The Myriad of Messages in the Christmas Story

Christmas offers a multitude of opportunities and themes for preaching the good news about Jesus.  The incarnation of the Son of God is like a beautiful Christmas tree with thousands of sparkling lights reflecting different aspects of the very nature of God.   From Genesis to the Revelation, the Bible offers many allusions to “the Word becoming flesh.”  The Christmas story itself is a perfect picture of the nature of the Gospel because it demonstrates the magnificence of how grace and truth have come together, how “righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).

Here are 30 possible preaching themes concerning Christmas:

• Prophetic allusions to the incarnation of Christ (i.e. Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 11:1)
• Direct prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah (i.e. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Micah 5:2)
• Proclamation of the Good News (angels, shepherds)
• The Word becoming flesh (John 1)
• The wonder of Jesus relinquishing heaven’s glory to take on human flesh (Philippians 2:6-8)
• The announcement of the Angel(s) to Mary and the Shepherds
• The interest and seeking of the magi from the East (Matthew 2)
• The Prophecy of Simeon and Anna at the dedication in the temple (Luke 2)
• The humility of Joseph (Matthew 1)
• The opposition and trials related to Jesus’ coming (Matthew 2 — Herod)
• The star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2)
• The names to be given to the new-born child (Matthew 1, Luke 1)
• The child’s relationship to David (Matthew 1, Luke 2)
• The significance of Bethlehem as the birth-place of the Christ (Luke 2)
• The presentation of gifts in worship of Christ (Matthew 2)
• God’s provision for every detail of the Child’s safe arrival and protection (Luke 2, Matthew 2)
• The ordinariness of the first recipients of the good news (Luke 1, 2)
• The Spirit’s testimony to Elizabeth when Mary came and greeted her (Luke 1)
• The relationship of John the Baptist to the coming of Jesus (Luke 1)
• The example of generosity in the coming of Jesus (2 Corinthians 8, 9)
• The signs that pointed to Jesus’ ultimate suffering and death in his first coming (Matthew 1, 2; Luke1, 2)
• Jesus’ birth amidst relational consternation for Joseph and Mary
• The allusions to the kingship of Jesus from the very time of his birth (Matthew 2)
• The universal application of his birth in the announcement of the angels and the participation of foreigners
• The manner in which Jesus’ birth potentially brought peace and joy for the whole world
• His survival of death (a resurrection) in the midst of much bloodshed (Matthew 2)
• The lack of room in the village inn (Luke 2)
• The signs, in his first coming, to the establishment of his kingdom of joy and peace
• The beauty of his arrival as a baby, universally always humanity’s greatest blessing
• Jesus’ coming and the salvation of families

I’m sure there are many more themes that could be addressed based on the Christmas story alone, but hopefully this list will serve to stir our hearts concerning the magnificent wonder of this event.  A similar list could also be made concerning Jesus’s suffering, death and resurrection, as described in the four Gospels.  What rich truths are contained in these wonderful stories of Jesus.  And we haven’t even begun to consider all those related to his words and deed throughout his life.

Christmas is such a grand occasion to satisfy our souls’ longings with the reality of God’s love for us in the glorious coming of Jesus.  Have a blessed Christmas.

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