"THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS”
JOHN 1:1, 14; 3:16
INTRO: What does Christmas mean to you? It should not merely mean
Christmas trees, carols, giving of gifts, and gathering of family and
loved ones. It means OH SO MUCH MORE!! I want to share with you
something someone recently sent to me by e-mail. It is called, “Mary’s
Dream”:
I had a dream, Joseph. I don't understand it, not really, but
I think it was about a birthday celebration for our son. I think that
was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for
about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new
clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts.
It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren't for our son.
They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows
and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their
house. They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of
glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top
of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful.
Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the
gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our son. I don't
think they even knew him. They never mentioned his name. Doesn't it
seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone's
birthday if they don't know him? I had the strangest feeling that if our
son had gone to this celebration he would have been intruding.
Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer,
but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus - not to be wanted at
his own birthday celebration. I'm glad it was only a dream. How
terrible, Joseph, if it had been real. Sadly, in too many homes today
that dream of Mary’s is real. Christ is not even mentioned nor ever
thought of. But what does Christmas truly mean?
The word "Christmas" is a combination of two words. The first "Christ"
meaning "Messiah or anointed One." The other "mas" meaning "sent".
Thus the word "Christmas" means "The Messiah is sent." That was
the angel's pronouncement in Luke 2:11—“"For unto you this day in
the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." One of the
greatest announcements ever made was made on that day because it
spelled the coming of One born "to take away the sin of the world!"
Someone has described it this way: "Christmas is when God came
down the stairs of heaven with a baby in His arms." (Albert M. Wells,
Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. P. 39). "The
cuddly, cooing infant in the manger may evoke warm feelings and
sentimental thoughts at Christmas time. But the Man of Galilee has
a message and a mission which we dare not lose in an ocean of
wrapping paper. " (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring QuotationsContemporary & Classical. P. 37).
Jesus said, "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which
was lost." (Luke 19:10). But the greatest aspect of Christ's coming to
this world of ours is His Incarnation. The word "incarnation" means
"the act of taking on a human body." God actually became man! 1
Timothy 3:16 tells us—“And without controversy great is the mystery
of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen
of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and
received up into glory."
The true meaning of Christmas is found in the birth of Jesus, the One
who came to save men from their sins! I want us to see in the
message today why Christ's Incarnation was so important to
mankind! I want you to note four things this morning:
(1) JESUS CHRIST BECAME FLESH
JOHN 1:14—“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and
we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.”
A. THE CONCEPT OF THE FLESH. The word “concept” means “idea, plan,
design.” Our English word "flesh" used here is translated from a Greek
word that means—“the substance of man." Paul used it to describe man's
nature with all its weaknesses and tendencies to sin. What a staggering
thought. Jesus Christ is fully God, yet Jesus Christ is full man.
What does the BIBLE mean by "flesh"? And why did Jesus Christ have to
become flesh?
ILLUS: One wintry day a Christian was walking down a street and noticed
some grain on the ground. A flock of hungry sparrows were having
an unscheduled feast. As the man took a step toward the birds,
they became uneasy. Another step, and their nervousness
increased. When he was almost on them they suddenly flew away.
For a few moments the man stood and wandered what had
happened. Why had those sparrows scattered in flight? He meant
no harm. But then he realized that he was too big. Another
question came to mind: How could he walk among those birds
without frightening them by his size. Only if it were possible for him
to become a sparrow and fly down among them.
In the OT, God appeared to people in many ways, yet they were
afraid because of God's awesomeness. God became man so that
man would not be afraid to draw near to God. That is why God sent
His son in the form of a baby. Christ's birth brought infinite God
within reach of finite man. (Paul R. VanGorder. Our Daily Bread.
Volume 37, Number 9. December 24, 1992).
B. THE CHARACTER OF THE FLESH. The Scripture tells us that Christ
became flesh! The best description of flesh is found in 1 Corinthians
15:42-44, it tells us there:
1. THE FLESH IS CORRUPTIBLE. The word “corruptible” means “capable of
being corrupted.” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 1, AM. p. 144). This means that:

