Jesus at the Center of Christmas
Make Room •Message 4
Bryan Jones
December 23 and 24, 2023
A. Introduction
Just so that I know who is the room, how many of you are full of Christmas spirit people And how many of you are more like this?
Let’s be honest, Christmas for most of us is a wonderful time of year, isn’t it? But it’s also the busiest.
There are travel plans, end-of-the-year deadlines, work activities, neighborhood gatherings, church events and not to mention Christmas shopping. How many of you have done all your Christmas shopping? If not, let me tell you that you are in the right place here in church, because you’re going to need a miracle.
This time of the year is a wonderful time of the year but for many people, it’s one of the busiest. For some, this might be the first time you have just sat in the last few weeks.
And If we are honest, in modern culture, the picture of Christmas that’s often portrayed feels so out of touch with our busy, fast paced, tech-advanced world.
How are we to relate to the idea of shepherds in a field? Songs like Silent Night, where all is calm, all is bright? Jesus was born in the middle of nowhere, not in a lively hospital or busy city.
For years, I struggled to see how the story of the first Christmas thousands of years ago fit into a world and culture that’s evolved and changed so much.
But I want you to see that although the times have changed you might have more in common with the struggles of that first Christmas than you realized.
Luke 2:1-4 (NLT)
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.
Notice what’s happening here, people all at once have to travel and register at a particular spot. The place would have been jam-packed with people; it would have been one of the busiest times of the year.
When I was a youth pastor in Chicago, we used to have a big winter camp with all the high school students in January. We found a resort that would host us called Pheasant Run. Now picture this, we were taking around 1,300 high school students to a resort with a spa, nice restaurant and golf course because they had a giant meeting room we could fit in. So, people showed up that weekend and there were 1,300 high school students around. You know what you don’t expect to find at a resort or spa, 1,300 high school students. You go to those places to get away from kids…
I remember one night the kids were being loud on our floor. There was a couple who was getting frustrated when I happened to be walking by. They looked at me and said, are you responsible for these kids… Now keep in mind I was the youth pastor. I paused for a second and then said, no sir, I’m not. I lied. I was like, yeah, I’ve never seen them before in my life.
Now that place was normally a resort, but it wasn’t that weekend! It was packed and overflowing… Bethlehem was normally a quiet town, but it wasn’t that weekend. It was filled with people.
And we know this because listen to what it says here:
Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
They were overbooked. They were at full capacity and didn’t have any more room. We don’t know this but it’s possible the innkeeper never even realized that Jesus was right outside his door.
Here’s what I want you to understand this Christmas…
B. The greatest threat the first Christmas was busyness.
The innkeeper didn’t miss Jesus because of a bad sin but rather a busy schedule.
He/she had too much on their plate. They couldn’t slow down and see who was right outside. Wouldn’t you think that if they knew the Savior of the world was there they would have made room?
The greatest threat that first Christmas for many was their busyness. Fast forward, although the times have changed throughout the years, one of the greatest threats has not. Busyness.
The greatest threat for many isn’t a big sin but a busy schedule.
If we don’t make room, we will miss Christmas. Don’t miss that in this very room is the Savior of the world and one encounter with Him can change everything. But if you aren’t careful you miss this… isn’t it true you can physically be in a room but you’re not there? Your mind and your heart aren’t there… how many of you have had a conversation and your spouse is completely tuned out?
I think there are some things in our culture that have contributed to this…
Clock
The first public clock was put on display around 1370 and it was used to help people know when shops and bars would be open. Before, then for the most part things opened in the morning and shut down at night much like people’s sleep patterns.
Light bulb
Then you have in 1879 the invention of the light bulb and that allowed us to accomplish tasks all hours of the night…
iPhone
In 2007, Apple released the first iPhone. In 2016, a study found the average iPhone user touched their phone 2,617 times a day (and some of you have been checking your phone during my sermon, stop it!).
People actually thought for a while with all these tech advancements it would free up time. But it seems we are addicted to speed.
According to mental health professionals, the pace and all the demands have led us to crippling amounts of anxiety and stress. There is a term called hurry sickness, which is caused by continual rushing and anxiety.
Richard Foster says, The enemy majors in three things, noise, crowds, and hurry.
Have you ever noticed that we even get busy on vacation? Sometimes it’s true, we need a vacation from our vacation because we find ways to fill our free time with all sorts of things.
Michael Zigarelli of the Messiah University did a five-year study of 20,000 Christians in the United States. Do you know what he found to be the number one distraction from a life with God? Busyness.
I say this to remind you that if you don’t make room, you will miss Christmas…
Isn’t it interesting that with Christmas, you can spend so much time hosting, with Christmas presents, cooking, working and all the moving pieces that you forget sometimes what the whole thing is about… Is about joy and new life.
