There was an article in the paper a couple of years ago about the Nativity Scene in St. Albans, West Virginia. It included a picture of the scene, because it was so unusual: it had a stable, some sheep, camels & a donkey, and even some “visitors” – wise men – but that is it! There was nothing in the stable – no Mary, no Joseph, and no baby Jesus! It was revealing that the two town officials that were contacted had differing stories about why it was that way. The parks superintendent said that the Holy Family was left out because of “separation of church & state” concerns. Interestingly, the mayor (the politician!) said it was just a technical difficulty – you know, too hard to get all those characters to fit inside the stable! Either way, it is definitely ironic that the One the nativity scene is supposed to celebrate was left out: Jesus Christ!
Unfortunately, that is how it often is – people celebrate everything at Christmas except Jesus. We celebrate “family” – and it is great to get together with family at Christmas; we exchange gifts, and that is wonderful. There is even this “mystical” thing we call “the spirit of the season.” But oftentimes, Jesus Christ Himself is left out. So for the next 3 weeks, I want us to focus on the One the season really celebrates: Jesus Christ, with a “mini-series” I am calling: “The Christ of Christmas.” The messages will all be based in the book of John, chapter 1, and we will look at what that great chapter teaches us about Who He is, and what He came to do for us. We will begin this morning by looking at John 1:1-3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”
These verses proclaim that the Christ of Christmas was and is God! Continue reading
shawnethomas 