Christmas has very quickly become about everything but Jesus.
The idea of “Christmas” was first recorded in the year 1038, about 1000 years after Jesus. Thurch started celebrating what they called “Nativity Feast Day” on December 25th, and they would always start the day off with a morning worship service called a mass. So in 1038, the term was coined "Cristes Maesse”
Cristes:
comes from the Greek word Khrīstos, a translation of the Hebrew word Messiah, which means “anointed”
(talking about Jesus)
Maesse:
is a version of the Latin word missa, meaning communion
(which went on to be the word “mass” in the Catholic church,
which we would call a “worship service”)
The word Christmas literally means: Christ Worship Service
JESUS CHANGED MANY CULTURAL PRACTICES
Sabbath
The Sabbath used to be very rigid: every single Saturday no matter what you don’t do any work at all.
Mark 2:24-28
24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Jesus got us to stop what we’re doing and focus on God.
Tithing
Tithing was about Jewish people paying the temple large sums of money to show how Holy they are.
Luke 11:42
42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
1 Corinthians 9:6-7
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Jesus takes away compulsion and makes it about investment in the Kingdom.
Communion
Animal sacrifice was about paying for your sins.
1 Corinthians 11:26
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:28
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
Jesus turned animal sacrifice as payment into remembering His sacrifice with gladness.
Prayer
The Old Testament has very tight regimens for prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Jesus wants your heart in prayer.
Jesus was big on getting rid of cultural compulsion, and moving instead towards: heartfelt compassion.
JESUS WANTS YOUR HEART
2 Chronicles 16:9a
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Deuteronomy 4:29
29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
1 Samuel 16:7b
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Luke 16:15a
You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.
God doesn’t want your cultural compulsion, He wants your heartfelt commitment. Find ways to bring Más Christ into your holiday season.
