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A Christless Christmas

Sunday, December 24, 2023
Pastor Jojo Ma

Weekly Bulletin | Worship Lyrics

Selected Passages

 

If Jesus is the reason for the season, then why do so many people miss the real meaning of Christmas?

Why do so many people spend Christmas without Jesus? Why is Christmas so Christless for so many?

John Piper, God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself: "The critical question for our generation -- and for every generation -- is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven...if Christ were not there?"

1.         Busyness
Lk 2:7 [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger.

And why did he miss that first advent? He was too busy.

But at the end of the day, that busyness, that focus on other matters, made him miss Christmas, miss the reason for the season, and he ended up neglecting the Son of God come in flesh. He had a Christless Christmas because he was too busy to care.

Kevin DeYoung, Crazy Busy

Reflecting on Jesus --- his birth, his perfect life, his atoning sacrifice, his resurrection victory, his promised return, and all the hope, joy, and peace that comes from knowing Jesus --- that has serious eternal value.

2.         Fear
Matt 2:1-4 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Why did Herod miss Christmas? Fear. And there is a Herod-type fear in every person on this planet.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity: “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.”

But Jesus is not only Savior, He is Lord. Jesus calls for people to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. And people naturally fear giving up that throne. They don't want to change the way they live.

What about you? Have you said "no" to Jesus Christ because you're afraid of the claim He will lay on you? Do you want to be your own lord and master and rule your little kingdom?

3.         Idolatry
Mic 5:2-5 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace.

Lk 2:1-2 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And why did all these Romans miss Christmas? Because of their idolatry: they worshiped their own gods. Christ didn't fit in with them.

Our world and our country today are full of people who worship their own gods. These gods or idols might not be golden calves or wooden statues, but make no mistake: we love our modern-day idols and gods.

1 Jn 5:20-21 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know himwho is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Jn 1:10-14 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Don’t let busyness, fear, idolatry, and unbelief dictate your Christmas. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and spend Christmas as it was meant to be spent: knowing Jesus, adoring Jesus, trusting Jesus, and treasuring Jesus. He is truly worthy.