Dr. Gough:

Where do you find Christmas? Is it in the gifts?

--Shopping? Carols and cards? Decorating the tree?

--The excitement of little children? Family, friends?

--Where do we find Christmas? We find it in Christ!

--Without Christ, we may celebrate; but we really do not have Christmas without Christ, our Messiah.

We know of Jesus' birth, Christmas long ago, in Bethlehem; born of the Virgin Mary, in a stable. Unusual.

--A most unusual birth - "God with us - Immanuel."

--A most unusual Child, announced by choirs of angels.

--And a most unusual star, leading wise men from afar.

--To live a most unusual life - sinless! To save us!

The angel announced, "I bring you good tidings of great joy, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"(Acts 2:11).

--Shepherds came to see the "Baby lying in a manger."

--We read of Jesus' dedication in the temple at 8 days.

--The blessing of aged Simeon. And "prophetess Anna."

--"The Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; God's grace was with Him" (v 40).

Twelve years quickly pass, in Nazareth; little known.

--Next we read what only Luke relates, of Jesus going to Jerusalem, to Passover, with Mary and Joseph.

--They went to Jerusalem "every year .. to Passover."

--It lasted 8 days, "when they had finished" they began their journey back home with a group, "supposing (Jesus) to have been in the company!" He was not.

They needed to find Jesus, the Christ of Christmas.

--They looked for Him all of three days, seeking!

--Like we all, they needed to find Jesus; but where?

--"They found Him in the temple," people amazed at Him.

--"All were astonished at His understanding, answers."

We've had the Baby Jesus taken from an outdoor manger.

--That's nothing compared to your own son, missing!

--In a crowded Steel Pier at Atlantic City many years ago our small son got lost. Praise God, was found.

--There was great rejoicing! Also when Jesus is found. "They found (Jesus) in the temple." A good place.

--Fact is, if Christ is missing, is it Christmas?

--Let's find Christmas! Find Jesus! It is His day.

--Christmas is Christ. "God with us - Emmanuel."

--Jesus is the reason for this most wonderful season!

--That's why everyone needs to find Him! As Savior!

What if Jesus had never come, there'd be no Christmas.

--Can you imagine what a dark, cold, cruel world without the love, joy , peace of the Christmas Christ?

--I heard David Jeremiah speak of the necessity of the coming of Christ that first Christmas. We need Him!

--God planned it from the beginning, to save a world.

--There must be a Christmas or the Bible is untrue!

--Without Jesus come down, God would be truly unknown!

--He came to "dwell among us" to show what God is like!

--Without Christ coming, our sins still unforgiven!

--You see, Jesus took our place on that cross.

--Moreover, many of our prayers would be unanswered!

--And, our hope of heaven and life eternal unfounded!

--Friend, by His resurrection our hope is certain.

Many know that Christ is the Savior of the world.

--And that is great. But is Jesus your Savior? Lord?

--We must surrender our all to Him in repentance, and in faith - in godliness, humility, and grace.

Like Mary and Joseph, when we find Jesus, we have the Christmas Spirit of Christ, in our hearts.

--He begins the joy-bells ringing, that never stop.

--The commencement of constant gratitude to our God.

Like any Mother, Mary said to Jesus, "Son, why have You done this to us?" (v 48). They had looked anxiously.

--Don't you know they had indeed, and in prayer also.

--Let's always do that, for our loved ones, friend What did Jesus say? "Did you not know I must be about My Father's business?" So should we. Show our love.

--Let's make clear communication. Always needed.

--Rather than in "the temple," many look elsewhere.

--Thank God, the lost was found - safe.

--"His mother kept all these things..in her heart."

--Jesus, "about His Father's business" at age 12, wow!

--Mary "pondered all these things in her heart."

--That's the way to make the invisible God, visible.

Finding Christ and Christmas includes four things.

I. THE MATCHLESS LOVE OF GOD .. THAT THOUGHT IT.

--The Christmas Story is ever new, with new meaning.

--New insights .. understandings .. and values.

--You see God loves us. He made us - not evolution.

--God created man, knowing man would sin, like Adam.

--Try as we may, we all disobey God's commands.

--That's why you and I need a Savior - Christmas!

"From the foundation of the world" God Himself was to be the One to come, as "the lamb" to take away sin.

--"In the fullness of time," Jesus came as promised.

--To pay sin's debt He didn't owe; we couldn't pay.

What the Law, animal sacrifices, rituals and commands could not do, Jesus did, and does. For anyone of us.

--And "not by our works," but by "His grace."

Friend, Jesus gladly came down, "humbled Himself."

--"Dwelt among us" as our "Immanuel, God with us."

--Showed us what God is like. And took our place.

--Who else could - or would - do all Jesus did for us?

--No greater love! Ever! The love of God thought it!

--It is the kind of love all the world needs.

Do you know John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

--Nowhere, by no One else, can you find love like that.

It deserves our response, don't you think? I did.

--God has taught me how to love, and is teaching me.

The Bible says, "Love the Lord with all your heart."

—Jesus said, "Love your neighbor .. your family."

--He even said, "Love your enemies..do good to them."

--The love of God asks us to "love one another."

--How? "As He has loved us," Jesus declared.

That includes all our families. Loved ones, friends.

--Neighbors, others. The unsaved. Unchurched. All.

II. CONSIDER THE LIFE OF JESUS .. THAT BROUGHT IT.

--God the Father thought it, God the Son brought it.

--There is but One God; Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

--The Unity, in the Trinty, as a thought, word to express the thought, and the breath or Spirit to do it.

--Jesus always was, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (Jn 1:1).

--God says, "I know the thoughts I have for you...."

--Thoughts are revealed by words, and they by breath.

--Thus, simply, God became visible and known in Jesus.

--Another divine purpose of Christ's Christmas birth.

Jesus is "God with us!" He is today by His Spirit, in the hearts of His believers, with us. That's great.

--An atheist wrote a book, GOD IS NOWHERE; but his daughter saw it, to read as "God is now here!" He is!

--In Jesus, and in His Holy Spirit, in us.

--And that is marvelous, isn't it? No wonder we read, "His name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

--As a result that author became a believer, all because his young daughter had become "born again"!

III. IT TOOK THE CROSS OF JESUS .. THAT BOUGHT IT.

--Remember Christmas, and forgiveness, is a gift.

--But it cost Jesus His life, to bring it to us.

--How much do you and I appreciate His gift, of life?

--Enough, to give Him our life, to live for Him?

Let's open God's gift to us, as we open our hearts to Him, this Advent, and with each coming dawn.

--Jesus is the one gift greater than all others.

--We find it under the "tree" at Calvary, as I did.

--Everything has a price - even salvation, heaven.

--And our Savior, Lord and God, paid it for us all.

IV. DON'T MISS THE GREAT JOY .. OF ALL WHO SOUGHT IT.

--Christmas joy must be sought. Be found of God.

--"Seek the Lord while He may be found..." in joy.

--The Gospel is full of joy .. to and for the world.

--Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, wise men, Simeon, Anna, and all the rest, tell of joy. So will you!

Find Christ and you find Christmas in your life daily.

--Just a prayer away!

Dr. Wilbert D. Gough