Christmas Past

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has become a well-known story throughout the world.  Originally published on December 19, 1843 in England, the story has come to life in many different renditions over the years.

As we go through our Family Midweek Advent Series, we are going to take this beloved classic and look at it in a way that places a new focus on the true past, present, and future of our Christmas joy.

As we begin, let me read again John 1:9-10.
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.”

Long ago, the true light entered into our world.  We recognize the true light as being Jesus and his obvious entrance into the world happened … when he was born in a manger.  As a tiny little baby, Jesus was welcomed into the world not only by his parents, but by the animals surrounding their food trough which Jesus was lying in, but also by the angels and some lowly stinky shepherds.  Even though I don’t think they quite understood what was happening or the true significance of the event, they were excited right?  Who doesn’t get excited when a new baby is born?

Even though Mary and Joseph, nor the shepherds really knew the significance of Jesus’ birth … we do right?  Jesus was born, Jesus came down from heaven to do what?  … Right, to save us from our sins.

And how did Jesus do it?  …  Yeah, he lived a perfect life which you and I can’t live, he suffered and died on a cross to forgive us our sins, and then he rose from the dead to give us the promise of everlasting life.

All of what Jesus did for us all stems from the fact that Jesus as the Light of the World entered into our world that first Christmas.  We celebrate this as our Christmas past.

Now, what did the last part of the reading from John say?  “the world did not recognize him.”  Whoa, that’s big.

If we look at the Christmas Carol story … at the beginning of the story we learn a little bit about this Ebenezer Scrooge guy.  Ebenezer’s heart was “filled with feelings cold as winter’s chill.”  How cold is a winter’s chill?  It’s cold, it’s shivering, it’s breathing in through your nose and feeling your nose freeze kind of cold. 

And why was his heart so cold?  “He didn’t think of other’s needs.”  He was only worried about himself right?  As everyone else was celebrating Christmas, as they were singing songs, looking at Christmas lights, what line did Ebenezer always say?  “Bah, Humbug!

Why was he like this though?  Any ideas on why Ebenezer Scrooge disliked or hated Christmas so much? …

Well the story says that “A dreamy vision through the night brought Ebenezer quite a sight. He saw himself just as a boy.”  That’s pretty cool right?  You guys are all little now, but man, when I was a kid … oh I could tell you all kinds of stories of all the fun and exciting things I did.  But unfortunately, that is not where this story is going. 

You see, Ebenezer saw himself just as a boy … alone, apart from Christmas joy.  Ebenezer grew up in a boarding school.  Instead of going to school and then coming home each night, he lived at school.  He had his own little room where he did his homework and slept.  In this boarding school, he was intent on studying, on becoming smart that nothing else really mattered to him.  As your book says, “like someone walking in the dark, young Ebenezer felt no spark of Advent light or Christmas love that comes to us from God above.

Without the love of Christ in Ebenezer’s heart … who did he worry about?  … Himself.  No one else mattered.  All he wanted to do was make more and more money.

But does only worrying about ourselves and trying to get more and more things make us happy?  No, not at all.  If all I worried about was collecting as much stuff as possible, will I ever get enough?  No!  I’ll always want more and more and more.

What is it that I need, that we all need?  …  Jesus!  All I need is Jesus!  Everything else I have, my wife, my kiddos, my family, my house, my coffee … these are all bonuses.  As much as I love my family and my coffee, will they forgive me my sins and give me eternal life?  No!  Only Jesus can do that!

As you do the activity sheet which comes with your book, you are going to see that.  Our life as Christians, as little followers of Christ are not to be lived for me like Ebenezer was doing … my life is to be lived to help others, to spread the love of Jesus to others, and to bring glory and honor to God alone.  Amen.

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