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Content type: Sermon Poem / Prayer Service / Tribute Incomplete Biography
Body: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, ??? Sunday, and Cyber Monday. What do we call the Sunday, that comes after Thanksgiving, and falls in between what the world has become to know as the best days of the year to get the big deal! Some years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving would be the First Sunday of Advent, although for the others it is just merely known as the Sunday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I did a little research to see if this 1st day had been named. What I found was. - There is a “Secondhand Sunday”. “The Sunday after Thanksgiving, they celebrate national Secondhand Sunday to embrace secondhand gifting, while supporting secondhand sellers and circular fashion during the peak holiday shopping season.” Not saying that I didn’t miss something, but with my search I found only one other idea for a name for this Lord’s Day, and the more that I thought about this the more I liked it, and the more I embraced the idea. Steve Simms, from “Free Gas for Your Think Tank” suggests; “Reason-For-The-Season-Sunday.” Now, if anyone knows of anything that I am missing here or would like to share your own ideas of what would be a good name, please I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. So, for now we will be calling this day (the 1st, 1st day after the day set aside to give thanks to God) Reason-For-The-Season-Sunday. John 1:1-14 King James Version **1**In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. **2**The same was in the beginning with God. **3**All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. **4**In him was life; and the life was the light of men. **5**And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. **6**There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. **7**The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. **8**He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. **9**That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. **10**He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. **11**He came unto his own, and his own received him not. **12**But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: **13**Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. **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. We are entering one of the most amazing seasons of the entire year. This is supposed to be a season of joy and celebration. We seem to welcome the hustle and bustle that comes with this highly commercialized season, although for some this season isn’t filled with joy and celebration but instead with pain and frustration. Some seem to have it all together but below the surface is the frustration and aggravation of trying to live up to the standard of having everything all together, but inside they are falling apart. There are those that don’t appear to have anything together because of a loss of a job or a loved one. It is so easy to get caught up in welcoming the season we forget to welcome the reason for the season. It is very easy to welcome the season and all its wrappings. The decorations and presents, the celebrations and gatherings. How do we survive the days leading up to the Christmas celebration? We make sure we welcome Jesus into our preparations and celebrations. Even if the Christmas season isn’t your favorite, we can make this season full of hope and joy instead of pain and stress. We find in the gospel of John the deep thoughts of a philosopher that teach the simple truths about welcoming Jesus. The people in John’s Day were distracted by politics and economics, struggles for power and poverty. Into this season of the world comes God in the flesh. The world ignored Him. It’s not as if God wasn’t involved in the world. John 1.10 “He was in the world.” The conception and birth of Jesus make very clear the desire of God to be involved in the world He created. He was not far removed He indeed wanted to be God with us in Jesus. God went to extraordinary lengths to step into the world He created. What great love God has, to step into the chaos and suffering of man! A) Jesus came to be involved in our daily lives The greatest truth of history is that Jesus came into the world. History hinges on this event, the birth of God into the world. He wants to be Immanuel, God with us. He wants to comfort us in our pain, calm us in our chaotic moments, encourage us in our fear, strengthen us in our weakness and bear our burdens. The answer to the burdens and barriers of their life was right before them and they ignored Him. Today the same is true. The answer to the pains and problems of the heart are found in Jesus yet still His forgiveness and presence are ignored. B) Jesus came to intervene in our sinful lives 1:9 tells us “The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” What does light do? Light reveals, Jesus reveals our great need for a savior to pay the penalty of our sin before a holy God. Light enlightens, it enlarges our vision and knowledge of God. Light reveals, it makes clear what is important in life. Light exposes the darkness in our life and then defeats it. Light reveals the way between right and wrong. Light warns of danger and lights our way to keep us from tripping and falling. He clearly revealed himself as from God to intervene on our behalf. The greatest tragedy of history is that the world didn’t and still doesn’t recognize Him. His completely natural birth makes clear that He was completely man, He was God in the flesh. God with us! Jesus walked, hungered, got tired, slept, and wept. He was completely man but also completely God. He spoke to the winds and waves, and they obeyed Him. He spoke to the dead, and they came to life. He touched the sick and they were healed. He has power over life and death. The people of the day were too busy to recognize who Jesus was. People were involved in the business of life. They were caught up in the political, economic, and social chaos of the day. Survival was their main focus and Jesus came to reveal