Christmas in Narnia
Galatians 4:1-7
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJ)
Merry Christmas!
It’s a wonderful morning, isn’t it?! I want you to know how much I appreciate that you have taken the time to pause from all the family activities of this day that could easily have kept you from coming to church this morning. As you know, some prominent churches have cancelled church services this day with the sentiment that “it’s a time for family.” Well, guess what, it IS indeed a time for family – and this [the church] is the family it’s for!
There’s been a lot of talk this year, in fact, more than I remember in previous years, about the secularizing of the “holiday season.” We are pressed on every side with “season’s greetings,” and “happy holidays” and this year it seems like Christians have had enough, and are demanding their day back. I get a little frustrated by it all, too.
We couch the significance of Christmas in words that imply spirituality without being overt – “the miracle of the holiday season,” “best wishes for a holiday season of hope and happiness,” or “Peace on earth!” “Joy to the World!” – but no refernce to the source of hope, peace or joy. A couple of years ago we received a Holiday Card that featured a wide eyed boy, dressed as a young shepherd, with a little lamb in his arms, looking skyward toward a bright light. The message inside read, “May the magic of the season be yours throughout the coming year.”
While all this “PC-ing” is going on the majority of people are missing the real miracle of the season – they fail to understand or comprehend the message and the significance of Christmas. Even when it seems that they might get it right– they blow it! In “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Dr. Zeus seems to be heading in the right direction – the Grinch steals all the toys, games, decorations, lights - even the feast! Then he waits on Christmas morning to hear the people crying because Christmas had not come – and he heard them – but they were not crying – they were singing!
Just about the time you think SOMEONE has finally got it right – you realize that the true meaning has been lost, even on the poor folks of Who-ville. They sing, “Christmas day has come at last, as long as we have hands to clasp!”
Christmas is not about ribbons; it’s not about tags; it’s not about packages, boxes or bags – but it’s not about joining hands around a tree and singing either! Just about the time you want to give up, someone throws their hands up in the air and says,
[Video Clip: Charlie Brown Christmas]
Begin: “Doesn’t anyone know what Christmas is all about?”
End: “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”
Christmas is about a savior, Christ the Lord.
In Galatians 4:4&5, Paul writes,
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
While this is perhaps the most overlooked Christmas text in all of Scripture, I believe it puts the meaning of Christmas more clearly than any other. For while the gospel writers were interested in telling the “how” of Christmas, Paul tells us here the “why.”
Listen to those words again:
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Did you know that in early church doctrine, it was forbidden to celebrate Christmas? The early church fathers felt that it would be wrong to celebrate any one day as the birthday of Jesus. In fact, our modern timing of Christmas actually comes from a pagan holiday in Greek and Roman culture celebrating the return of the sun (that’s sUn - that big orange thing in the sky, not the “sOn”). They noticed that the daylight hours got shorter until December, and then began to get longer again, and they had a celebration to commemorate what they saw as the return of the sun.
Christians simply grabbed that celebration and chose to use it to celebrate the coming of the sOn of God. The fact is, we don’t know what day Jesus was born on – or for that matter even the exact year (it was probably actually about 4 BC) – we don’t know – but God does – and not only does God know when it was – God knew exactly when it needed to be.
The text tells us that, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son.” In His sovereignty, God knew the exact moment in human history that was perfect for the sending of His Son into the world. Now you may want to argue the merits of that timing – but that’s an argument that you take up with Him – not me. The Bible says God knew the exact right moment, and I’m willing to leave that up to Him.
“God sent his Son – born of a woman…” What an amazing statement that is! God became flesh. God of the universe, creator of all things, born to one of His created beings! It staggers the imagination to think it! There is no analogy in our language or thoughts that can grasp the enormity of what God did in becoming human – but he did…”born of a woman.”
And “born under the law.” Jesus was born into this earth, into this world system. He was born into a flawed and fallen race of humanity. He became subject to the laws of this earth – the physical laws – he got tired, he felt pain, he was locked into a physical body. But he also became subject to the religious and social laws of this world – as twisted as they had become. He was born into a race that was legally under the rule of a conquering empire. He knew what it was to be racially profiled and prejudiced against by the Romans. He also knew the sting of religious intolerance. He was not only “born under the law,” that law was used to put him to a wrongful death.
Why? End of verse 5. “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Jesus did not come to bring “peace on earth and good will toward men.” Those are simply the byproducts of His real intent. He came to redeem you – and me – so that we can be free from the weight of guilt and the punishment for our sins that separate us from God. He wants us to be children of God – not second class members of His household – but full heirs of God.
Jesus came to give us intimacy with God that is so tender, so close, that the only word Paul could use to express it was “daddy!” Read verse 6:
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
The true meaning of Christmas is not that Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem some years ago under unusual circumstances – the amazing significance of Christmas is that you can be born today into the family of God!
Here’s a new line for a Christmas Card: “Jesus is NOT the reason for the season – YOU ARE!” You are the reason He came – you are the reason that at just the right moment in history, God sent His Son, born to a woman, born under the law – so that YOU could be a child of God!
Now that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!!!
In the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, there is talk of a deeper magic – the White Witch thinks that she has triumphed by killing the innocent Lion, Azlan, in the place of a guilty human child (Edmund). But there was a “deeper magic” that she was blinded to, written before the dawn of time. It stated, “when a willing victim, who had done no treachery, was killed in a traitor’s stead, the stone table would crack and death itself would start working backwards.”
Much of the world is blinded to the deeper meaning of Christmas – that Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, who had done know wrong, was killed in the place of you – who are guilty of sin. In that moment, the barrier between man and God was destroyed, and death itself began to work backward. Death has lost its power – the sting of death and the grave are gone! We now have victory over death because we are children of God.
But don’t miss one significant phrase in verse 5 – “that we might receive adoption as sons.” If you have not received the gift of God – if you have not called out to Him as “Father!” then you have missed the deeper meaning of Christmas. Make this the best Christmas ever – this is just the right moment for God’s Son to be born into your heart – to redeem you from this world, and adopt you into His family.
And if you have received this adoption – and you know the amazing intimacy that Paul writes about here – then celebrate the true meaning of this day! No amount of gifts, or lack of them can replace the miracle of this day’s deepest meaning. Don’t allow the pressure of this world’s values to blur your vision of God’s goodness to you – worship Him! Worship Him this day like no other! Celebrate His goodness! Give, yes give to one another – but do it in joy that is borne out of your wonder at God’s gift to you! Receive – but receive knowing that no gift will ever match the gift of eternal life and intimacy with God that we have been given through Jesus Christ!
Allow the true meaning of this day to overflow in worship, wonder and praise!