Merry Christmyth!
Happy Advent Season, Harvest South Bay!
Well, we’re way into the swing of the Christmas season as evidenced by the wonderfully decorated tree in our meeting area (thanks Friday Night Fellowship and Chris!). My God bring to you good times with family, friends, and Him as we take time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. As our sermon this last week has emphasized, the great wonder of Christmas is the historical reality of our joy. Myth might entertain, but having a savior who was born, lived, died and was resurrected is transformational!
Have a great week, sing carols in the car, and think on the greatness of God’s love!
Byron
Harvest South Bay December 7th, 2008
Merry Christmyth
Advent Season 2008
Luke 2:1-20
The Traditional Christmas Story :
Joseph and Mary depart hastily to Bethlehem from Nazareth because of the census. They arrive on Mary’s due date at night, pleading from inn to inn for a place to stay. Turned away at every door, they finally find space on the floor of a stable because there is no room in any inns. Jesus is born a lonely birth with just his parents and farm animals, later attended to by shepherds who arrive after given insight from angels of the Savior’s birth.
The Likely Christmas Story
Joseph and Mary most likely arrive in Bethlehem well in advance of Mary’s due date. They probably catch a caravan coming from Nazareth and arrive in Bethlehem after a week or so. Staying in the home of relatives, Jesus’ birth is in a residence, surrounded by loved ones- however He and his parents must settle for accommodations which are outside of the normal guest room (a mistranslation of “inn”),instead probably sleeping downstairs in the host family’s quarters. Jesus, then, is laid in the manger- the feeding trough within a Palestinian home. He is attended to later by the shepherds who feel welcomed seeking Him out because His sign is that He is laid in a manger, meaning that He is staying with a normal peasant family which will not take offense at the presence of shepherds.
When we think Christmas, we are meant to ponder
1. The Reality of Jesus
That Jesus is real- and that we need to return to the historical record of Jesus, not just our notions of who He is.
2. The Identification of Jesus.
Jesus, in His incarnation, identified with the lowly, the contrite, and the poor.
Weekly Application Exercises
1. Spend a concentrated amount of time immersed in the Word of God this week: read a whole gospel or several epistles focusing on getting to know God’s true character and debunking any of your own personal imaginings of who He is.
2. Dedicate yourself to giving of yourself and your resources in such a way that will show Christ’s love and directly impact someone else’s life this advent season.
More Applications!
1. Do something this week that will turn your heart and mind toward the joy of Christmas: sing a Christmas carol at the top of your lungs in the car or at home, or give to someone in need when they least expect it, or take time to help people in the crush of doing too many things and do less yourself.
2. This financial downturn is an especially great time to show the charity of Christ because it highlights the fact that God gave to us His nearest and dearest. Go to WorldVision.org and browse their “gift catalog” or if you or your family don’t already, begin sponsoring a child or many children as a Christmas gift to yourself!
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