“Are You Ready for Christmas?”

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

A common question which usually means have you gotten everything done? But what if this same question were asked 2,000 years ago?! What if the meaning of this question from 2,000 years ago were asked of us today?!

I. Asking the People of the First “Christmas” (and perhaps, seeing ourselves among them!)

A. The Government

1. ( Matt. 2:2-3 ), “‘Where is He who is born King of the Jews? – For we saw His star in the east, & have come to worship
Him.' – Gathering together all the chief priests & scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ….”
a. Herod was not a religious man! – He was unaware of one of the greatest prophecies of the Bible.
1) He had his own agenda, which was not what he told the people, ( v. 8 ), “And he said to the Magi,
‘Go & make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may....'”
2) As with everyone else, his true colors are seen by what he does, not by what he says, ( v. 16 ),
“When Herod saw he had been tricked by the Magi, he became very enraged, and he sent and slew all of
the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its environs, from 2 years old and under, according to
the time which he had ascertained from the Magi.”

b. What would you say about our government today? – Is it ready for the coming of Jesus into the world?!
1) It seems as though – it is doing everything it can – to remove Jesus from the world…!
2) It has removed prayer & God's word from schools, 10 Commandments from gov't buildings...

c. Yet in spite of this - God is able to use a government that is unbelieving - to accomplish His purpose.
1) He caused an empire to do what was necessary to get His Son to the right place.
2) ( Lk. 2:1, 3 ), “Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, - that a
census be taken of all the inhabited earth … And all were proceeding to register for the census,
everyone to his own city.”
3) ( Micah 5:2 ), “And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One
will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.
4) So while governments can't deal with God – He can surely deal with them!

B. Working People (there are two different kinds…)

1. The “Successful” Ones = the “workaholics,” the “busy,” etc., i.e., “The Inn-Keeper”
a. Caesar's decree had made his into a “booming business!” – McDonalds was probably always packed!
1) Now into his life comes a couple with their “hard-luck tale.”
2) Can't you just hear the inn-keeper, “I'm a very busy man. – It's not my fault the inn is full. –
Why didn't you start journey earlier – then I had rooms! Oh, you can stay out in my stable.”
3) As it says in v. 7 , “…there was no room for them at the inn.”
4) Successful people are not bad people. – They are just too busy.”

2. The “average worker” = they are not as busy. – You see, for the shepherds it was “business as usual.”
a. Yet the angels did not come to kings or the successful. – But to the average working people, ( Lk. 2:8f ),
“In the same region there were shepherds – staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. – And
an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, - and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
frightened. – ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; -
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. – And this shall be a
sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.'”

b. These will take the time to see, “…this thing that has happened that the Lord has made known to us,” v. 15 .
1) Once they have “checked it out for themselves,” they too become like the angels – they have
news that is too good to keep!”
2) ( v. 20 ), “The shepherds went back, glorifying God, and praising Him for all they had heard and seen.”

3. So what kind of worker are you?
a. Are you currently too busy for Jesus right now, saying, “Maybe later when I have more time!”
b. Jesus spoke about you during His ministry – ( Lk. 14:16-24 ), “A certain man was giving a big dinner and he
invited many; at the dinner hour he sent his servant to those who had been invited, but they began to make
excuses…, ‘I have bought some property I need to go look at, please excuse me' … Another one said, ‘I have
bought 5 yolk of oxen, please excuse me,' … Another one said, ‘I have married a wife and for that reason I cannot
come.' …' I tell you, none of those who were invited shall taste my dinner.'”
1) God is the One throwing the party (heaven) – servants = His people who invite others – busy?!
2) God is still using His people to invite others to His party – ( Mk. 16:15-16 )!
c. Or while you are involved in life – when Jesus calls to you – you will not be too busy for Him? –
( Mk. 1:19-20 ), “Jesus saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in the boat mending
nets. – And immediately He called them; - and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants,
and went away to follow Him.”

C. Religious People (there are two different kinds of these too…)

1. The Comfortable = The ones who believe they have a relationship with God & who also know His word.
a. ( Matt. 2:4-5 ), “Gathering together all of the scribes and the chief priests of the people, - Herod began to inquire
of them where the Christ was to be born. – And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written
by the prophet.'” – Then they quote Micah 5:2
1) Yet even though they knew God's word – when the Magi came and told them of the fulfilled prophecy –
THEY DIDN'T GO SEE FOR THEMSELVES!!!
2) These are the same ones who years later caused Jesus so much trouble…- ( Matt. 20:18 ), We
are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and
they will condemn Him to death.”
b. The religiously comfortable – enjoy saying they know God – but are not eager to do His will!
1) ( Jms. 4:17 ), “The one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
2) ( I Jn. 4:20-21 ), “If someone says, ‘I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one….”
3) ( Matt. 7:21-23 ), “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom….”

2. The Seekers = These are the ones who are willing to spend their lives in finding God & His will for their lives!
a. ( Matt. 2:1-2 ), “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi
from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who is born King of the Jews? – For we saw His star in
the east and have come to worship Him.'” – These men had come for a purpose… worship! ( Rom. 12:1 )
1) God Himself is seeking “seekers,” ( Jn. 4:23; Rom. 12:1 ), “Jesus said to her, ‘Truly, truly, I….” 2) Note: this was after Jesus was born. – So they must have been traveling for a while… ( v. 16 ),
“…Herod slew all the male children… from 2 years of age and under, according to the time he had
ascertained from the Magi.” Their preparations & journey = 2 years!
3) “Seekers” will endure any distance or any time it takes – in order to come to God!

D. CONCLUSIONS

1. Over the course of the past 2,000 years – people have not changed.
a. Governments are still not ready for Jesus – many people are too busy – and even the religious are not
truly seeking God!!! (Presents, carols, get-togethers with others… but where is Jesus?!)

2. The purpose of Jesus first “advent” (coming) – was just as the angel Gabriel said, “You shall call His name Jesus,
for it is He who will save the people from their sins,” ( Matt. 1:21).
a. John agrees with this, ( Jn. 3:17 ), “For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the
world should be saved through Him.”
b. A more important question than our title, is, “Are you ready for Jesus 2 nd coming?!” – ( II Thess. 1:7-9 ),
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution….”
c. The best present you could receive this year is the one God want to give you, salvation! ( Mk. 16:16 ).