Luke 1:1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Every year at Christmas there are many joys, blessings and emotions. There is a sad part when we think of loved ones who’ve gone on. That’s all right. Remember friends and family gone on. It means they are still loved. There is frenzy on the roads. I’ll be driving in all the frenzy and think about all those ignorant people out in it. Then it dawns on me that I’m one of them. Through it all, there is something greater than any gift. It is the certainty. It’s not just believing. It’s knowing, being so certain, fully certain. In fact, the word certain really needs no word in front of it. Either you are certain or you’re not.
Luke was trying to tell the truth of Christmas in human words. People weren’t looking for Jesus. Angels went to the shepherds. The star shined for the wise men. I’ve wondered why Simeon and Anna didn’t get special news. They had waited all their life to see the Messiah. However, it was eight days later that they found out. Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to be circumcised. There he experienced his first blood shed as a human. When Simeon and Anna heard the baby cry they knew it was him, the One they had waited for. The wisest were far away and got the news. Close by shepherds heard. Mary carried Jesus nine months and then had to travel to Bethlehem where he was born in a stable. He came for the poor, the lowest of the working class. Shepherds were not prominent in society. They were nobody’s but God sent the herald angels to them. They needed to know for a certainty that Jesus had come. Those following the star were from far away countries yet they traveled the distance to Jesus. The news was for everybody, for all people.
Christmas didn’t begin in the United States. The focal point is Israel and it is certain and for all. We could be taught a lot by Christians in other countries who’ve never had what we have. God takes care of them. God reminds us to consider the gift of certainty. The world is now largely skeptical of the Christmas story and of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. There’s no reason not to believe! We don’t need additional truths. We can know of a certainty.
Luke wrote the words in the chapter before he told us about the birth of Jesus. He was telling us that what is written after this verse is a certainty. All people can know it. Few knew it then. It was years later that the disciples knew. This certainty will get us through anything. We don’t know what’s coming in 2017, yet we can be certain. Don’t listen to those who ridicule and try to turn people away from Christ. We don’t have to know how things will happen. Jesus told us to consider the lilies. They do nothing to take care of themselves. God does it for them. Even a sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground without the notice of God. How much more will he care for us? From the incarnation to the ascension, the word is given so that we can receive the truth and know the certainty.
I don’t know who chose the traditional colors of Christmas but even they tell the truth. Jesus came from the golden realms of glory and in his veins flowed the red blood that was shed on the cross for our sins. On the third day he arose from the dead and whosoever believes on him has eternal life. Green has always been a symbol of life. Jesus lives forevermore. One day he’ll come take us to glory and we’ll walk on the golden streets.
If you lose everything in this physical life, it will never take away the certainty of Jesus Christ. If you’re not certain, you can be. Come to Jesus today.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 