Christmas Messaging
According to a legend, Satan and his demons were having a Christmas party. As the demonic guests were departing, one grinned and said to Satan, “Merry Christmas, your majesty.” At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry. If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.”
The word “merry” is not necessarily antithetical to being serious about the real message of Christmas.
If you get the message right, you will be very "merry" and Christmas is all about the right messaging.
The message our culture primarily hears is about all the sights, sounds, tastes, and gifts of Christmas, but from God’s point of view, it is about God’s self-expression.
The apostle John said: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This “Word” (logos) is Jesus. The Hebrews writer reminds us that when Jesus came, it was God speaking “to us in His Son” (Heb. 1:2), and when He returns, His name will be called “the Word of God” (Rev. 19:13).
This is the messaging of Christmas. His words and life are the final and decisive message of God personified and John tells us 3 things in chapter 1, verse 1 about this message:
Jesus is the eternal Word since He existed “in the beginning” and is identified as God’s agent of creation (John 1:3-4).
Jesus is the relational Word as He is “with God” as the Son and second Person of the Trinity.
Jesus is the Divine Word in that He “was God.”
God’s clear and climactic message to the world is Jesus came to witness to the truth (John 18:37) because He is the truth (John 14:6).
Here are just a few things His words and life message to us:
He tells the truth about our problem with sin (John 3:19).
He tells the truth about our need for a spiritual rebirth (John 3:3).
He tells the truth about future personal accountability (John 5:25-30).
He tells the truth about avoiding ultimate judgment (John 5:24).
He tells the truth about a sure hope (John 14:1-3).
He tells the truth about real joy (John 15:11).
He tells the truth about genuine peace (John 16:33).
It's always a "Merry Christmas" when we get the message right and this message is all about Jesus, the Word of God, and the ultimate expression of God to the world. Are you listening, responding, and sharing His transformative message? Let's keep the devil on the run.
Pastor Jeff