Christmas Concert Message
All Scripture references taken from the New Living Translation
When I think of Christmas outside of Jesus… I think of time spent with family…
I think of a few days off work, traveling, relaxing, watching people enjoy life…
But time with family is my favorite part…
And yes, all of it can be stressful… But if we are intentional on looking past all the things that cause stress and tension…
We are sure to see the good things instead of the bad.
With that being said, something I always keep in mind that I have a Savior who wants nothing but the best for me… And this is what keeps me going!
My Favorite Christmas Story
My favorite Christmas story comes from Luke chapter 2 when the shepherds get a visit from an angel, and they go to see the Savior of the world who has just been born in Bethlehem… And it says this about their reaction…
Luke 2:17-18: “After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this Child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.”
Do you see what happened here? An encounter with Jesus changed their lives…
Something happened when they encountered Jesus and they wanted everyone to know about it…
Encounter with Jesus
The thing is… When we have a real encounter with Jesus it changes everything…
And something else that comes with that change is this…
No matter how chaotic life gets… Jesus always has everything under control… Nothing surprises Him!
You see, Jesus changed the world 2,000 years ago when He came into the world to reveal to mankind the Kingdom of God… The love God has for us!
And He is a constant reminder to me that He is the Shepherd who takes care of those who trust in Him
Jesus, the Compassionate Shepherd
Matthew 9:35-36: “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
When Jesus traveled from town-to-town large crowds would gather to hear Him speak… And not only did He heal all sickness and disease…
Jesus was often seen hanging out with the average everyday person… He hung out with the outcasts, and downtrodden, the drug addicts, and homeless…
Jesus restores dignity and hope back in the lives of those who call upon Him…
You see (Matthew 9:36), “When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Jesus saw people as confused and helpless, weary, and scattered, lost and tired….
He did not bring judgment and condemnation… He came to bring help!
I often wonder what He saw when He looked at people…
What did He see when He looked in their eyes… Did He see the weariness on their faces? The confusion of trying to do life on their own…
Because He noticed they were like sheep without a Shepherd.
In the Bible, Jesus is often described as a Shepherd.
He is a Shepherd that tends kindly to His flock…
His flock is anyone who puts their trust in Him.
A shepherd’s flock is his livelihood. A shepherd wouldn’t abuse his flock, he would take care of them and make sure they were guarded and well fed.
This is how Jesus sees people, and it moves Him to have compassion on them!
The thing He cares about the most is to have a relationship with each one of us…
And when we keep our eyes and thoughts on Him…He takes care of all our needs…
And He protects us… Guides us… And leads us through life…
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:12-14: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
Jesus is constantly looking out for us… And when we wander, as some of us are prone to do… He leaves the others to look for the lost sheep… Maybe that’s you!
Often, we think Jesus wants nothing to do with us because we fell into some bad habits… But the reality is, He’s trying to get our attention when that happens…
He’s right there with us in the thick of it all trying to get us to hear His voice…
To recognize His love and compassion that is calling us back into the fold.
The Transforming Power of Jesus
Only Jesus can bring the sanity people are looking for… Only Jesus can bring true freedom… Only Jesus can offer eternal life in heaven!
Revelation 3:20: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
This is what Jesus; the Son of God says to us… He’s only a door knock away!
My all-time favorite quote from Jesus is when He said (Matthew 11:28), “Come to Me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest, I will give you rest for your souls…”
Imagine putting your trust in someone who will take all the baggage you are carrying from life so that you can think clearly and don’t have that weight to carry around anymore.
I wonder if there are people here who could use some supernatural, spiritual rest!
An Invitation to Trust
Only Jesus can breathe life into our spirits and lead us through tough times.
I wonder if there are people here who have walked away from their Shepherd, and you feel as if it’s just you against the world…
You feel like you’ve left the fold and there’s no way to get back in…
Or another group would be those who never had a Shepherd to walk through life with, and you’re thinking, “I like that idea… I need a Savior… I need a Shepherd…”
A Call to Find Your Shepherd
In conclusion, whether you’ve wandered away and feel lost, or you’ve never known the guidance of a Shepherd in your life, the message of Christmas and the story of Jesus is a call to find your way back to the fold. It’s an invitation to discover the love, peace, and guidance that comes from having a relationship with Jesus, our Shepherd.
This Christmas season, as we celebrate with family, enjoy our time off, and partake in the festivities, let’s also remember the profound message of hope and love that Jesus brings into our lives. Let’s open our hearts to the possibility of a life transformed by His grace and compassion.
