West Park Baptist Church

Loving God, Loving People, Impacting the World

ABC’s of Christmas

Zenith

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I can still remember the “Zenith Christmas” my family celebrated when I was just a small boy. That was the year my dad bought a Zenith brand color television set for my mom. I just knew we must be rich! It was many years later that I came to understand that “zenith” referred to the highest point in the sky reached by any celestial body; like a star or planet reaching its zenith.

The story of Jesus’ birth includes the amazing zenith2account of the wise men from the east that arrived asking, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).  Somehow, these magi recognized the rising of this star in the night sky as a sign of the arrival of the king of the Jews. While they were in Jerusalem, once again they saw the star rising to guide them to the king, “when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” Little did these wise men know the star had actually guided them to the star, the Bright and Morning Star.

As we celebrate Advent this season, may we, as those who by God’s grace have been made wise to salvation, also “rejoice with exceedingly great joy.” May we rejoice in the promise that the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus Christ, will soon rise to His zenith and bring to this dark world the dawning of the ever bright, never ending day of His glorious Kingdom!

Merry Christmas!

You

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You probably are familiar with the Old Testament prophecies concerning theunto-us-a-child-is-born promise of the Messiah found in the ninth chapter of the book of Isaiah. Many popular songs have incorporated these more popular verses making them easy to recall…for unto us a child is born…the government shall be upon His shoulders…Wonderful Counselor…Everlasting Father…Prince of Peace. I bet you are humming your favorite version right now…smile. As I often say in my home, “That’s good stuff!”

You may, like me, have read past the less familiar third verse without really taking the time to meditate on it. However, when you do, the verse packs a powerful punch. Christ came to earth to “multiply” the nation. What does that mean for you? It certainly makes me reflect on what my focus should be during this Christmas season. If I’m not thinking about how God may use me to join in His great plan of multiplication, maybe I’m really missing out on the true meaning of Christmas. How about You?

 

Xmas

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xmas1For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Xmas. For many of us the word represents the commercialization of the Christmas season. In our minds, the title seems like yet another attempt to erase Jesus from our culture and traditions. So, we respond with reminders and calls to, ‘Keep Christ in Christmas!’

But did you know the word has actually been around for centuries? It predates shopping malls, the modern idea of Santa, even those red holiday cups from Starbucks (wink). Did you know it originally had its roots in Christianity? That’s right. The ‘X’ in Xmas represents the Greek letter ‘chi’ which is the first letter of the word ‘Christos,’ meaning ‘God’s Anointed or Chosen One.’

Now, I’m not saying that followers of Christ should adopt the ancient, abbreviated title. But I do want to remind you (and myself) that there is something behind the X, an incredible, unthinkable truth. The long awaited, promised Messiah who would rescue God’s people from sin and death has come here. Not only that, the long awaited, promised King is coming again!

Wise Men

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WiseMenBANNER

And going into the house they [the wise men] saw the child with Mary his mother,
and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered
him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

We have much to learn about worship from the wise men that visited Mary and the newborn Jesus. We believe they traveled a long distance to see the Christ child and were familiar with the writings of the prophet Daniel who provided a timeline for the birth of the Messiah (Daniel 9:24-27).

While on the journey looking for the King of the Jews, the wise men followed “His star” (Matthew 2:2); they discussed the birth of Christ with King Herod and were directed to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4-8); they followed God’s guidance with great joy (Matthew 2:10); and they listened to God in a dream against returning to Herod (Matthew 2:12).

As we think about our worship during Advent season, consider how the wise men worshipped: 1) they read and believed God’s Word; 2) they earnestly sought Jesus; 3) they immediately recognized the worth of Christ; 4) they humbled themselves before Him; 5) and they listened and obeyed God rather than man.

Virgin

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[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [19] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. [20] But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [21] She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:[23] “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:18-23

In the opening chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, we read that “before [Mary and Joseph] came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). This took place to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah that said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son…” (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was born of a virgin. This is a significant point logically and theologically.