Think about Martha in the Bible (Luke 10:38-42) … she has Jesus over to her house… and she’s so busy getting everything ready, she’s cleaning, she’s serving, and it’s Sunday so Chick-fil-A is closed. She’s cooking… and so she’s doing good things, but she isn’t seeing what’s best… what matters most.
Listen, I’m not telling you to stop doing everything. I’m just saying slow down and remember what matters most…
A lot of people say, I can’t do that… I got young kids. Life is crazy… too much is going on.
Did you know Susanna Wesley, who was the mother of theologian John Wesley, raised 10 children? 10 children! She had very little time… but do know what she did? She had an apron that she made into a prayer tent. She would literally pull it over her head and the children knew if you mess with mom while she’s in the prayer tent, then you die!
You break away to get perspective. You pause, you slow down to reflect on what matters most in life…
This Christmas I want you to slow down, even if just for the few moments of this service. Make room for Jesus in your heart… we make room for what matters…
C. Make room for great joy.
If you are in a city there is often something called light pollution. The idea is that you can’t see the stars in the sky because of all the lights around you. Think about, it isn’t it interesting that earthly light can drown out the heavenly lights…
Sometimes the things on this earth, the good stuff, can drown out the life that God has for us. Today is an invitation to get your eyes fixed on the only thing in this whole universe that can fulfill the deep longings of your heart…
Listen to what C.S. Lewis says:
Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. … If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
C.S. Lewis
The problem is the stuff of this world won’t bring lasting joy, and you’ll need more of the stuff in this world to quench the longing in your heart and soul.
Jesus brings full life.
Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Notice what Jesus brings with Him… great joy… How’s your joy right now?
In Greek, there are 3 words for life:
Bios – Body
Psyche – Soul
Zōē – Spirit (full of life/God life/otherworldly life)
John 1:4 (NIV)
In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The word John uses is zōē life… to show Jesus brings full life. That He alone satisfies the deepest longest of our in our lives…
The only way for this great joy is through a great Savior.
I can spend an entire year talking on peace and joy and everyone eats it up… but the moment you say you need a savior people go, wait, hey, slow down…
Everyone loves verse 10 but 11 is connected to it…
Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
The way to great joy is only through a savior.
Why do we need a Savoir? Because without Jesus we have these soul deficits… meaning we can have everything going well on the outside but not on the inside…
Soul Deficits
Acceptance – we know at the core of who we are that we will never be enough, so we perform and earn.
Freedom – we become a slave to our desires.
Belonging – we get the sense that we will always be on our own, and we can’t be honest about who we are.
Authority – we feel powerless to move forward.
If you are in Jesus, you are accepted, you are free, you belong and you have all authority given to you… Tell me you can find something better at Amazon, or Best Buy…
God’s gift for you that first Christmas didn’t go under a tree, it went on one… this little baby grew up and hung on a tree for your sins.
See, the cradle isn’t threatening to people, but you know what is? The cross! Why? Because the cross cost something…
Think about it, a lot of people were fans of Martin Luther King, Jr., but few were willing to follow him into the jail cell… Why? Because it cost something.
A lot of people were fans of Mother Theresa, but few were willing to follow her into the slums of the poor and broken. Why? Because it cost something…
A lot of people are fans of Jesus but not everyone will follow him from the cradle to the grave. Why? Because it cost something.
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
We love because He first loved us.
I remember when Steph told me she was pregnant with our first child… I was doing something deeply spiritual—I was watching football. She came down and said, I have some news for you.
I said, That’s great. Can you step away from TV? I completely missed the moment… and after a while she finally said, I’m pregnant, and I said, oh.
The thing is I was so busy with something good I missed the better thing right in front of me.
Don’t miss what’s right in front of you this Christmas… it doesn’t matter if Jesus was born in Bethlehem if he’s not born into your life… What matters most this Christmas is that you’ve had a personal Christmas…
If you want to accept God’s great gift of a Savior this Christmas, we’d love to talk to you. Text New Life to 864.640.4888 to let us know and so one of our pastors can reach out to you.
If you have a prayer need you’d like to share with our prayer team, text Prayer to 864.640.4888 We will call and pray with you this week.
If you are in need of assistance this year because you’re dealing with grief, need healing or just help making it through this season, text Care to 864.640.4888.
D. Candle Lighting
We love ending the service with the tradition of candle lighting.
The light brings a great joy that comes from a great Savior. The light has been born; the light has come.
Don’t miss what’s right in front of you this Christmas… it doesn’t matter if Jesus was born in Bethlehem if he’s not born into your life… What matters most this Christmas is that you’ve had a personal Christmas…