Embracing the True Spirit of Christmas
As we gather together, share stories, and create memories, let’s also share the joy and peace that comes from knowing Jesus. Let’s spread the message of hope and love that He embodies. This is the true spirit of Christmas – a time of giving, of loving, and of reflecting on the greatest gift ever given to humanity.
So, as we celebrate this festive season, let’s keep our hearts and minds open to the profound truths found in the simple story of a baby born in Bethlehem. A story that changed the world and continues to change lives today.
May this Christmas be a time of joy, peace, and reflection for you and your loved ones. May the story of Jesus inspire you, His love guide you, and His peace fill your hearts. Have a blessed and joyful Christmas!
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The Legend of the Candy Cane
According to the legend of the candy cane, this candy was first created back in the 18th century. In certain areas of Europe, there was a ban on public displays of Christianity. Christians were oppressed, and no Bibles or crosses could be owned. One man, distressed by this oppression, prayed for a way to share the love of Jesus and the joy of Christmas, especially with children who couldn’t enjoy nativity scenes or learn about the true meaning of Christmas.
His answer was the Candy Cane.
Symbolism in the Candy Cane
- The Shepherd’s Staff: He created the candy cane in the shape of a shepherd’s staff, symbolizing Jesus as the shepherd of his followers (Psalm 23:1, John 10:11, John 10:27-30, Isaiah 40:11).
- The Letter J for Jesus: Turned upside down, the candy cane forms a “J,” standing for Jesus (Luke 1:31, Matthew 1:21).
- He is A Rock: The hard candy symbolizes Jesus as our “rock,” dependable and strong (Psalm 31:3).
- By His Stripes: Wide red stripes represent the crucifixion and the blood Jesus shed for our sins.
- Red-His Shed Blood: Through His blood, we are given salvation and life (Revelation 1:5, John 3:16, Luke 22:20).
- White-Purification from Sin: White stripes represent the holiness and purity of Jesus, who was sinless (I John 1:7).
- Sweet Fragrance of Christ: Peppermint, similar to hyssop used in sacrifices, symbolizes the sacrifice Jesus made for us (Psalm 51:7, John 10:29, Matthew 2:11).
- Broken For Us: When eaten and broken, the candy cane reminds us of Jesus’ crucified body (I Cor. 11:24).
- Love of Christ: The candy cane, a gift, represents Jesus’s love in giving us the gift of salvation.
While the authenticity of this legend is uncertain, its message beautifully encapsulates God’s love, especially at Christmas. It’s a way to tell the story of Christmas and a reminder of the real reason we celebrate the season.
The Legend of the Poinsettia
By Stephanie Herbek ©2006 PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
Maria and Pablo lived in a tiny village in Mexico. Christmastime at their house did not include many gifts, so they looked forward to the Christmas festivities at the village church with great joy and anticipation. To honor the birth of Christ, the church displayed a beautiful manger that drew crowds of admirers. Villagers walked miles to admire the manger, bringing lovely, expensive gifts for the Baby Jesus. However, Maria and Pablo felt sad as they watched, having no money to buy gifts for their family or for the Baby Jesus.
One Christmas Eve, as Maria and Pablo walked to the church for that evening’s services, wishing desperately that they had a gift to bring, a soft glowing light shone through the darkness, and the shadowy outline of an angel appeared above them. The angel comforted them and instructed them to pick some of the short green weeds growing by the road. They were to bring these plants to the church and place them near the manger as their gift to the Baby Jesus. After the angel disappeared, leaving Maria and Pablo on the road looking up into the dark sky, they hurried to the church, arms filled with large bunches of the green weeds.
Upon entering the church, many of the villagers turned to stare. As Maria and Pablo began placing the weeds around the manger, some villagers laughed and questioned their actions. Despite feeling embarrassed and ashamed, Maria and Pablo bravely continued placing the plants on the soft hay as they had been instructed.
Suddenly, the dull green leaves of the plants began to turn a beautiful shade of red, surrounding the Baby Jesus with beautiful blooms. The laughing villagers fell silent as they watched the transformation of the green plants into the lovely star-shaped crimson flowers known as poinsettias. Maria and Pablo realized they had no reason to be ashamed anymore; they had given the Baby Jesus the only gift they could, and it was the most beautiful gift of all.
Today, poinsettias are a traditional symbol of Christmas, a testament to the special gifts of young Maria and Pablo to the Baby Jesus.
