miss the fact that Jesus came to give us things that no amount of money can buy. Pause this Christmas to find out who this baby really is and what he can offer. Don’t miss the baby because you’re too distracted by what the World offers – it’s a poor substitute.
 
Not only did the innkeeper miss the baby, but the other travelers and the people of Bethlehem missed the Baby. It was right under their noses, but they missed it. What would you do if someone really important was coming? What if there was no room at the local motel. Would you think of offering up your bed? No one thought to do that for Mary and the baby to be born. They had their own concerns. Most of the fellow travelers were also on the road for the census. They were in a hurry to get places and were just too worn out from a long day’s travel to have time to visit a baby. The townsfolk were overrun with visitors to their city. There were the school programs to go to, the relatives to catch up with, dinner with aunty Peg and uncle Bob. Their calendar was too full and they were just too busy to squeeze in a visit to a tiny baby. So often at Christmas time, our schedules can get so hectic that we are just too tired to think about another thing. We are so busy trying to get somewhere in life or so busy doing things that we can’t stop to give any time to the Baby and so we miss him. Is this you tonight? Do you need to cancel some of your engagements this Christmas so you can find yourself in Church, so you can visit this baby and find out what he can do for you? Don’t miss the baby because you’re too busy.
 
Some of the other characters in the Christmas story were the Wise Men. They knew a new king had been born because a special star appeared in the sky. They followed this star to Jerusalem and they went to the palace of Herod, the king to enquire who this new king was. Now Herod was very different from the innkeeper and most of the other travelers, he was powerful, educated and influential – but also scared and jealous. He wasn’t excited to hear about a competitor being born. In fact he was so upset that he ordered the murder of all baby boys under 2 years of age. Herod was scared of this new king because he thought that he would lose his throne and all that he enjoyed in life. He missed the baby because he was scared of what he might lose. There are many people who live today who are like Herod. They are scared that this baby will take away their freedom, their careers, their lifestyles, their ambitions. They are not willing for Jesus to be crowned a King in their lives because they might have to give up too much, and so they miss the baby and the chance to live the perfect life that God created them for. Do you need to allow the king to take the throne of your life this Christmas? Don’t miss the baby because you are scared or jealous.
 
The last group of people who missed Jesus were the religious leaders of the day – they were the like ministers and pastors – people who should have been able to recognize when God was doing something. When Herod was trying to track down this baby, he went to the religious leaders to see if they knew anything about this promised king. They did – they knew all about him from prophecies in the Bible and knew he would be born in Bethlehem. Do you know the funny thing – even though they were deeply religious, they never bothered to go to Bethlehem to see whether this special baby, God’s Son, had actually been born! They missed the baby because of their indifference. They had all the facts about the baby. They knew how special he would be. They knew he was God’s son who would save them, yet they didn’t really care. They didn’t think they needed a Savior – they thought they were good enough and because of their indifference, the missed the baby. Many people today think similarly to the religious leaders. They think they are good enough and that they will be able to find favor with God, that they’ll somehow impress God without the Baby – but they won’t and they can’t. We need the baby if we are going to be right with God – he came to die so we could be forgiven. Without him, we have no chance of pleasing God. Are you indifferent because you don’t think you need saving or maybe because you think you are good enough on your own? Don’t make this mistake this Christmas, don’t miss the baby because of your indifference.
 
So here are the 4 groups of people

• Some miss the baby because they are too distracted by all the world offers now.
• Some miss the baby because they are too busy and don’t have time to find out about him.
• Some miss the baby because they are too scared to let him take control of their lives.
• Some miss the baby because they are indifferent or ignorant of their need for a Savior.

 
This Christmas, we want to offer you the greatest gift of all – a baby who was born in a manger. His name was Jesus Christ and He is the savior of the world. Don’t miss this baby this Christmas – That is one mistake you honestly can’t afford to make.