Welcome to Pathway and Home for Christmas.

We are so glad you're here, as we remember the season and its reason. I'm inviting you to think with me about the topic, Christ's Three Homes.

His Heavenly home, in eternity, last weekend.
His Earthly home, in Bethlehem, our topic today.
His Spiritual home, in your heart, for next weekend.

Because there is so much going on, and so many different meanings about Christmas, it's really good just to take some time out, and stop. And say... "Let's go back to the original script."

What did the original script actually say.

 

Here it is:
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 
So it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished for her to be delivered. And 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. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were sore afraid. 
Then the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this shall be a sign unto you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." (Luke 2:1-16)

The only true historical reason for celebrating Christmas is as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

In this Christmas season, we remember the day when God became human without ceasing to be God.

When we go back to the original script, we learn that there was great meaning for Jesus, when he came into his earthly home.

What did it mean for Jesus to leave behind his home in heaven, that he might make a home on earth?

Think with me about FIVE MEANINGS Jesus found in coming to his earthly home.

His earthly home meant SACRIFICE.

Jesus sacrificed the comfort of heaven to come to a nasty world that didn't welcome him, didn't acknowledge him, and didn't want him.

He came because he loved you. And I know you've heard that a million times, but I'll bet you have no idea how tough and costly that love really was for him. It was an all in kind of love.

Jesus didn't come here to dip his toe in the water. He came and burned the boats. He severed the tie to safety. He left the ease of heaven to do the hard work of saving you.

His love for you is a rough, tough, costly, manly, epic, self generated, willing, free, living, giving, dying, steady, unbreakable, unshakable, unreasonable kind of love.

There's nothing like it.

There's no greater love than to give up your life for your friends, Jesus said. And that's what he did.

He sacrificed his dignity.
He sacrificed his rights.
He sacrificed his glory.
He sacrificed his comforts.

He sacrificed his pain free existence, that he might step into this cold cruel world that didn't want him, and killed him as soon as they could.

The Ruler of the Stars was laid in a manger beneath the stars, on the day that mankind's Maker was made human.

Why would he endure this great sacrifice?

He did all this for you. Because he loved you, Jesus Christ sacrificed his heavenly home, and embraced an earthly home that would soon put him to death, that he might open a spiritual home in your heart for him.

And my hope is that you will make Christ at home in your heart, even today.

I think you are here today for reasons you don't even begin to fully understand.

And the chief of those reasons is that you would finally cross a line you've been resisting all your life. That you would come to Jesus. I want to show you how to do it. I won't embarrass you or single you out.

Almighty God brought you that you might be saved. And I'm going to guide you through a simple prayer of salvation at the end of my talk today.

So what did his earthly home mean to Jesus?

It meant sacrifice.