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The People Who Missed Christmas

Eliel Goco
Eliel Goco

1. The innkeeper missed Christmas because he was too busy with guests at his inn to make room for Mary and Joseph. 2. King Herod missed Christmas because he was fearful that the newborn Jesus would threaten his throne, so he pretended to want to worship him but actually tried to kill him. 3. The religious leaders in Jerusalem missed Christmas because they were indifferent, feeling they did not need a savior due to their self-righteousness and keeping of religious laws.

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Luke 2:1-7 The People Who Missed Christmas
1. The Inn Keeper
The Innkeeper ( Luke 2:6-7) 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Innkeeper That night in Bethlehem, an innkeeper was confronted by a man and his pregnant wife. He turned them away saying he had no room for them. Not only did he turn Mary and Joseph away, but he apparently didnt even call for anyone to help.
The Innkeeper The Greek word translated inn is kataluma . That can mean guest room, hostel, or simply shelter. So the inn could have been anything from a full-fledged precursor of the modern bed-and-breakfast lodge to a lean-to on someones property that was built to house both people and animals.
The Innkeeper missed Christmas ! Whatever the case, an innkeeper in Bethlehem missed that first Christmas. He missed it because he was preoccupied. His inn, or guest room, or his lean-to shelter, was full. The town was crowded. The innkeeper was busy. There is no indication that he was hostile or even unsympathetic. He was just busy, thats all.
Busyness/ Preoccupation Exactly like millions of people today. Their souls are consumed with activitynot necessarily sinful activity; just things that keep them busy. At Christmas, people are especially busy. Shopping, banquets, parties, concerts, school activities, and other things all compete for attention. And in the clutter of activity, many preoccupied people miss the Son of God.
2. King Herod
King Herod (Matthew 2) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king , behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him.
King Herod 7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also. 9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
King Herod 12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men , was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
King Herod 17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.
King Herod Herod was an Idumean; he wasnt even a Jew. His father, Antipater, had done some favors to Rome. As payment, the Herod family was given the right to rule Judea, which was under Roman occupation. Herod was a consummate politician In return the Roman senate gave him an army. Herod was able to extend his empire from Judea to Jordan to Syria to Lebanon. He even called himself King of the Jews, and he was known by that title until his death.
King Herod missed Christmas ! Herod pretended he wanted to worship Jesus Christ, but he was fearful of this One who was called the King of the Jews. He didnt want any competition for his throne. The phrase he was troubled (v. 3) uses a word that means agitated, stirred up, shaken up.
Fear Insecurity - Pride There are Herod types of people even in our society. Herods fear was that someone else would take his throne. Lots of people are like him. And so we have a world of kings who are not about to bow to Jesus Christ. Such people are governed by the same kind of jealous fear that drove Herod
Fear Insecurity People want to determine their own careers, make their own decisions, master their own fate, chart their own destiny. They wont allow anything to interfere with their career, their position, their power, their ambition, their plans, or their lifestyle. They are not about to let someone else be king of their lives. They see Jesus as a threat, and so like Herod they miss Christmas.
3. The Religious Leaders
The Religious Leaders (Matthew 2) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
The Religious Leaders 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5So they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.
The Religious Leaders That is shocking. The chief priests and scribes knew exactly where Christ was to be born. The Jewish people had been looking for their Messiah since Moses first prophesied that a great prophet would come (see Deuteronomy 18:15).
The Religious Leaders They were waiting eagerly for a deliverer. Particularly now that they lived under Roman oppression, the entire nation longed for His coming. Yet here were the theological experts, the guardians of spiritual truth in Israel, and they never even bothered to walk the few miles south to Bethlehem to find out for themselves if the Messiah indeed had been born.
The Religious Leaders missed Christmas ! Why did the religious leaders miss Christmas? Indifference. They didnt care. The religious leaders had all the facts. They just didnt care. Their Messiah was not really important to them. They felt they didnt need Him. They were self-righteous. They kept the law. They believed they were already all that God could ever ask of them. They were perfect in their own minds, sickeningly proud.
