Have you ever missed something really important? For some maybe it was a birthday or anniversary. For others maybe it was an important appointment. When that happens to me I just feel sick inside.
I often wonder what Thomas must have felt when he missed coming to church on Sunday evening, and discovered that the resurrected Jesus had come and he had missed it. I know he doubted the report of the other disciples, but I wonder if a lot of that was he just didn't want to think that he had missed something that was so important.
When I was a little boy, I missed a Thanksgiving with my family because I was in the hospital recovering from surgery. While in the Navy, I missed a Christmas with my wife and little boy. Those are lonely and sad memories for me. Missing Christmas! What could be worse than that? What could be more sad? And yet…
There will be many who will miss Christmas this year. I am not talking about the men and women who are serving in the military. And I am not talking about the many folks who will be restricted to a hospital bed. I am talking about healthy people who will go through the motions of some sort of celebration, but they will do it in ignorance of what Christmas is all about.
It might seem a ridiculous thought to us. How could people here in America miss Christmas? We have been bombarded with Christmas advertising since October. Still most people miss Christmas. They may observe the season because culture says it's the right thing to do, but most people are totally oblivious to the reality of what they are celebrating.
Have you considered the message of most greeting cards? They are so generic and politically correct that you would be led to believe that Christmas has nothing to do with Christ! Well it is really nothing new. Let me remind you of some folks in the Bible who missed the first Christmas. As we consider them we will see how their spirit lives on in the hearts and lives of many today that continue to miss what Christmas is all about.
I. The Innkeeper: the Spirit of Busyness (Lk. 2:7)
Lu 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
A. We Don't Know His Name
1. The Scripture doesn't specifically mention him, but that night in Bethlehem, a young man and his pregnant wife confronted an innkeeper.
2. He turned them away saying he no room for them, and so he missed the first Christmas.
B. This was an set of circumstances.
1. This was not typical of the Jewish culture.
2. It would be highly unusual for a woman who was about to give birth to be turned away with no offer of assistance, and yet that is exactly what happened.
3. Where there would usually be a midwife there to assist; Mary was there alone.
4. Where usually someone would take the baby and clean it and wrap it in a blanket; Mary took Jesus and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, which were nothing more than rags!
5. Where there would have usually been a cradle or crib to place the newborn; Mary had to use an animal's feeding trough.
C. The Innkeeper Missed Christmas because He was Preoccupied.
1. It was census time in Bethlehem and every living descendent of David had to be there.
2. The town was crowded, th e innkeeper was busy.
3. Not hostile or even unsympathetic; just busy, that's all
4. Exactly like millions of people today.
a. Their souls are consumed with activity
b. Not necessarily sinful activity, just things that keep them busy.
c. Shopping, banquets, parties, concerts, school activities and programs, and a host of other things that compete for our attention.
d. In the clutter of all this activity many people are totally preoccupied and miss the Son of God.
e. There is no room for Him in their lives ... they miss Christmas.
II. King Herod: the Spirit of Fear Mt. 2:1-8
A. He wasn't ignorant; he was very well informed.
1. Herod pretended he wanted to worship Jesus Christ, but he was fearful of this One who was called the King of the Jews.
2. He didn't want any competition for his throne.
B. Herod was a ruthless man.
1. His paranoia was legendary.
2. He had ten wives and twelve children.
3. One of his wives had a brother who was the high priest: he murdered him and then murdered his wife also.
4. He was afraid his two oldest sons would take his throne so he murdered them both.
5. He was such a brutal merciless man that it isn't hard to understand how he could do such a despicable thing as to order scores of innocent children slaughtered.
6. Note: v16-18
7. All of this was done out of fear that someone else would take his throne.
C. Herod's fear is also found in many today.
1. They won't allow anything to interfere with their career, their position, their power, their ambition, their plans, or their lifestyle.
2. They are not about to let someone else be king of their lives.
3. Like Herod, they see Jesus as a threat, and so they miss Christmas.
4. People don't mind taking off work at Christmas time, but they don't want Him to be their King!
5. Like the citizens in Luke 19:14, they cry out "...We will not have this man to reign over us!" … so they miss Christmas.
III. The Religious Leaders: the Spirit of Indifference
A. Read: Mt. 2:4-6
1. This is an amazing passage of Scripture.
2. When Herod had heard of the birth of a new king, he called together the religious leaders of the day and asked what they knew about it.
3. They told him what the prophets had written, and where the Messiah would be born, yet they missed Christmas.
B. The Jewish people longed for Messiah.
1. Ever since Moses first prophesied that a great prophet would come they were looking for their Messiah.
2. They waited eagerly for a deliverer from their oppression.
3. And yet the religious leaders never even bothered to walk a few miles south of Jerusalem to the city of Bethlehem to see for themselves if indeed the Messiah had been born.
C. Why did the religious leaders miss Christmas? Indifference, they just didn't care.
1. If the truth was known, they didn't feel that they needed Him.
2. They were self-righteous, they kept the law.
3. They felt that they were already all that God could ever ask of them.
4. They were perfect in their own minds and they were filled with pride.
5. Indifference is a terrible sin against Jesus Christ, and sadly, it is one of the most common reactions of people today
a. they don't think they need a Savior
b. they think that they are all right just the way they are.
c. they don't necessarily oppose Christ, they just ignore Him.
d. multitudes of people miss Christmas because they just don't care.
No one has to miss Christmas! Whether it is ignorant preoccupation, selfish fear, or prideful indifference; all are different expressions of the one main reason that people miss Christmas. UNBELIEF. Have you been missing Christmas? You may get presents, eat a big dinner, and decorate a tree, but you know in your heart that you are no different from the innkeeper, Herod, or the religious leaders of Jerusalem. You are missing the reality of Christmas. But you don't have to miss it! Turn from your sin and unbelief and receive Jesus Christ today.
Unfortunately, we find these same spirits in the lives of believers today. Isn't it a shame that we would become so busy, so selfish, or just so indifferent to the things of God that we who bear the name of Christ, miss the most important part of this wonderful time of year.