Thoughts from Pastor Stan

Sermon Notes

We Need Christmas because of Turkish Delight

Because of Turkish Delight we need Atonement

OR

Without Christmas there is no Easter

Without Easter there is no Christmas

HANDEL’S MESSIAH “For Unto Us”

(Words from Isaiah 9:6)

For unto us a child is born,

Unto us a son is given

Unto us a son is given.

and the government shall be upon His shoulders;

QUESTION: Who is “US”?

ISAIAH

“US” would have been the Hebrew (Jewish) people.

HANDEL most likely would have considered all of us

INTRO

Christmas can be a scary time of the year. It has things that can break.

QUESTION: What are some of the things that can break.

It has to do with those decorations. The ones you put on the tree. There are some you can break and others you can’t. There are some that you should know where they came from, whom they came from, and what significance they have.

Then there is the Nativity sets. We have lots. we like nativity sets. some i remember where they came from and others i don’t. an interesting phenomenon with nativity sets.

they have animals. so, at the birth “room” of Jesus where animals. Now when Aaron and Rachel where born, the last thing i wanted to have in the birth room where animals. Get that cow or sheep out of here.

Yet, our nativity sets have sheep and cows; but we also have some that have camels. Why camels? Was there a camel there? Mary rode a donkey not a camel, the shepherds did not ride camels, why camels? Oh yes, the magi rode camels.

Did I mention Christmas is a scary time of year. and we’re not suppose to break things. Well, here goes, you all know, camels weren’t there because the wise men weren’t at the birth of Christ. Did you hear, crack went the sound of broken tradition.

THUS, if you want a historically accurate nativity set, put the wise men in the next room. And oh yeah, we have a couple of sets with pigs.....wrong!

The breaking of tradition is like Scrooge and his response to christmas, “Bah-humbug”

an, oh yeah,

INTRO

Christmas can be a scary time of year.

CHRISTMAS IS NOT A “HIGH HOLIDAY” (“BAH HUMBUG!”)

EPIPHANY (January 6) is “more” important (High Holiday)

The Church in the West celebrated Epiphany (Jan 6) before Christmas

The Methodist Church began on December 25 (not today! - it’s closed)

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF CHRISTMAS: RELATIONSHIPS

INTRO

Purpose of life: relationship

Greatest purpose: Relationship with God (Love)

2nd Greatest purpose: Relationship with others (Love)

SITUATION

Relationships can deteriorate due to the breaking of the rules of relationship.

QUESTION: What are the rules of relationship?

(each of us is different)

It is imperative within the relationship to agree upon the rules.

SUGGESTION: Don’t ask the other what are the rules of relationship

They might think you odd.

PROBLEM: Violate one of the rules: you’re dead meat

IMPLICATION: If we have rules for our relationship with each other,

Are there rules for relationship with God?

We certainly have rules for God: Theodicy

(how can let that happen?)

PROBLEM

How to restore/reconcile the relationship?

What is required (given that each of us is different)?

RESTITUTION?

If we break a rule, is there restitution?

ANSWER: That’s why God made flowers

Two Weeks Ago (1st Sunday of Advent)

Theme: Luke 2:10 “The Angel said, Behold I bring you good news of a great joy?” What is this good news of a great joy” Why is a baby born and placed in a manger, “good news of a great joy”?

Last Week (2nd Sunday of Advent)

“Turkish Delight” (temptation: the first step in breaking the rules of relationship)

Question: Why do we really need Christmas?

This Week

FOCUS: Edmund breaks the rules of relationship: betrayal (willing to hand over (sacrifice) his brother and sisters for more Turkish Delight and a shot at the throne)

the purpose of Christmas - we need a Savior

NARNIA

LAST WEEK

Lucy while playing Hide n’ Seek enters into a new land called Narnia by attempting to hide in the back of a wardrobe closet that miraculously becomes a portal to a new land called Narnia. She meets a new creature named Mr. Tumnus that informs her that in Narnia, “it is always winter, never christmas” because of the curse of the witch of Narnia.

THIS WEEK

The LION Aslan (Turkish for Lion)(Christ)

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 4 (description of Heaven)

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagleI

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 5:6

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

Intro to Clip

Edmund was captured by the Queen. His foolishness and his attempt caused him to be captured by the Queen. He was later rescued. and in this clip, the Queen enters Aslan’s (Christ) camp for what is rightfully hers, Edmund.

NOTE: It is easier to understand this moment with the concept of we are slave to sin

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6: 5 - 7

5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Or, Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody.”

In this scene, imagine that you are Edmund and this whole scene is unfolding because you betrayed your brother and sisters.

CLIP (1:31:46 - 1:33:48)

Edmund breaks the rule of relationship (betrayal: Turkish Delight)

Witch cuts deal with Aslan

Aslan surrenders himself

QUESTION: What does this have to do with Christmas?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

This story only appears in Matthew. Ch 1 is genealogy (gentiles included)

There are three characters: Jesus; Magi; and Herod

Listen for important words/events

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2

1 AFTER Jesus was born in BETHLEHEM in Judea,

AFTER (not during, or when)

Thus say Scrooge, “Humbug.” That’s how I feel every Christmas when i remind us that the Wise men did not appear at the stable on the night of the birth of Jesus. Oh well. I still like the imagery.

BETHLEHEM

a small village south of Jerusalem

Rachel buried

Ruth met Boaz (line of David)

Anticipated birth place of the Messiah

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."

John 7:42 others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?"

during the time of King Herod, MAGI from the EAST came to Jerusalem

MAGI

Not Kings or wise men, but magi.

Not three (3 gifts), an unknown number.