Indifference Indifference is a profound sin against Christ. Sadly, it is one of the most common reactions to Him. It is typical of religious people who dont think they need a Savior. Such people think theyre all right just the way they are. That is a dangerous attitude.
Indifference Everywhere you look you can see indifferent people who dont care about the Savior because they dont understand their need for salvation. They dont openly oppose Him; they just ignore Him. They dont care about the remedy because they dont believe they have the disease. Such people miss Christmas.
4. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem (Matthew 2) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem Out of the whole of Jerusalem society God picked a band of shepherds to hear the news of Jesus birth. That is intriguing because shepherds were among he lowest and most despised social groups. Yet these shepherds, close as they were to Jerusalem, were undoubtedly caring for sheep that someday would be used as sacrifices in he temple. How fitting it is that they were the first to know of the Lamb of God!
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem More significantly, they came to see Him. No one else did. Though the shepherds went back and told everyone what they had seen and heard, and though all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds (v. 18), not one other person came to see firsthand. Only some lowly shepherds did not miss Christmas; everyone else in Jerusalem did.
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem It is indeed remarkable that Christ was born in Bethlehem and almost no one in Jerusalem took notice. Bethlehem is only a few miles away- literally within walking distance- and Jesus birth was the fulfillment of all that the nation had hoped for. Only some lowly shepherds did not miss Christmas; But the entire city missed it.
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! In short, they were busy worshiping the right God in the wrong way. They were caught up in the externals of true religion, but they had abandoned the heart of their faith.
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! Jesus didnt fit their system. They looked for a Messiah who would be a conquering hero, not a baby in a manger. They hoped for a leader who would support their religious system.
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! Jesus opposed everything it stood for. The Sermon on the Mount proved that. He offered truth that would free them from the tyrannical, demanding, oppressive, legalistic religion the scribes and Pharisees. But the majority of people were so established in their religion that they wouldnt listen.
The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! People like that are the hardest to reach with the good news of salvation. They are so determined to earn their own salvation, to prove they can be righteous on their own, that they cannot see the depth of their spiritual poverty.
Religion Religion can be a deadly trap. Ritual and rules enable people to feel spiritual when they are not. Religious activity is not synonymous with genuine righteousness. Religion will damn people to hell as surely as immorality.
Religion Scripture tells us Satans ultimate trick is to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). And so he can use even religion to make people miss Christmas.
5. The Romans
The Romans 1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria . 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
The Romans That first Christmas was set in a Roman scene. Herod, for example, was the ruler appointed by Rome. And it was a decree by Caesar Augustus that set everything in motion (Luke 2:1). Who was Caesar Augustus? Hes mentioned only once in Scripture, but he occupies an important place in the history of the Roman Empire. His name was Octavian Augustus was a title meaning venerable. He ruled Rome from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.
The Romans missed Christmas ! And so Jesus was born in the heyday of the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers must have been everywhere in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, overseeing the census, registering people, and keeping order. Yet nearly all of Rome missed Christmas.
The Romans missed Christmas ! Why? Idolatry. They had their own godsthey were even willing to let their emperor pretend to be God. Christ did not fit into their pantheon. No mythological god could coexist with Him anyway. So the Romans totally ignored His birth. This newborn baby became just one more number in their census.
Paganism/ Idolatry Paganism has a strong a grip on our world today, and millions miss Christmas because of it. Were not talking only about the dark paganism of distant lands, where Christ is unknown and unheard of, and where Christmas is unheard of. But there is another, subtler, form of idolatry even in our society. And millions miss Christmas because of it.
Paganism/ Idolatry Most people dont worship carved idols or follow demonic superstition like the Romans did, but they nevertheless worship false gods. Some people worship money. Others worship sex. Some people worship cars, boats, houses, power, prestige, popularity, and fame. Those things are pagan gods. The idolatry of the twenty first century is selfishness and materialism. If that is what you worship, youll miss Christmas.
6. The People of Nazareth
The People of Nazareth ( Luke 2) 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth , into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
The People of Nazareth Finally, Nazareth missed Christmas. Nazareth was a crude, uncultured town, quite a distance from Bethlehem. The people of that region had a reputation for violence. Nathanael expressed the prevailing opinion of that little town: Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? (John 1:46).
