Getting Christmas Right
In society today, it's frowned upon to make judgments of right and wrong, but I'm going to live on the edge today and suggest that there is actually a right way and a wrong way to celebrate Christmas. We're going to start by looking at a familiar passage we just read just last week from Luke 2:4-7 (NIV)...
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. (5) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now in our Christmas story, there's always one guy who gets a bit of a bad rap – the innkeeper. In all the children's pageants, we see this uncaring old inn keeper who turns away Mary and Joseph despite the fact that she's just about to give birth.
But the Bible doesn't actually say anything about the innkeeper! It simply reads, "there was no room for them in the inn". They might have been turned away, but maybe the word was out among the crowds – "the inn is full" - we don't really know. But we can know for sure that the manger wasn't a plan B. The manger was God's idea; it was His first choice for the birth of His Son.
Back to the innkeeper - we don't think that we would be guilty of turning away Jesus like he might have done. But perhaps we can be just as guilty of not making room for Jesus because we've filled our lives with so many other things. What is it in our lives that keeps us from giving Jesus all the room He wants in our lives? Why is it so hard to "fit" Jesus into our busy schedules?
At Christmas time, we blame it on all the commercialism or the traditions and festivities. That's why many can celebrate Christmas without even thinking about Jesus. But we want to get Christmas right! The kind of Christmas that would truly honor the One whose birth we celebrate. - The kind of Christmas that's Christ-honoring and even life-changing. That kind of Christmas is actually possible if we pause long enough and start with…
I. Right facts
There are some real facts that many choose to ignore at Christmas. Christmas is a religious holiday. I can't believe that even has to be stated, but there are those who would actually argue that fact. Christmas is all about Jesus! So I'd like to do a brief review again of who Jesus is. Let's look at a handful of scriptures that cut to the heart of that answer. Again, we just looked at this passage last Sunday...
John 1:1 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 (NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And then this prophecy about 700 years before Jesus was born...
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
And then the message of the angels to the shepherds from Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)...
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
This was no normal birth – it was a miracle! Jesus was born of a virgin within whom God had placed His Son. Jesus is a living, breathing, expression of God's love! Jesus is not just a baby in a manger, but our Redeemer, our Savior and our Lord! Another fact that we need to acknowledge is…
A. What Jesus did
Jesus left the throne of Glory, the perfection of Heaven, and came to earth to suffer as a human and become separated from the Father because of your sin and mine. He was not only humbly born through a great sacrifice, but He also sacrificially died the lowly death of a criminal. He made it possible for you and me to stand in the presence of Almighty God and be declared "guiltless," "sinless;" "innocent."
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!
Jesus didn't come just to be a good teacher or another religious leader. Those who follow Jesus understand that He was born to die. He came so that we could witness the love and compassion of our Creator and Redeemer. He came to die on a cross on our behalf! He made payment for all of our sins so that we can have eternal life!
When you really think of the facts of who Jesus is and what He did, then Christmas takes on a whole new significance! This 'life changing Christmas' is possible when we understand the right facts and understand…
B. Why Jesus came
Jesus came to show us the Father and to lead us to the Father! His own words from John 14:6 (NIV)...
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Jesus came to share a message from God with each one of us, "I love you enough to die in your place". Jesus came for you – pause and think about that - Jesus came for you. When you really stop and think - that is an amazingly humbling truth.
***Video "15 Reasons Jesus came to Earth"
In order to celebrate Christmas properly, to get Christmas right - we also have to acknowledge the fact that Jesus came…
C. To bring grace!
Jesus came 'in the flesh' and demonstrated God's love for us. He took the punishment for our sins - that's grace. "Grace is the unmerited favor of God towards humanity." Without grace, there's no Christmas celebration - there's nothing to celebrate! I've heard it said, "At Christmas, heaven gave grace a human name."
I read an article by one preacher who wrote...
"Is there anything more "irresponsible" than grace? It's the refuge of losers, the hiding place of the harebrained, the only hope at the end of the line. How can people learn anything from grace when they're shielded from the consequences of poor choices? Karma - getting what we deserve - is the voice of reason; grace is the voice of love. To look at grace from the outside is to see someone getting off scot-free. Oh, but from the inside - to taste of grace is to drink the water of life.
But this makes grace even more dangerous; the unscrupulous can figure the con quickly. Grace can be abused, grace can be played the fool, grace can be wasted - ...but grace doesn't care. Grace is the divine scandal. Grace is where mercy triumphs over judgment—not that judgment is unknown but rather tried and found wanting. And here's our dilemma: we discover that people want grace for ourselves, but choose karma for others. Grace seen from the outside is how rogues get off scot-free. Grace seen from the inside is the spring of life."
