Darkest Night  

Brethren, we are privileged to know the true and accurate narrative of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Scriptures.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."  (Matthew 1:18)

The world has adopted an entire set of false representations about the birth of Jesus which they refer to as "Christmas". About this time every year, one of the greatest deceptions ever foisted on mankind, takes place.  Why have men chosen the coldest and darkest part of the year for their revelry?  The apostle John gives us the answer:

"This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world [Jesus Christ], and men loveddarkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."  (John 3:19)

The well known December 25 celebration of Christmas has its origin in the pagan festival of Saturnalia.  It is not simply the wrong timing of the birth of Jesus, or the incorrect number of wise men which makes Christmas detrimental to the true Faith.  It is the fact that Christmas has nothing at all to do with what God is accomplishing in true Christians.

Even the Roman Catholics know that Christmas was not practiced by Jesus, His apostles, or the New Testament Christians.  Notice the admission in the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition:

"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church...the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt."  (emphasis mine)

Indeed, it is not only the so called "Christian" countries that celebrate Christmas.  A quick search on the internet reveals that most non-Christian nations put up "Christmas Trees" and celebrate the pagan season.  Study our current economic trend and you will find how much the atheistic, heathen Chinese profit from Christmas.  China is a nation that does not acknowledge the God of Abraham.  In the end, the reality is that the ones who benefit most from Christmas are the Chinese manufacturers who make most of the toys and electronic gifts.  Who else makes all the strings of colored lights and decorations hanging on homes and in shopping malls?  Or, packed in holiday boxes in stores for the family Christmas tree!  The Chinese indeed certainly celebrate Christmas!

What exactly is wrong with Christmas?  What is the problem with the celebration of Christmas?  The entire world thinks Christmas is a pretty good idea!  Shouldn't Christians, "Keep Christ in Christmas"?  Isn't Jesus the "Reason for the season"?  Don't the beautiful lights, decorations and music stir some of the fondest memories of youth?  As the song says, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"  Christmas can not be wrong – can it?  The answers may surprise us.

Why do so many people keep Christmas?  Jesus Christ was born nowhere near December 25th.  Therefore, Christmas in no way commemorates the birth of the Savior of the world.  In fact, Christmas is presented to children with lies about Santa Clause and flying reindeer.  Tying the story of His birth to lies and fantasies is a deplorable way to introduce a child to Jesus Christ.  The problem is that it is a false picture of Jesus Christ.  Jesus never intended to be depicted in that way.  Christmas presents an image of God that is not correct.  Search the Bible through and through, and you will find no mention of Christmas – it is not there!  Search the library, and you will find that Christmas was celebrated, not by Christians but by pagans, centuries before Jesus Christ was born.

What is the real meaning and importance of the birth of Jesus.  Why was His birth prophesied?  Why was Jesus born?  Why did our Savior come to this earth?  You can know the truth about Jesus' miraculous birth, but you will not find it in Christmas.  You can begin to find the true details of the birth of Jesus Christ, however, in the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke.

Jesus was born humbly in the flesh – but not for the purpose of being worshiped as a little baby (1 John 4:3).  The incarnation of Jesus, His life without sin, and His resurrection have made possible our salvation.  Immanuel means, "God with us."  Jesus Christ is the glorious and all powerful God of the universe. 

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Sermon:  "Darkest Night"
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