The People of Nazareth Yet Nazareth was the home of Mary and Joseph, and the boyhood home of Jesus. Although He was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth, and lived His perfect life before all the people there. Yet they completely overlooked Him.
The People of Nazareth missed Christmas ! The people of Nazareth, who knew Him better than anyone, had no idea who He really was. Mark 6:6 says even Jesus wondered at their unbelief.
Unbelief What was their problem? Familiarity with Unbelief. They knew too well. They knew Jesus so well they couldnt believe He was anyone special. Familiarity mixed with unbelief is a deadly thing. When people say they were raised in a Christian home but have rejected the faith, is a great tragedy!
Unbelief Perhaps the most tragic sin of all is the unbelief of a person who has heard all the sermons, sat through all the Bible lessons, knows all the Christmas stories but rejects Christ. There is no gospel, no good news, for such a person, because he already knows and rejects the truth that could set him free (see Hebrews 10:2631). What a sad way to miss Christmas!
Have You Been Missing Christmas? Ignorant Preoccupation, Jealous Fear, Prideful Indifference, Religious Ritual, False gods, and even Contemptuous Familiarity all are merely different expressions of the one main reason people miss Christmas: Unbelief.
Have You Been Missing Christmas? You may get presents, eat a big dinner, and decorate a tree, but you know in your heart that you are no different from the innkeeper, Herod, the religious leaders, the people of Jerusalem, the Romans, or the citizens of Nazareth. You are missing the reality of Christmas.
No One has to miss Christmas. You dont have to miss another Christmas. Turn from your sin and unbelief and receive Christ as Lord and God. He will forgive your sin, change your life, and give you the greatest Christmas gift anyone can receive.
No One has to miss Christmas. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:1112).
Dont miss Christmas this year!

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The People Who Missed Christmas

  • 1. Luke 2:1-7 The People Who Missed Christmas
  • 2. 1. The Inn Keeper
  • 3. The Innkeeper ( Luke 2:6-7) 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  • 4. The Innkeeper That night in Bethlehem, an innkeeper was confronted by a man and his pregnant wife. He turned them away saying he had no room for them. Not only did he turn Mary and Joseph away, but he apparently didnt even call for anyone to help.
  • 5. The Innkeeper The Greek word translated inn is kataluma . That can mean guest room, hostel, or simply shelter. So the inn could have been anything from a full-fledged precursor of the modern bed-and-breakfast lodge to a lean-to on someones property that was built to house both people and animals.
  • 6. The Innkeeper missed Christmas ! Whatever the case, an innkeeper in Bethlehem missed that first Christmas. He missed it because he was preoccupied. His inn, or guest room, or his lean-to shelter, was full. The town was crowded. The innkeeper was busy. There is no indication that he was hostile or even unsympathetic. He was just busy, thats all.
  • 7. Busyness/ Preoccupation Exactly like millions of people today. Their souls are consumed with activitynot necessarily sinful activity; just things that keep them busy. At Christmas, people are especially busy. Shopping, banquets, parties, concerts, school activities, and other things all compete for attention. And in the clutter of activity, many preoccupied people miss the Son of God.
  • 9. King Herod (Matthew 2) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king , behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him.
  • 10. King Herod 7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also. 9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
  • 11. King Herod 12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men , was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
  • 12. King Herod 17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.
  • 13. King Herod Herod was an Idumean; he wasnt even a Jew. His father, Antipater, had done some favors to Rome. As payment, the Herod family was given the right to rule Judea, which was under Roman occupation. Herod was a consummate politician In return the Roman senate gave him an army. Herod was able to extend his empire from Judea to Jordan to Syria to Lebanon. He even called himself King of the Jews, and he was known by that title until his death.
  • 14. King Herod missed Christmas ! Herod pretended he wanted to worship Jesus Christ, but he was fearful of this One who was called the King of the Jews. He didnt want any competition for his throne. The phrase he was troubled (v. 3) uses a word that means agitated, stirred up, shaken up.
