Consider Again mas When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today. Page 1 When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first mas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today. It is a long time since 1832, longer still from 353, longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization which surround mas today, to consider again the event of mas and the person whose birth we celebrate. Brian L. Harbour, James W. Cox, The Minister's Manual: 1994, San Fransico: Harper Collins, 1993, p. 254. Why do we celebrate mas? Black Friday! What do you think of when you hear those words? Spectacular deals for mas? The (un)official beginning of the mas season? The worst day ever for anyone in retail or food service? Regardless of what pops into your head when you hear those words, the phrase bares a special meaning at least in the U.S. It reminds us we need to start buying gifts for our family and friends.
The mas season is wrought with traveling, family get-togethers, office parties, breaks from school, and insane deals on flat-screen televisions. And let s not forget Santa Claus, hanging the stockings, decorating the tree, eating copious amounts of delicious food, and opening presents. Does this describe your mas? Unfortunately, this probably describes the majority of people in America (and around the world). Page 2 What is the meaning of mas? Over the centuries, the celebration of mas has become so fictitious and materialist that it s difficult for most of us to remember precisely what we re celebrating. It is not about the "spirit of giving" or the quest for global peace, or the importance of family, or the beauty of a snow-decorated "silent night." mas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Why is the birth of Jesus so important? Genesis 2:15-17 NIV 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. 1 1 The Holy Bible : New International rnational Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Death is separation. A physical death is the separation of the soul from the body. Spiritual death, which is of greater significance, is the separation of the soul from God. Page 3 What did man choose to do in response to the command of God? Genesis 3:6-7 NIV 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 2 Adam and Eve disobeyed God & ate from the tree of knowledge of good & evil. Man disobeyed God and chose to eat what God had told them not to eat. What was God s response to their disobedience? Genesis 3:21-24 NIV 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever. 2 The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side e of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. 3 Page 4 All God s dealings with people as sinners can be traced back to this act of disobedience by Adam and Eve. 4 Because the man Adam chose to disobey God, sin entered into the world bringing with it separation between man and God. Man was banished from the garden no longer able to enjoy fellowship with God, no longer able to walk and talk with the Lord in the garden. Spiritual death, physical death, and eternal death came because of Adam s sin. Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 NIV 23 For the wages of sin is death, Paul didn t say, The wages of sins are death. No, he said, The wages of sin is death, referring to Adam s sin (Romans 6:23). The reason we are dying physically and the reason we would have been condemned eternally is because Adam failed. And Adam s sin brought death to all. 5 3 The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 4 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. 5 Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson s Application Commentary (p. 914). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
aiah 59:9-10 9 So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. 10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without Page 5 eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. Because of sin we walk and live in darkness. We live like the blind trying to feel our way through this life with very little success. We stumble and we fall. God does not want us to remain separated from Him. He has a plan for us. God has a plan for each of our lives. Two great moments in our lives are when we are born and when we discover why we were born. Our lives did not happen by chance. We can't have God's plan happen in our lives when we are separated from Him. Our sin comes between us and God. It separates us from His plan for us. God made a way for us to be forgiven. God made a way to forgive us, save us from everlasting punishment and receive His plan for our lives. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be punished for our sins.
This is where the mas story begins for us John 1:1-3, 14 ESV 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Matthew 1:18-21, 24 18 This is how the birth of Jesus came about: His mother Mary was pledged Page 6 to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, a because he will save his people from their sins. It s the reality that God has taken on human flesh, been born as one of us, like us in all things except sin. We ians believe that in Jesus, the human and the divine are brought together, they are simultaneous realities. It was part of God s plan and purpose that He should experience life as we experience it being born as a child, living and growing as a human child, knowing all our wonder and fear and joy.
Jesus came into the world as our kinsmen to redeem us back to God. The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or in need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues or redeems property or person. To redeem is defined as buy something back. Through this redemption we now have access and fellowship with God Himself. Page 7 What was the price for our redemption? Jesus took upon himself our punishment which was death. Romans 5:8 NIV 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, died for us. 6 God gave His Son as the free gift of salvation, reconciliation, the only way to bridge the gap which sin created between man and God. He did this even while we continued to sin against Him. In celebrating Jesus birth at mas what are we are actually celebrating? Jesus main purpose for coming was To die for our sins! So in essence we are celebrating Jesus death! Wow Sounds pretty harsh when put it that way. 6 The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Let me put it another way We are celebrating God s love for us. Romans 5:8 NIV 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, died for us Page 8 What is mas about? God s Love for us! John 3:16 ESV 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to take our deserved punishment upon himself so we would not be judged by God for our sins and so that we could enjoy a personal and intimate relationship with God the Father. mas is the celebration of the birth of the savior of the world. Why have we allowed ourselves to deceived into celebrating everything but what mas is really about? We need to celebrate the birth of. We do this by telling people the good news---the complete and real story The Gospel Message. We must share the greatest gift that can be shared -- Romans 6:23 NLT
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus our Lord. The real gift of mas isn t something we put on a wish list or under the tree. When it s all said and done, when the food has been consumed, the parties are over, and the tree goes out on the curb for the garbage truck, it s not about mas presents. It s about s presence in our lives. mas is not about giving a gift as much as it is about receiving the gift of eternal life. Page 9 When someone offers you a gift, all you need to do is take it and open it. His wonderful presence can be yours right now, and forever. Do you want to receive that free gift today???? As believers we need to be reminded the real reason for mas is the gift we have received from God, so we need to give back to Him worship and a life centered on Him.