Logically

Logically, this point is a struggle for many folks. How could a virgin conceive? How could this be possible? It seems Joseph, understandably, was wrestling with these very same questions. In reply, an angel of the Lord gave him a simple answer: It was a miracle, a work of the Holy Spirit. Though our modern minds may wish for a more scientific accounting of these facts, we must content ourselves with the fact that the God who created the physical world can also enter it and alter it as he sees fit.

I recently came across a tweet that helped me put this whole discussion in perspective:

It seems that at some point, regardless of one’s beliefs or doubts, we are confronted with the miraculous. Christians simply take God and his prophets at their word.

Theologically

Theologically, the virgin birth of Jesus is extremely significant. It is not merely a sign; it is fundamental to Christ’s work and salvation project. The virgin birth brings together two important parts of his person, namely, his humanity and his divinity. In having a human mother, he too is fully human. This is important because it means that Jesus assumes all that we are and can act as a representative for the human race, being a human himself. (One early church father, Gregory of Nazianzus, famously put it this way: “That which he has not assumed, he has not healed.”)

In being conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is also fully divine, the Son of God. This is important because it means that he is perfect, not inheriting the sin nature of Adam, and able to stand before God the Father. Both of these facts, his humanity and his deity, are wrapped up in the virgin birth, and both are essential to our salvation.

So, this Christmas may we revel in the brilliance of God’s plan, to rescue us through the God-man, Christ our Lord.

Unselfish

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Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, ESV)

Do you want to understand the true miracle of Christmas? It is this: The unselfishness of Jesus. At the very core of Christmas is the incredible miracle that Jesus selflessly trades heavenly glory for human flesh. He becomes a tiny baby growing in the womb and then born of a woman. He sets out on a rescue mission for mankind by becoming a completely dependant infant. And in this, Jesus becomes the ultimate example of humility. He did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but rather he emptied himself to become a servant. Bottom line? He chose us over himself. He came to serve us through his unselfish birth and then eventual death on a cross. How unexpected! How beautiful! Love looks like humility. Love comes quietly and unassumingly to serve. As you prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus this Christmas, meditate on his unselfishness and ponder how we are called to “have this mind among yourselves” considering others better than ourselves. How can you empty yourself and choose others? Who can you selflessly serve this Christmas in the name of Jesus?

Trinity

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What thoughts come to mind when you read that word?

Confusing? Strange? Cold? Scary?

I encourage you to accept the truth that the Triune God is: self-giving, self-sacrificial, overflowing with love.

trinity2How can we know this? Consider what Jesus prayed before His crucifixion in John 17:24, “Father… you loved me before the foundation of the world.” God the Father, by the Spirit, for all eternity has communicated love to Jesus. Before the cross, Bethlehem or creation itself, God, Son, and Spirit lived in a community of perfect love. That verse has helped me so much in realizing the full impact of Christmas: God the Father, overflowing with eternal love for His Son, didn’t keep Him but sent and sacrificed him to pay for my sins.

Father, thank you for your overflowing love to us in Christ this time of year and always!

Jesus, I was lost without you. Thank you for rescuing me out of my sin and selfishness.

Holy Spirit, continue to show me the abiding love of the Father and Son and help me spread the love of God to others.

Shepherds

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Shepherd's Jubilation, on wall of Holy Land Shepherd's ChapelAnd the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had
heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20

I was raised in a non-Christian home. There were four children in the house, and it was not unusual for the gifts to almost touch the ceiling. We did not have any idea that “Jesus was the reason for the season.” We did Christmas up big! Then on December 14, 1988 that all changed.

My youngest brother died in a car accident. My parents’ Christmas zeal just went away. I remember that year well, as it was my first son’s second Christmas. I had been saved in April of that year and was struggling with how to celebrate Christmas for my son but still respect this grief that my family was so overtaken with.

I was very young in my faith, but I knew I could pray, “God, how do I make this Christmas special when the loss of my precious brother is so tender?” God sweetly reminded me, when He sent His son, this babe, who would one day take away the sins of the world, He also sent the one who would conquer the grave.

During the Christmas season of 1988, like the Shepherds, we turned our celebration from the mountains of gifts to the celebration of the ultimate gift, where all our hopes could rest. We glorified and praised God for all He had done through His son Jesus.

Photo: Shepherd’s Jubilation, on wall of a Shepherd’s Chapel in the Holy Land