Thank you for stopping by and taking to time to watch, listen, or read this week’s message, The Battle for Christmas.
I hope you find encouragement in your faith in Jesus, and maybe even learn something new along the way 🙂
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Recap
In 2001, John Grishom wrote a book entitled “Skipping Christmas.” In 2004, the book was made into a movie entitled “Christmas with the Kranks.” The storyline involves a couple who make the decision to skip Christmas and the ramifications they faced from that decision.
As they were soon to experience, their attempt to cancel Christmas came with much backlash. Through a long list of mishaps, missteps, and difficult situations, the Krank’s end up turning things around for a wonderful Christmas experience.
Like the Krank’s that wanted to skip Christmas, there is one who has attempted, and continues to attempt to stop the Christmas story all together. There was a battle at the coming birth of Jesus, and a battle that still rages on today.
1. The Battle for the Location of the Birth—Luke 2.1-7
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
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God’s plan was to bring the Savior of the world through unexpected ways. His plan included the Child being born of a virgin (Isaiah 7.14) and being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5.2).
The Child was conceived by the work of God. However, when the time for the birth came, Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth in Galilee. So, something had to happen for them to be in Bethlehem for the birth. God uses Caesar Augustus who unknowingly brings about the fulfillment of prophecy. He does so by decreeing that a census be taken of the entire Roman world. This census brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem at the right time for this miracle to take place.
As God was working things out, the enemy was attempting to change the course of events. We do not know the dialogue that took place between Joseph and Mary. At the same time, we can imagine what might have been. One thing we do know is that when they arrived in Bethlehem, there was nowhere for them to stay… except for in a stable.
The enemy may have been wanting to thwart God’s plans during their travels and their lodging, but he could not stop Christmas from taking place.
2. The Battle from Seeking Directions—Matthew 2.1-8
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’”Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
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According to scholars, the Magi were eastern priest-sages who were usually from the area near Babylon. These men were know to look into the mysteries of the universe through astronomy, astrology, and natural sciences.
At this particular time, they followed a star that had appeared in the heavens. When arriving in Jerusalem, they went to the people to ask, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” Their question prompts the current king, King Herod, to seek the answer. Once he receives the answer, he sent the Magi on their way, asking them to return with the news of where they find the child.
By their simple act of asking for directions opened the door for repercussions. Before they arrived in Jerusalem, Herod was unaware of anything that had happened. However, with the news of one being born “King of the Jews,” Herod was concerned about his own kingship. This new king had to be stopped.
Once again, the enemy involved King Herod, and others, to stop the Christmas story from gaining any traction before it even started. But God’s work could not be stopped.
3. The Battle from a Fearful King—Matthew 2.9-15
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
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After the Magi went on their way to Bethlehem, they were given discernment and instructions about King Herod. As a result, they did not go back to him as Herod wanted, but chose to go another route.
At this point, the enemy worked in King Herod to stop God’s plan. When Herod got word that the Magi were not returning, he chose to take things into his own hands. His plan was to massacre all boys under the age of two. It was the enemy’s attempt to stop the Christmas story.
Once again, though, instead of stopping the work of God, Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy (Jeremiah 31.15,22)…
This is what the Lord says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
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The birth of Jesus brought “mourning and great weeping” because of Herod’s decision to kill those children. Even so, the Christmas story could not be stopped.
Then, we read that Joseph received directions in a dream to go to Egypt. Because of Herod’s desire to stop what was happening, another prophecy was fulfilled. Hosea 11.1 reads,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
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So, Herod’s actions sent Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus to escape into Egypt. When the time was right, God would then call His Son out of Egypt to fulfill the prophecies about Him.
The enemy may have been wanting to stop the trajectory of the Christmas story, but God would not allow that to happen… no matter how hard the enemy tried.
4. The Battle Continues
Our understanding and faith is based on the fact that God’s plans were fulfilled in the person of Jesus. There may have been attempts placed upon the participants to cancel the story all together, but God’s plan came to pass.
One thing we must be aware of today concerning the Christmas story, that the battle still rages to stop its progress. We should take some time to consider the Christmas story… what is it, or has it become, about?
The enemy is still fighting to cancel Christmas. For many people, it is a time of year that is all about family, vacations, presents, carols, and parties. We see the impact of consumerism as we experience the chaos that can often be found in retail establishments at this time of year.
Not so long ago, there was a great push to even silence the word “Christmas.” We were to refer to it as the “holiday” season. Instead of Christmas programs, schools were expected to change their events to holiday programs.
So, as we move into the week of Christmas, let us be sure to remember the true meaning behind this time of year. The enemy is still attempting to thwart God’s plans by making Christmas being something other than the birth of the Savior of the world. Many have fallen for his tricks, but Christmas will not be stopped.
Let us be sure to celebrate the true reason of the season and to magnify Christ in all our activities during this time of year.
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Have a Great Day!