The flesh is tainted, debased, ruined, and depraved by sin. There is a
seed of corruption within human flesh, the flesh sins and thereby ages,

dies, deteriorates and decays. (Romans 5:12; Galatians 6:8; 1
Corinthians 15:50).
Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the corruption of the flesh.
2 Peter 1:4 tells us one of the great benefits of being saved by the grace
of God—“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” In John 3:16 we
see the word "perish" it is translated from a Greek word that means
“Marred, polluted, in the process of dying or decaying." Man without God
is dead while he liveth! (Romans 6:23a).
2. THE FLESH IS DISHONORABLE. When something is said to be
dishonorable it means that it lacks honor and character. This is surely true
of the sinful flesh of man. Consider:


The flesh is not what God created it to be. It does not exist in the
image of God that God intended. It does not hold the glory, nor honor it
did when God created it. It is disgraced and shamed, and it is
reproached by sin and lust. It is held in the grip of sin and fear, and
subject to being held in bondage! Paul wrote in Romans 7:18; 8:5-6—
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to
will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not…For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Someone
said, "The old nature knows no law...” (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring
Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 173).
Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the dishonor of the
flesh (Ephesians 2:1-7). Man can not be made over or refined, He must
be made anew! That's what Christ did for us! (2 Corinthians 5:17).
3. THE FLESH IS WEAK. Someone has rightly pointed out: “We ought not
trust our nature, our flesh, no matter how spiritual we think we are.” (Jim
Smith, Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 1). Why is this true? It is true because:


The flesh is impotent. It is feeble, frail, and infirmed because of sin. It
has no strength to please God nor save itself! (Romans 8:8: John 6:63).
Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the weakness of the
flesh. (Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 5:6; 8:3).
4. THE FLESH IS A NATURAL BODY. When something is natural it means it
is derived from the earth.

The flesh is of the earth and is part of the earth (Genesis 2:7). It is
neither spiritual nor spirit, thus it cannot live beyond the strength of the
chemicals that form it. It cannot live beyond its natural life! We read in
1 Corinthians 15:50—“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption.” Back in 1 Corinthians 15:44, 49 we read—“It is sown a
natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and
there is a spiritual body…And as we have borne the image of the earthy,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