This is the kind of grace that many 'religious people' struggle with because they're almost 'offended' when grace gives those they see as 'sinners' an equal standing with them before God. But that's what God's grace does! That's the grace that people need to hear! By grace - God can love all, forgive all, accept all, with no limits!
The news story read, "Lucy Pat Curl, 85, succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday, Feb. 4th 2025, after she was severely beaten by a man posing as a community service officer to gain access to her home. Lucy Pat was the wife of pastor Bill Curl, who serves on the pastoral care team at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida. The husband and wife team had been serving in ministry together for 50 years, including 18 years on the mission field."
According to police, on the morning of Jan. 31st, Ronald Davis forced his way into the Curls' residence. Lucy Pat informed officers that Davis hit her multiple times until she was knocked unconscious. Davis ransacked her home as she lay in a pool of her own blood. She was later found by her husband after he returned home from counseling someone at a local pregnancy center.
Lucy Pat was immediately taken to the hospital and was later placed on life support due to a brain bleed, which doctors determined was inoperable. Law enforcement was able to locate and arrest the assailant the following morning.
Lucy Pat's daughter shared the news of her mother's death, "On Tuesday Lucy Pat was taken off life support. She went on to Heaven early this morning. We rejoice that she is no longer in pain." The update shared, "At one point Bill (her husband) took her picture, before the results of the attack had been cleaned up." When asked what he would do with such an awful picture like that, his response was, 'I'm going to show it to the man who did this to her! ...Then I'm going to forgive him."
Justice demands that man pay for his crimes in prison! Grace says, 'You don't have to pay for them eternally - Jesus already paid that price. You can become a brother to both Jesus and to the woman you killed. You just have to accept what that baby born in a manger did for you...'
Ronald Davis, the man who killed Lucy Pat Curl, changed his 'not guilty' plea to 'guilty,' telling the Judge that it was the right thing to do. He was sentenced to life in prison. The judge said, "Mr. Davis, I rarely see grace in this courtroom but I saw it today from Rev. Curl."
At Christmas, it's easy to focus on things that won't last - the lights, the 'Christmas magic,' buying just the right gift... But, if we truly want to 'get Christmas right,' we need to remember the gift of grace!
- What did you get for Christmas 30 years ago...? 10 years? Can you remember last year...? THE greatest gift that you can give your children, your friends and your family is the gift of a living faith that leads them to accept Jesus as their own Lord and Savior. Other gifts will fade and disappear, but that gift - that gift wrapped up in grace - will last for eternity!
Can you imagine putting together an elaborate birthday party for someone and then forgetting to invite them to the party? And then, when you realize your mistake, everyone just keeps on celebrating anyway without another thought of the person whose birthday it actually is… And another thing - when was the last time you celebrated an adult's birth or birthday and only remembered him or her as a baby?
Getting Christmas right is possible when we understand the true facts of what we celebrate at Christmas and then have the…
II. Right response
Have you ever given someone what you thought was the perfect gift and their response was a bit underwhelming? A great response from someone you love can make for a great Christmas. God has given us the greatest gift that could ever be given. What is our response to God at Christmastime? How should you respond to your Creator – the One who made you, and the One who says, "I love you so much that my Son died for you"?
We all respond in one way or another, but the right response will make for a right Christmas. This Christmas, choose to put God's presence right smack dab in the middle of your celebration and let Him speak to your heart! Then respond with the gift of your life – dedicated and committed to Jesus!
Look around you and see how many people celebrate Christmas without ever thinking of Jesus. Many this season will bow down and worship, but they'll bow at the 'altar of tradition' – spending a small fortune in order to "look good" and be acceptable to the traditional "god" of Christmas. What about you? Could you still celebrate if all of the traditional stuff was taken away?
We need the right response to God, to tradition and ultimately to the gift of grace found only in Jesus. What's your response to the greatest gift you've ever been given? How do you feel about the gift of eternal life that God is offering you – the gift that was purchased at a very great price?
When someone asks you – "what was your best gift?" Will you be willing to tell others about The greatest gift? Will you risk being called a 'religious nut' and share what Jesus has done for you, or will you not make waves and just talk about something Santa brought? Many will simply take the greatest gift ever given and stuff it back into the closet of their heart until next Christmas.
So What?
The phrase from the first scripture we read this morning, "There was no room for them in the Inn". Could that same line be said about your life – "there was no room in your life"?
If done properly - you can get Christmas right and it can absolutely change your life! It can change lives and bring people into an amazingly blessed and eternal relationship with God! It can - if we let it. We know God is entirely capable of making this a life changing Christmas - the only thing standing in the way of it actually being life changing - is you. Will you choose to allow Jesus to change you and use you for His purposes?
Look beyond tradition; look beyond the glitter, the wrappings, and the lights; look straight ahead into the face of Jesus and know that He came for you! Merry Christmas!