  • 15. Fear Insecurity - Pride There are Herod types of people even in our society. Herods fear was that someone else would take his throne. Lots of people are like him. And so we have a world of kings who are not about to bow to Jesus Christ. Such people are governed by the same kind of jealous fear that drove Herod
  • 16. Fear Insecurity People want to determine their own careers, make their own decisions, master their own fate, chart their own destiny. They wont allow anything to interfere with their career, their position, their power, their ambition, their plans, or their lifestyle. They are not about to let someone else be king of their lives. They see Jesus as a threat, and so like Herod they miss Christmas.
  • 17. 3. The Religious Leaders
  • 18. The Religious Leaders (Matthew 2) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
  • 19. The Religious Leaders 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5So they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.
  • 20. The Religious Leaders That is shocking. The chief priests and scribes knew exactly where Christ was to be born. The Jewish people had been looking for their Messiah since Moses first prophesied that a great prophet would come (see Deuteronomy 18:15).
  • 21. The Religious Leaders They were waiting eagerly for a deliverer. Particularly now that they lived under Roman oppression, the entire nation longed for His coming. Yet here were the theological experts, the guardians of spiritual truth in Israel, and they never even bothered to walk the few miles south to Bethlehem to find out for themselves if the Messiah indeed had been born.
  • 22. The Religious Leaders missed Christmas ! Why did the religious leaders miss Christmas? Indifference. They didnt care. The religious leaders had all the facts. They just didnt care. Their Messiah was not really important to them. They felt they didnt need Him. They were self-righteous. They kept the law. They believed they were already all that God could ever ask of them. They were perfect in their own minds, sickeningly proud.
  • 23. Indifference Indifference is a profound sin against Christ. Sadly, it is one of the most common reactions to Him. It is typical of religious people who dont think they need a Savior. Such people think theyre all right just the way they are. That is a dangerous attitude.
  • 24. Indifference Everywhere you look you can see indifferent people who dont care about the Savior because they dont understand their need for salvation. They dont openly oppose Him; they just ignore Him. They dont care about the remedy because they dont believe they have the disease. Such people miss Christmas.
  • 25. 4. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem
  • 26. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem (Matthew 2) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
  • 27. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem Out of the whole of Jerusalem society God picked a band of shepherds to hear the news of Jesus birth. That is intriguing because shepherds were among he lowest and most despised social groups. Yet these shepherds, close as they were to Jerusalem, were undoubtedly caring for sheep that someday would be used as sacrifices in he temple. How fitting it is that they were the first to know of the Lamb of God!
  • 28. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem More significantly, they came to see Him. No one else did. Though the shepherds went back and told everyone what they had seen and heard, and though all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds (v. 18), not one other person came to see firsthand. Only some lowly shepherds did not miss Christmas; everyone else in Jerusalem did.
  • 29. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem It is indeed remarkable that Christ was born in Bethlehem and almost no one in Jerusalem took notice. Bethlehem is only a few miles away- literally within walking distance- and Jesus birth was the fulfillment of all that the nation had hoped for. Only some lowly shepherds did not miss Christmas; But the entire city missed it.
  • 30. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! In short, they were busy worshiping the right God in the wrong way. They were caught up in the externals of true religion, but they had abandoned the heart of their faith.
  • 31. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! Jesus didnt fit their system. They looked for a Messiah who would be a conquering hero, not a baby in a manger. They hoped for a leader who would support their religious system.
  • 32. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! Jesus opposed everything it stood for. The Sermon on the Mount proved that. He offered truth that would free them from the tyrannical, demanding, oppressive, legalistic religion the scribes and Pharisees. But the majority of people were so established in their religion that they wouldnt listen.
  • 33. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem missed Christmas ! People like that are the hardest to reach with the good news of salvation. They are so determined to earn their own salvation, to prove they can be righteous on their own, that they cannot see the depth of their spiritual poverty.
  • 34. Religion Religion can be a deadly trap. Ritual and rules enable people to feel spiritual when they are not. Religious activity is not synonymous with genuine righteousness. Religion will damn people to hell as surely as immorality.