Jesus Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the natural
body of flesh. He became flesh in order to become a "quickening spirit,"
the Savior who could quicken and make alive all those who trust in Him!
We read in 1 Corinthians 15:45—“And so it is written, The first man
Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening
spirit.” By His death, He brought us life! (John 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18).
(2) JESUS CHRIST BECAME FLESH TO DIE FOR OUR SINS
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8—“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
HEBREWS 2:9—“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the
angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;
that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
A. THE MEANING OF THE INCARNATION. Our Saviour was “made in the
likeness of men…and…found in fashion as a man.” It is said that one-fifth
of the world's population watched the television broadcast of the first man
setting foot on the moon. This was an incredible achievement which is still
difficult to believe. Something even more astonishing happened, however,
when God set foot on earth. When Jesus brought God's secret to this earth
it was a divine visitation. Jesus Christ became man for one purpose, that
He might put away sin and bring that human race back into the oneness of
identification, that man might stand before Him as he was created to do,
the friend and lover of God Himself. -Oswald Chambers (Bible Illustrator For
Windows. Version 3.0f. Copyright 1990-1998. Parsons Technology, Inc. All
Rights Reserved).
B. THE MESSAGE OF THE INCARNATION. The “death of the cross”—that
was the whole purpose of His incarnation so that He could die for man's
sins! (1 John 3:5). He was born to die! The cradle was just one step, one
prelude He must take on His way to the Cross! We are told in Matthew
1:21—“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.”
ILLUS: The Baby was made known to the Shepherds-the working class; to the
wise men-the student class; to Simeon and Anna-the worshipping
class. He is still made known to us in our work, study, and our
worship. But somehow His coming is still lost in vague mistaken
notions about "Peace on earth, Goodwill to men." The average
Christmas card does not come near suggesting what He really came to
do! He came to save us from our sins and now, centuries later, we still
will not admit that our real trouble in sin!
Poverty, ignorance, yes, but not sin. Does anybody dare suggest to
Congress or to the United Nations that this is the root of all our
trouble? Something was done about sin at Bethlehem long ago. Until
we face that, all the pretty pictures of watching shepherds and singing
angels and the Magi and Joseph and Mary wearing halos are just
window dressing for an empty window.
All the celebration of the Nativity is a waste of time unless and until
the Savior is born in our hearts. That calls for a miracle. Sin has
gotten us into more trouble than all our science can get us out of. It
calls for Divine intervention and that is what happened in Bethlehem.
(Vance Havner. The Vance Havner Notebook. Pp. 171-172).
The True Meaning of Christmas is: JESUS CHRIST BECAME FLESH, JESUS
CHRIST BECAME FLESH TO DIE FOR OUR SINS and…
(3) JESUS CHRIST BECAME FLESH TO DIE FOR OUR SINS AND RISE
AGAIN
LUKE 9:22—“…The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected
of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be
raised the third day.”
A. THE IMPERATIVE. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was just as much a
necessity as the incarnation! I want you to notice those words there in
Luke 9:22—“…The Son of man must suffer many things…be slain, and be
raised the third day.” An important word here is must. This isn't just a
plan or an idea or a prediction; this is the fulfillment of what was planned
before the world began for our salvation (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8).
But the resurrection was as much a must as any other aspect of His
suffering; Jesus had to rise from the dead. (David Guzik. Guzik
Commentary. e-Sword. Version 7.8.5. Copyright 2000-2007. Rick Meyers.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide).
B. THE IMPORTANCE. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
the importance of Christ's Resurrection:




If Christ be
also (v14).
If Christ be
If Christ be
(v18).
If Christ be
not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is vain
not risen, you faith is vain, and ye are yet in your sins (v17).
not risen, those who have died with faith in Him are perished
not risen, we are of all ....... men most miserable (v19).
But He did arise! (Mark 16:2-6). And He is our Intercessor and Advocate
before God the Father! (Hebrews 7:25).
(4) CHRIST BECAME FLESH TO DIE FOR OUR SINS AND RISE AGAIN AND
IS SOON COMING BACK FOR HIS OWN!
1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-18—“For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
REVELATION 22:12—“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is
with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
A. WE WILL BE RECEIVED. That Baby born in a manger in Bethlehem who
died for all man's sins; who rose the third day as He said He would; is
coming soon and very soon to take His people home to be with Him! (1
Corinthians 15:51-53).
B. WE WILL BE REWARDED. Someone has said, "It is the quality of a man's
life which provides the ultimate indication of what he really believes."
(Mounce) (David Guzik. Guzik Commentary. e-Sword. Version 7.8.5.
Copyright 2000-2007. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide). Our
eternal reward reflects the amount of God's glory that we have allowed to
shine through us. It is like a chandelier that has many light bulbs, some
25 watt, some 50 watt, and some 100 watt. The light bulbs as a whole all
give and contribute light on the room. That's the way it will be in heaven,
but some of us will be contributing only 25 watts, others 50 watts and still
others a full 100 watts. How much of God's light do you want to shine
through you?
CLOSING: The question is, “Have you accepted God's gift?” If not, Christmas
is not a reality for you! To understand "The True Meaning of
Christmas," we must have Jesus Christ in our hearts! Do you
know Him today?
Brother, sister, all of us who have Christ have something very
special we can give to those around us that are lost. That gift is
Jesus! Will you share God's gift with others this Christmas?
PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, BEECHMONT, KY
FOR SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 23, 2007.
NOTE: PREACHED AT: CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, TRUMANN, AR (12-17-95)
MEADOWSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, PITTSBURG, KS (12-19-99)