CHRISTMAS WITH BILLY GRAHAM

Christmas from Voices Past #3

Keith O’Connor

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

The Meaning of Christmas

(John 3:16, NLT) “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”

“God loves you so much that he sent Jesus on a mission of love with a message of love. Christmas is a yearly reminder that God loves you. The Bible says God is love. It doesn’t say God has love; it says God is love. Love is his nature; God is love.” – Rick Warren

1. The Cradle

(Luke 2:10, NLT) “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people”

(Luke 1:14) “Fear Not, your prayer was heard”

(Luke 1:30) “Fear not, you have found favor with God”

(Matthew 1:20) “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit”

“Christmas begins what Easter celebrates, the Child in the cradle becomes the King on the Cross.”  – Max Lucado

2. The Cross

“For Christmas to have meaning it cannot be separated from the Cross.” – Billy Graham

(Matthew 1:21, NLT) “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”

(John 18:37, ESV) “You say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”

(1 Timothy 1:15, NLT) “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.”

“I would preach more on the cross of Christ and the blood, because that is where the power is.” – Billy Graham

•  Peace

(Romans 5:1, ESV) “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”

•  Access to God

(Romans 5:2a, ESV) “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand”

•  Hope

(Romans 5:2b, ESV) “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God”

• Love

(John 3:16, NLT) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”

• Holy Spirit

(Romans 5:5, NLT) “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love”

3. The Crown

“Chiseled into the cornerstone of the United Nations building is a quotation from the Bible that has not yet been fulfilled, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4) – Billy Graham

(Matthew 6:10, NLT) “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”

“At the cradle, He was in the stall of an animal. At the cross, He wore a crown of thorns. But when He comes again, it will be as Commander-in-Chief of the armies of Heaven. He will take control of this war-weary world and bring the peace that we strive for and long for. A new world will be formed, a new social order will emerge. Sin will be eliminated. Tears will be wiped from every eye. Disease shall be no more, and even death will be eliminated from the human scene. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and war shall be no more.

This is the promise of Christmas. This is our hope. This is the Christmas star that lights our darkness. This is the assurance that a new day is coming, through the Messiah, whose name is called by Isaiah the prophet, “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

This is God’s gift of Christmas: the cradle—His Son; the cross—His life; the crown—His coming kingdom.” – Billy Graham

Growthwork

What does Christmas mean to you today?

1. Christmas means Hope

(1 Peter 1:3, ESV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

2. Christmas means a New Song in the Air

“A world that had lost its song learned to sing again. With the coming of God in the flesh, hope sprang in the hearts of people. Led by angelic beings, the world took up the refrain, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14) – Billy Graham

3. Christmas means Good News

(Luke 2:11 NLT) “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”