  • 35. Religion Scripture tells us Satans ultimate trick is to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). And so he can use even religion to make people miss Christmas.
  • 37. The Romans 1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria . 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
  • 38. The Romans That first Christmas was set in a Roman scene. Herod, for example, was the ruler appointed by Rome. And it was a decree by Caesar Augustus that set everything in motion (Luke 2:1). Who was Caesar Augustus? Hes mentioned only once in Scripture, but he occupies an important place in the history of the Roman Empire. His name was Octavian Augustus was a title meaning venerable. He ruled Rome from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.
  • 39. The Romans missed Christmas ! And so Jesus was born in the heyday of the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers must have been everywhere in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, overseeing the census, registering people, and keeping order. Yet nearly all of Rome missed Christmas.
  • 40. The Romans missed Christmas ! Why? Idolatry. They had their own godsthey were even willing to let their emperor pretend to be God. Christ did not fit into their pantheon. No mythological god could coexist with Him anyway. So the Romans totally ignored His birth. This newborn baby became just one more number in their census.
  • 41. Paganism/ Idolatry Paganism has a strong a grip on our world today, and millions miss Christmas because of it. Were not talking only about the dark paganism of distant lands, where Christ is unknown and unheard of, and where Christmas is unheard of. But there is another, subtler, form of idolatry even in our society. And millions miss Christmas because of it.
  • 42. Paganism/ Idolatry Most people dont worship carved idols or follow demonic superstition like the Romans did, but they nevertheless worship false gods. Some people worship money. Others worship sex. Some people worship cars, boats, houses, power, prestige, popularity, and fame. Those things are pagan gods. The idolatry of the twenty first century is selfishness and materialism. If that is what you worship, youll miss Christmas.
  • 43. 6. The People of Nazareth
  • 44. The People of Nazareth ( Luke 2) 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth , into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
  • 45. The People of Nazareth Finally, Nazareth missed Christmas. Nazareth was a crude, uncultured town, quite a distance from Bethlehem. The people of that region had a reputation for violence. Nathanael expressed the prevailing opinion of that little town: Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? (John 1:46).
  • 46. The People of Nazareth Yet Nazareth was the home of Mary and Joseph, and the boyhood home of Jesus. Although He was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth, and lived His perfect life before all the people there. Yet they completely overlooked Him.
  • 47. The People of Nazareth missed Christmas ! The people of Nazareth, who knew Him better than anyone, had no idea who He really was. Mark 6:6 says even Jesus wondered at their unbelief.
  • 48. Unbelief What was their problem? Familiarity with Unbelief. They knew too well. They knew Jesus so well they couldnt believe He was anyone special. Familiarity mixed with unbelief is a deadly thing. When people say they were raised in a Christian home but have rejected the faith, is a great tragedy!
  • 49. Unbelief Perhaps the most tragic sin of all is the unbelief of a person who has heard all the sermons, sat through all the Bible lessons, knows all the Christmas stories but rejects Christ. There is no gospel, no good news, for such a person, because he already knows and rejects the truth that could set him free (see Hebrews 10:2631). What a sad way to miss Christmas!
  • 50. Have You Been Missing Christmas? Ignorant Preoccupation, Jealous Fear, Prideful Indifference, Religious Ritual, False gods, and even Contemptuous Familiarity all are merely different expressions of the one main reason people miss Christmas: Unbelief.
  • 51. Have You Been Missing Christmas? You may get presents, eat a big dinner, and decorate a tree, but you know in your heart that you are no different from the innkeeper, Herod, the religious leaders, the people of Jerusalem, the Romans, or the citizens of Nazareth. You are missing the reality of Christmas.
  • 52. No One has to miss Christmas. You dont have to miss another Christmas. Turn from your sin and unbelief and receive Christ as Lord and God. He will forgive your sin, change your life, and give you the greatest Christmas gift anyone can receive.
  • 53. No One has to miss Christmas. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:1112).
  • 54. Dont miss Christmas this year!

Editor's Notes

  • #4: 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7