I don’t want to knock the holiday. It’s fun to celebrate, to be with the family, and to exchange gifts. However, the holiday goes to the extreme sometimes. It’s stressful. Things are overdone. There is so much attached to Christmas. The movies and shows—It’s a Wonderful Life, Rudolph, Frosty….We love them and watch them every year. The readings—T’was the Night Before Christmas, The Christmas Carol. There are songs from Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer to Joy to the World.
I want to share a simple reading of the Christmas story. If not for this one, there would have been no other. With all the hype around Christmas, the reality is that Christmas is just plain and simple. That’s the best part of it. To get the most out of it means our focus must leave it plain. Being plain was deliberate on God’s part. The world wasn’t pre-decorated. There were no advertisements to get everyone in the mood and wound up about it. The first Christmas was an ordinary day. From a physical standpoint, Jesus didn’t look any different than any other babies that were born every day. People still traveled. Shepherds still watched their flocks. All the towns were packed, but in a little roadside town a baby would be born. He looked like other babies, yet he was different. A mighty God was willing to transform himself to be like plain old people like us. He left it all in order that we could have it all one day.
Luke 2:1 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
That’s it, plain and simple. It is why we rejoice. As believers we know our belief is not in vain. This child grew up like an ordinary person would do, but this one went to the cross, suffered and died, and then rose from the dead. It was the deliberate plan of God; everything we are, our real self, is plain and simple. We’re mortal members of a fallen race. We can’t save ourselves. The best we can be is our plain old selves, and we deserve nothing. Instead of starting over, God chose to work out a plan of salvation which would take us from this plain place to the place of glory. The only way was for God to come.
This is why there were no lights, no wrapping of gifts. It was simple, plain and ordinary. Jesus would not have had it any other way. Before he came, he was surrounded with singing, colors, and lights with hues far more excellent than the decorations we have. This atmosphere of glory was left behind and Jesus came to an ordinary poor couple in a country that had just about given up on hearing from the Lord. The people were steeped in sin. There was no hope for their future. In the midst of all this a baby cried. It was a cry not unlike any other baby’s cry. He was placed in a plain old stall on an ordinary winter’s night, BUT he was anything but ordinary.
Because the first Christmas was plain, we now have all the lights and songs. Silent Night. Joy to the World. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. Angels We Have Heard on High. When the angel stepped out that night and announced to the shepherds the Savior had been born, he was saying it to Adwolfe Church too. This baby was none other than Jesus Christ the Lord.
As one old plain person to another, let’s come see; let’s behold him; let’s kneel and have the same awe the shepherds had. Of all the gifts in their pretty wrappings, the best one was wrapped in swaddle and is waiting for you to come see him.
Let’s come see him one more time.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 