What is a magi?

Magi is the root for magi(cian). Astrologers? Zoroastrian? Persian?

POINT: They are gentiles, they represent pagans

In other words, they are “new agers from Ojai.”

EAST

Iraq (Babylon/Persia)

QUESTION: How far are people willing to travel to worship Jesus?

2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

NOTE: Magi’s only line

STAR (messenger/angel)

The wise men followed the star (comet, jupiter and Saturn, UFO, Numbers 24 (Magi may have received info):17; etc.)

Whatever it was, it was spectacular enough for them to follow a great distance. They were willing to “give-up” to follow the star and where it will take them.

QUESTION: Do you know anybody who is willing to “give-up” and follow a “star” no matter where it will take them?

OBSERVATION: lots of folks follow a “star” be it a movie star, fad, or some kind of thing that promises them a “new life” and identity.

HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM

This is their goal. They know their goal at “christmas.”

QUESTION: What is our goal this Christmas?

EAST

Babylon (Persia/Iraq)

3 When KING HEROD heard this he was DISTURBED, and all Jerusalem with him.

KING HEROD (reign 37 - 4 B.C.)

Herod the Great known for (positive and negative): a descendant of the Edomites (Esau). Ruthless. Building Projects (some for the benefit of the people). Rebuilt the temple (Herod’s Temple).

DISTURBED

Herod saw Jesus as a threat

QUESTION: Is Herod alone? Do others see Jesus as a threat?

4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

NOTE: Scribes, etc. Knew where Jesus was going to be born and yet did not go. These folks missed Christmas

5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."

OBSERVATION

Magi followed the Star to Jerusalem (creation)

From Jerusalem, Magi followed Scripture to Bethlehem (Scripture)

POINT

an example of how far natural revelation/theology can take someone, and then revealed (biblical) revelation/theology takes them to Jesus (Aquinas, etc.)

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

WORSHIP HIM

QUESTION: Do you believe, Herod intends on “worship him”?

(Duplicity of Herod) (others?)

POINT: King Herod is king, there is only room for one king

Same way in our lives, there is only room for one king/Lord

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:24

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

TENSION (between Jesus and the World)

SCRIPTURE: (v9)

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the STAR,

STAR

The wise men were obedient to a star.

10b they were OVERJOYED. 11 On coming to the HOUSE,

HOUSE (this is Greek for stable; just kidding) not stable

Break goes another tradition of Christmas

Herod will order not infants, but under 2 to be killed.

b they SAW THE CHILD with his mother MARY,

SAW THE CHILD

There eyes perceived a child; their minds perceived a king

MARY

QUESTION: Where’s Joseph?

c and they BOWED DOWN and WORSHIPPED him.

BOWED DOWN

Eastern custom of obeisance (signifying homage/submission/worship)

WORSHIPPED

QUESTION: Magi worshipped Jesus, who we worship; is it essential?

OBSERVATION

Magi had Faith; Herod did not

Magi were outsiders; Herod was an insider

Herod represents the present state of sin

Magi represent the state of grace (our potential)

Magi coming with worship in their heart;

Herod coming with murder in his heart

Magi with faith

Herod with rebellion

Magi “overjoyed/rejoiced”

Herod “disturbed”

POINT

There’s a little Herod in us and there’s hopefully more Magi in us.

Examples: someone is threatening to take our job

someone is attempting to reduce our power

IRONY

Magi (only in Matthew) look like the good guys; even though they would be considered the bad guys in the historical context. They represent gentiles.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:19 - 20

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

POINT

LUKE 20:10 “...good news of great joy...” is FOR UNTO US (all).

“Jesus then was manifested neither to the learned nor the righteous; for ignorance belongeth to the shepherds (Luke); impiety to the idolatrous Magi (Matthew) Augustine

Notice what their gifts convey

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

GIFTS (several places in OT - the King shall receive gifts from representatives of other countries)

POINT: The king is the king of all the world (gentiles included)

Blessing for all nations and not just Israel

Psalm 72: 10 - 11

May the king of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him...May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

GOLD and of INCENSE and of MYRRH

I sometimes wonder what I would have brought to the baby Jesus?

QUESTION: What gift would you have brought then and today?

CHRISTMAS HYMN: WE THREE KINGS (traditional symbols)

(V2) GOLD (king)

(V3) (FRANK)INCENSE (deity)

(V4) MYYRPH (suffering)

What is Myrrh?

It is an herb that is used for medicinal purposes as well as for embalming purposes.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 19:39

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of MYRRH and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

POINT: That’s some baby gift

FOR UNTO US ALL (MAGI REPRESENT THE GENTILES)

Handel’s Messiah is a musical way of illustrates the gospel

C.S. Lewis Narnia is a fairy tale way of illustrating the gospel

Interesting both have the same message

NEXT WEEK: Walk to Bethlehem

WRAP YOUR OFFERING

CLOSING (David Downing; “Into the Wardrobe)

1. S. Lewis in (Narnia) The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, at the end of the story; Lucy is heartbroken because she needs to return to earth and leave Aslan behind. Refering to earth, she said “It isn’t Narnia, you know,” she sobs. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”” Aslan responds that she can meet him in her own world under another name: “This was very reason you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”

What is the “other name”?

C.S. Lewis received a letter from a little girl named Hila who asked about Aslan’s other name; he replied that he wanted her to guess:

“Has there ever been anyone in this world who:

1. Arrived at the same time as Father Christmas
2. Said hew was the son of the Great emperor
3. Gave himself up for someone else’s fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people
4. Came to life again
5. is sometimes spoken of as a lamb