In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

Have you ever noticed that it is possible for children to watch hours of Christmas specials and never once hear what Christmas is all about? We could make a very long list of Christmas specials that never mention the real meaning of Christmas at all. Some of these shows might not be bad, but they really don't have anything to do with the real reason for the season. Most children have seen Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and the Grinch and Mickey's Christmas Carol but they really don't have anything to do with the real meaning of Christmas. But, just to be fair, the Charlie Brown Christmas special almost springs from the darkness when Linus recites the words of Luke chapter two, and the children sing "Hark the herald angels sing." It's actually amazing that they still show that one, because it actually uses the words of the New Testament.

Here's the point: There are so many "things" going on at Christmas, it is very easy to completely miss the point. Maybe you've seen that movie called, "A Christmas Story." It's about a boy named Ralphie who wants a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas. The family never makes it to church for worship. They keep almost every major American tradition related to Christmas, but completely miss the real meaning of Christmas. They have a tree, lights, presents, Santa Claus, and Ralphie even gets his BB gun. But there is not one word about Jesus. That is a secular holiday. Be careful, dear friends, that your Christmas is not like that, and that your children don't think that way!

1. THE CHILD OF THE VIRGIN MARY

These Bible verses tell us about the "Annunciation," when the angel Gabriel announced the coming of our Savior to Mary. There is much here that requires great faith. Out of all the women in history, only Mary would be the mother of our Savior. Out of all the women in history, only Mary would conceive and give birth as a virgin. That is such an amazing miracle that it seems to require an extra measure of faith. The virgin birth was foretold in the Old Testament, 700 years in advance. Isaiah 7:14 foretold the virgin birth of Christ. Then the angel Gabriel said that it would happen. That first Christmas, it did happen. Jesus was the child of the Virgin Mary, without a human father.

Think about what that meant for Mary. She would get a bad reputation. People would say bad things! Mary was going to be pregnant, and so, people would very naturally assume that she had done something wrong. But Mary would be the only pregnant gal in history who could say, "Nothing happened," and be telling the truth! And then Joseph would have to believe that too. And that was an awful lot to believe. But one of the miracles of Christmas is that both Mary and Joseph believed. May we believe it too! Scripture says it, and the angel said it. It's true!

Many years later, others would put Mary up on a pedestal and pray to her. But, it is wrong to pray to the Virgin Mary. She is not God. She does not hear and answer prayers. Praying to Mary breaks the First Commandment. But sometimes it almost seems like some blame Mary for this. When did Mary ever say that people should pray to her? It isn't Mary's fault that some people worship her as an idol. She was just a believer who was blessed with the great privilege of serving as the mother of Christ.

Now consider what the virgin birth meant for Jesus. Doctrinally, it meant that he would be true man. He was born with a human body and soul. Jesus had to be true man to be our Substitute and Savior. Jesus had to be true man to live under the law in our place. He had to be true man to die for us. He had to be true man to save us. And so, let us praise God that Jesus was the child of the Virgin Mary. But that's not all. He was also...

2. THE HOLY SON OF GOD

Jesus did not become the Son of God when he was born. He always was the Son of God. The prophet Micah revealed that our Savior came from eternity. Yet, when the time was right, the Son of God became true man, and so Jesus was born true God and true man in one person. Jesus never stopped being true God. He always was, always is, and always will be the holy Son of God. And at Christmas we celebrate the fact that the Son of God became man, while remaining the Son of God. And let us not forget that the special way that Jesus was brought into this world kept him holy and free from sin.

By a great miracle, Jesus was born of the virgin Mary in such a way that he did not receive original sin. With God as his Father, Jesus was born holy. That's something that was not true of us. All of us were sinful from birth, but Jesus was not. He was holy. And he had to be holy to live a holy life for us, as our Substitute.

May we never forget why Jesus came, and what Christmas is really all about. Christmas is really all about the greatest Christmas gift ever! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. And that was the greatest Christmas gift ever. God gave his only-begotten Son to live a perfect life for us, and to die on the cross to pay for all of our sins, and to rise from death to prove that he had won our forgiveness. And the reason why God did that was that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus came to redeem us and open heaven to us.

Now, when compared to that, the Rudolph and Frosty Christmas seems pretty shabby. Compared to Jesus, a BB gun is not a very important gift. God sent his Son, Jesus, to be our Redeemer. And each Christmas, we pause to worship and praise God for this magnificent gift. What a gift we have received! We have salvation from sin, forgiveness, and the hope of heaven, all because God gave us the greatest gift ever, the gift of his Son, our Savior.

What great love God showed in giving this great gift! He loved the whole world and sent Jesus to save the whole world! If only all would believe! God loved you, and he loved me, and gave Jesus to be our Savior. May we always believe in him, and finally receive eternal life in heaven.

Some people hesitate to believe, because they don't understand how God could become man. They don't understand how there could be one single virgin birth. But don't worry about how all these things could be. Simple look at verse 37, "Nothing is impossible with God!" Nothing is impossible with God! Do you know what that means?

If God could carry out the virgin birth of Christ; if he could see to it that Jesus was born as true God and true man; if he could complete our redemption and accomplish our salvation; if he could do everything just as it was foretold,... just think what that means in your life! "Nothing is impossible with God!" Not only has he saved us, but he's with us, and empowers us to serve him in faith. So many times we hear, "It will never work. Nothing will change. It's not going to happen. It's impossible." Really? "Nothing is impossible with God!" So the question is never whether or not God can do something, it is whether or not it is God's will! Don't sell him short! If you don't think that God can help you with whatever it is that you are struggling with, then you are underestimating God. "Nothing is impossible with God." So, if you are down in the dumps, seek God's help in his Word and pray. God can help you! If you are going through rough times, remember that God can help you! He can do the impossible.

This week, let us pause, as Mary did, to ponder the real meaning of these words, and the real meaning of Christmas. Remember God's love in sending his Son. Remember who Jesus is and why he came. Marvel at the humility he showed, that he, the all-powerful and eternal Son of God would stoop to be born in a barn, and to be laid in a feeding trough! What great love and humility we see at Christmas! Don't miss that!

Don't get too caught up in the worldly and secular holiday and miss the real Christmas! Rudolph and Frosty and Ralphie aren't going to help you there. But perhaps, some of our traditions will help. When you see the lights, remember the Light of the world. When you look at the evergreen tree, remember that it's supposed to remind us of the everlasting life our Savior came to bring us! When you exchange gifts, remember the greatest Christmas gift: Jesus. And when you share Christmas joy, may it be the kind that centers in Jesus! When you see a nativity scene, don't think, that thing needs another coat of paint... remember Jesus' birth. And when you see angels, remember that they were there to tell the Christmas gospel to the shepherds. When you gather for worship, think about the words that you sing. Some of us memorized Luke chapter two when we were children. Open your Bible, and see if you still remember those words, and think about what they mean. Christmas is coming! Don't miss it because of all the distractions and all the stresses and all the gatherings... That first Christmas was so simple! This week, let us return to God's house, and let us return in heart and mind to that stable and that manger. And let us not miss Christmas. Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus! Saying the words isn't enough. Ponder the love. Meditate on the words. Praise God with that voice that he gave you. And share the joy with everyone you meet. Remember why Jesus came! He came to save us from sin. May we always keep Christ in Christmas! Amen.