When did you first hear the Christmas story? Do you remember these words?
Luke 2:1-3 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
Who is Quirinius? What is a census? This doesn’t sound like Christmas. It sounds like a trip to a government agency! The events of that first Christmas were very ordinary. What was it that made Christmas wonderful and enchanting? Ask Mary. She is the mother of Jesus. I don’t know of any very pregnant women who would enjoy a cross country trip on the back of a burro. And yet listen to what she says…
Luke 1:46-48 “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
She loved it! It was wonderful and enchanting. A dream come true? More than that, a prophecy fulfilled. This wasn’t a fairy tale; it was a promise from God. God came to change your life with his love.
Your life is very ordinary. We just had a census a few years ago – that’s where everyone gets counted. We may not have a Caesar, but we still have a President and a governor. Cross country trips are still not that fun, most often life isn’t as magical, wonderful or enchanting as any of us would like it to be. That is exactly why we need Christmas. Our lives are still humble and hard because we are cursed with sin. Sin is anything that goes against God’s Word. With that sin comes broken lives, relationships, and mountains and mountains of guilt. This mountain over time can crush you. No amount of make ups, do overs, and trying harder helps. This is where Christmas is wonderful and enchanting.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord. He is Christ THE ONE set apart to take away your sins. He is God, the one to whom you will answer one day. He proved his love for you by coming at Christmas so that he could die for you. Because of Jesus you are forgiven. You are free of guilt. This year – go to the lights at Tanglewood, decorate your house, come back on Christmas Eve so that you can celebrate, so that you can worship your new born king. That is what makes an ordinary Christmas wonderful and enchanting.