their main struggle was with sin not each other, or the politics, or the economics of the day. Not much has changed today. The Christmas season comes, trees are decorated, lights are hung, carols are sung, and Jesus is ignored. People are so busy with the season; with their struggles and pain they miss the light. The leaders of the day were desperately seeking to keep the status quo, keeping everything the same, not wanting to shake things up with Rome or the people. They didn’t want their system or status to change. They continued their celebrations while not welcoming the light of the world. When you welcome Jesus everything changes!! Only the shepherds and the wise men, the poor and the foreigners welcomed Him. Simeon and Anna the old welcomed and announced Him. Tis the season to welcome Jesus, we need to roll out the welcome mat and invite Jesus to come in and stay! For some people, this is the time when the Nativity comes out. And with-it disagreements about how the figures are to be arranged. Billy and his brother Bobby were having an argument about how the figures in the nativity should be arranged. Billy, who was older, was trying to impress upon Bobby that everybody needs to be in a straight line in front of Jesus. Of course, Bobby argued that was wrong. He said, “They need to be in a circle around him.” This went on for a while, with each taking his turn explaining his reasoning while rearranging the figures. Finally, Bobby had had enough. He said with a voice full of conviction, “Billy, everyone needs to be in a circle around baby Jesus so they can ALL see him. HE IS THE LORD!” Where is our focus today? Are we standing in a circle so we can ALL have a clear view of Jesus? Or are we standing in lines buying stuff? Are we focusing on Jesus? Or are we focusing on cookies, carols, and presents from Santa? Illustration: In a B.C. Comic strip: One ant said, "Dad, who is Jesus?" The father ant replied, "He’s the reason for the season. The next panel says, "But Dad I thought Santa Claus was the reason. And the father ant replies, "He is-if you prefer Play Station 5 instead of everlasting life." In the Christmas display window of one of the largest department stores in San Francisco are the following words: What is Christmas? Christmas is wide-eyed children; fairyland magic; age-old music; and good will in the hearts of men. Is that all there is? Two women stopped in front of another store window at Christmastime. In the middle of all the merchandise was a small Nativity scene. And one woman said to the other, “Would you just look at that. Even the church is trying to horn in on Christmastime”. A similar sentiment is expressed by the comment, “Most of the Christmas songs are too theological.” Well, Christmas was a rather theological affair, wasn’t it?” Jesus IS the reason for the season! Most of you would agree that we all have too much going on at this time of the year. Shopping, baking, decorating, the Christmas programs, addressing Christmas cards, buying, and wrapping presents, and the list continues to grow, but we must slow down and remember the reason. Slow down and think about what we really need. What do we really need? If our greatest need were money, God would have sent us a banker. If our greatest need were knowledge, God would have sent us a teacher. If our greatest need were wisdom, God would have sent us a philosopher. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Redeemer. It’s the reality that we all needed a savior because our sin is real, and it separates us from the life that God wants us to have. We need to receive the greatest gift, Jesus. Receiving Jesus means that we lay aside our political, economic and life plans and welcome Him in as He is, savior, master, King. Receiving Him isn’t limited to worship services and singing songs. We don’t receive Jesus to become more religious we receive Jesus to become more relational with Him! St Irenaeus, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” When we welcome Jesus into our lives, we turn over our schedules, wallets, time, resources, and our very breath to Him! If he comes as savior, we welcome His salvation. If he comes as leader, we welcome His leadership. If he comes to you as a provider, you welcome His provision. If he comes to you as counselor, you will welcome His counsel. If he comes to you as protector, you welcome His protection. If He comes to you as authority, you welcome His authority. If He comes to you as king, you welcome His rule! So, we have a responsibility to respond to God’s greatest gift in Jesus! We begin spending time in prayer seeking His wisdom and direction. Believing all that God says about Jesus, Savior, Lord, and all that He says about us, sinner, separated, sentenced we become receivers of His grace. Here is a clear teaching of the Bible. Not everyone is a child of God. Everyone is a creation of God but only those that believe and receive Him are given the right to become His children. Have you put the welcome mat out for Jesus? 1) In the crazy demands of this season remember – Welcome Jesus 2) In the crazy demands of this season remember – Be realistic and enjoy things as they come. 3) In the crazy demands of the season remember – Be alert. God can enter your daily routine when you least expect it. 4) In the crazy demands of the season remember – Jesus is The Reason for the Season! Christmas was God’s plan to bridge the gap between Him and us. He didn’t have to; he chose to; he wanted to. He took the measures necessary to restore our love and our relationship. He never merely said, “I love you”. He proved it when he put on skin and bones and then nailed it to the cross. God passionately loves US. God is committed to his love for US!” When Christmas overwhelms you take a “time out” and sit quietly to be reminded of The Reason for the Season. How different our world would be if the spirit of Christmas lived 365 days a year. Maybe as we try to live the message, others will catch the spirit and discover The Reason for the Season and come into the ultimate, a relationship with God. Amen!
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