God's Love for Sinners
Patrick Edwards
John 3: 1-21
Why is Christmas such a big deal? I mean take away the decorations, the presents, the music, scrap it all. It's the middle of night, in some remote tiny town, and a poor family gives birth to a baby boy. Luke tells us that angels appeared in the night's sky as a result with a multitude as they sing in a most fantastic chorus, ''Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'' I mean what's the big deal?
Why has the church made such a big deal about Christmas? I mean isn't Easter more important? That's at least marks the death and resurrection of Jesus. I mean I guess we could say then that Christmas is important because Jesus couldn't die unless He was born first, but is that all there is to Christmas? Clearly not for the centuries of Christians which have proceeded us. You see in the early church there were massive debates over the event at Christmas. Early pastors and theologians such as Athanasius, John Cassian, Gregory, all wrote books specifically on the Incarnation. Martin Luther, the man who ushered in the Protestant Reformation, claimed Christmas was his favorite holiday. Charles Spurgeon, the great British Baptist preacher, preached numerous series of sermons on Christmas.
Why then? What is it about Christmas that has griped the attention of Christians throughout the course of church history? I believe that it is the inconceivable miracle, that not only could God become Man, but that God actually did become Man. It is a profound truth that we will never fully grasp. The apostle Paul does the best at expressing it in words. He writes in Philippians 2, that at Christmas, in the Incarnation, that Jesus, ''although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.'' Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who enjoyed all the glory and honor ...
Patrick Edwards
John 3: 1-21
Why is Christmas such a big deal? I mean take away the decorations, the presents, the music, scrap it all. It's the middle of night, in some remote tiny town, and a poor family gives birth to a baby boy. Luke tells us that angels appeared in the night's sky as a result with a multitude as they sing in a most fantastic chorus, ''Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'' I mean what's the big deal?
Why has the church made such a big deal about Christmas? I mean isn't Easter more important? That's at least marks the death and resurrection of Jesus. I mean I guess we could say then that Christmas is important because Jesus couldn't die unless He was born first, but is that all there is to Christmas? Clearly not for the centuries of Christians which have proceeded us. You see in the early church there were massive debates over the event at Christmas. Early pastors and theologians such as Athanasius, John Cassian, Gregory, all wrote books specifically on the Incarnation. Martin Luther, the man who ushered in the Protestant Reformation, claimed Christmas was his favorite holiday. Charles Spurgeon, the great British Baptist preacher, preached numerous series of sermons on Christmas.
Why then? What is it about Christmas that has griped the attention of Christians throughout the course of church history? I believe that it is the inconceivable miracle, that not only could God become Man, but that God actually did become Man. It is a profound truth that we will never fully grasp. The apostle Paul does the best at expressing it in words. He writes in Philippians 2, that at Christmas, in the Incarnation, that Jesus, ''although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.'' Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who enjoyed all the glory and honor ...
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