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The True Meaning of Christmas by Johnny Brown Journal Reflection 12/25/15 - Father God for many children today Christmas is all about unwrapping presents. But 2,000 years ago You unwrapped the greatest present ever when You allowed Your only begotten Son to be born into this sinful world. Father God many people throughout this world today will be saying Merry Christmas, but the sad reality is that there was nothing merry about the suffering, shame, despisement and abandonmnet that Jesus had to endure on the cross for the sins of this world. AT the last Yoke Fellow service, sister Jane, asked us, "if we really thought that there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn?" I honestly replied, "I have never really thought about it." If the innkeeper had known that the baby Jesus was the promised Messiah to come, would it had made a difference? I would like to hope so. I am quite sure that if King Herod had come to his inn he would not have sent him out to the barn. The innkeeper probably would have given up his own room before he sent King Herod to sleep in the barn. Nevertheless, Luke 2:7 clearly says, that Mary brought forth her first born son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Sad to say Father God, that people are still telling Jesus today there is no room for Him in the inn, just like this innkeeper said over 2,000 years ago. I can imagine man's heart as being the inn today. We have room for our families, careers, church, sports, education, partying, traveling and vacations but we have no room for Jesus. We have no room for the One, the Bible says is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We have no room for the One, the Bible says, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2)." We have no room for the One who said, "I came to save them which was lost and to give My life a ransom for many (Matthew 18:11; 20:28)." In Revelations 3:20, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Before we can open the door for Jesus to come into our hearts we first have to make room for Him. I thank you Father God for finding room for Jesus in the barn. Because without the barn, without the manger, and without the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, there would be no room for You to forgive us of our sins. I thank you Father God for not being a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). I thank you Father God for Your goodness towards all mankind (Psalms 145:9; 33:5). I thank you Father God for loving all sinners (John 3:16). I thank you Father God for these beautiful words in Isaiah 53:10, "Yet, it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." I thank you Father God for being the strength of my life (Psalm 27:1). And before I go Father God let me say to you, Merry Christmas. Because if You did not love us then You would never have given Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Merry Christmas Lord Jesus. Because without Your birth, death, burial and resurrection, there would be no merry Christmas. I thank You Lord Jesus for being the reason for the season. And I thank you Lord Jesus for these beautiful words to an old classic hymn: Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare Him room. Let heaven and nature sing. Let heaven and nature sing. Let heaven and nature sing. I thank you Lord Jesus for everything that You have done for me. In Your Might and Precious Name Lord Jesus I pray Amen.
