Title Merry Christmas, Sad Christmas (Christmas Message)
Content span id="writeContents">◆ Main text: Luke 1:46-55
The happiest, happiest, and greatest blessing in the world is the message of Christmas, saying, “God loved us and sent his only begotten Son to this earth.” I asked a question to elementary school students last week.
“What is the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to Christmas?”
I asked ten children, and seven answered that the first thing that comes to mind at Christmas is Santa Claus. One child answered that it was a good day to receive a gift, and two children answered that it was a day of fun.
It is a story that not only young children, but Christians today are spending Christmas without Jesus like this. The main character of Christmas is neither me nor you. The protagonist of Christmas is Jesus. Because it is the day that Jesus loved us and came to this earth, the main character of Christmas must always be Jesus. So, what is the meaning of this Christmas, in which Jesus is the protagonist?
The first is that Jesus loves us and comes to this earth so that everyone who believes in Jesus can accomplish the work of salvation. Therefore, we must have such faith that we can confess Jesus as our Savior this Christmas.
On Christmas Day, the Magi came to Jesus. We came to worship the baby Jesus. They gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Today, you will have to offer three gifts to the baby Jesus, just as the magi worshiped the baby Jesus. What are the three gifts we must offer today? Praise. Prayer. Word. These are the three gifts we must offer today.
When the shepherds heard the news of Jesus, they came and worshiped. That is why this Christmas is such a feast that gathers around Jesus. Your families must gather, and your hearts must gather. This Christmas, once again, I need to know the meaning of where I stand. I hope this Christmas will be a season of celebration with your family. It should not be just a meeting on the outside, but it should be a season to confirm the love of the family once a year.
Also, this Christmas should be the season when you love the church. The church is not where you can say anything. Church is not a place where people come out when they are happy and not when they are in a bad mood. The church is our life. Therefore, just as Jesus loved us through the church, we should also love the church. Just as we worshiped the baby Jesus and gave gifts, we should be able to share the joyous gift of Christmas. Perhaps one of the most famous stories in the world is O'Henry's 'Christmas Gift'.
A poor couple wanted to give each other gifts on Christmas, but they were too poor to give. However, the couple had something to be proud of. It was the wife's long, wavy blonde hair and the gold watch the husband inherited from his grandfather. My husband thought that this Christmas, he should buy a pretty hairpin to match his wife's beautiful hair. But there was no money to buy a hairpin. So he sold the gold watch that he had inherited from his grandfather without a watch and brought a hairpin.
Also, the wife thought that her husband had a watch but didn't have a watch strap, so I had to buy a watch strap for him this Christmas. Since he didn't have any money, he cut off his long hair, which he loved and was proud of, and sold it to buy a watch band. Two couples presented gifts at the same time on Christmas Day. A hairpin for his wife's long, beautiful hair that the husband puts out, and a watch that matches his husband's gold watch, but his hair has already been cut off, and the husband doesn't have a watch. They have become unnecessary gifts to each other.
The gift the two of them prepared was an unnecessary gift for each other. But even though it was an unnecessary gift, the husband cried and the wife cried too. Even though it was an unnecessary gift, it made their hearts happy. That is the beautiful meaning that gifts give us. Guys, what gift are you going to give your wife this Christmas? What gift would you like to give to your husband this Christmas?
Just as the poor husband prepared a hairpin to adorn his wife's hair, and the wife prepared a bracelet for her husband's watch without a watch, so you should prepare such a beautiful gift. Even if it's a useless, insignificant gift, you need a gift with your heart in it. Christmas should be a season when we can embrace Jesus Christ, the gift God has given us, and confess it with love.
Also, what is the meaning of Christmas when God sent Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son to this earth, to say that he gave up his place. Jesus who gave up his heavenly throne and came to this lowly and lowly earth, Jesus who gave up his precious place and came to a low place, this is the meaning of this Christmas. Don't let those in power live for yourself in their place of power, but use that power beautifully for those of low rank. Those who have money, do not feed yourself only, but like Jesus who came to this lowly and lowly earth, give up your vested interests and have a heart that knows how to care for those who do not have it. This is exactly what Christmas demands of us.
Our society today is polarized. There are more people. There are no more people without it. Not long ago, Lotte released something called 'Tongkeun Chicken'. We released a chicken for 5,000 won. A lot of people lined up to buy the big chicken. But now society is divided. is that a good thing is it wrong Obviously, for us living in a liberal democracy, it is not a bad thing to buy cheap and good food in a competitive society.
However, we must not overlook the fact that while large corporations may be good for us consumers, there are small and medium-sized merchants who suffer because of it. You shouldn't pretend you don't know their position. Ladies and gentlemen, even in the era of free competition, this society cannot coexist without a heart to be considerate of others.
We must have the heart to be considerate of others this Christmas. We need to know why Jesus did not live in that high heaven, but came to this low and lowly earth. We need to understand the meaning of the Lord coming to this earth on this Christmas and coming to the manger instead of coming to the house where people live because he has nowhere to go. Jesus, who came two thousand years ago, had nowhere to go. Now, two thousand years later, if Jesus is to come to this earth, will he have a place to go?
If we say that Jesus is coming to Korea, or if Jesus comes to our Gyeonggi-do, our Bucheon-si, and our church, are you really ready to receive Jesus? This is a story about whether your heart is ready. If you say you can't have Jesus in your heart because you're busy with things of the world, because you're busy with your emotions, because you're busy with something, then just like Jesus came to a manger two thousand years ago, Jesus cannot come to our house today, and he cannot come to our church. You have no choice but to wander around. Now we need to know the meaning of this Christmas.
These days, people say that to find the joy of Christmas, you have to go to Myeong-dong. Last night, a large crowd of people gathered in Myeong-dong without a break. If you go out in front of our Bucheon Edo Station, you can feel that kind of feeling of Christmas. The bar has become a place to enjoy the joy of Christmas more than the church. Is that really a Merry Christmas? It's not like that. Today Jesus does not want such a Merry Christmas.
It should be such a Christmas to look after our neighbors who are having a hard time. Considering our neighbors in the face of a sad Christmas must be the attitude that the Korean church should have today. The real joy is to be with those in need. When we share the joy of Christmas with them, it can be true joy. Therefore, at Christmas this year, I once again put down what I have and pray earnestly that it will be a good Christmas to share with my neighbors. We will pray with you.
“Grateful and grateful God, I came here with a heart of worship before the Lord on this precious holiday of Christmas. Lord, with the heart of the Magi, I offer you gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Receive our praise. Please answer our prayers. Come into our word. God, we come before you with the hearts of the shepherds. Help us to do our best where we are and to worship before the Lord. Please help us to become good Christians who can be together with our neighbors in need just as Jesus came to this low and lowly earth through this Christmas worship service today. I earnestly pray in the name of Jesus. Amen."