Christmas’ hassles, hurts, & hope

Christmas’ hassles, hurts, & hope!

Every Nativity scene I have observed across the years -- leaves out part of the Christmas story!

Sure -- they all have Mary & Joseph -- & it wouldn’t be a Nativity scene without Baby Jesus lying in a manger. And most manger scenes include a stable -- some animals -- shepherds -- maybe even three wise men. A few even have an angel & a star.

But there is still something missing from all the Nativity scenes I have observed. -- What is missing? -- What’s missing are soldiers!

Soldiers on their way to Bethlehem to kill every baby boy two years of age & under.

Why are these soldiers not included in our Nativity scenes?

Why is this important part of the story always left out?

I suppose it is because we want a Christmas story that includes only the pretty -- the warm -- the joyous -- & the charming.

But Matthew’s Gospel insists that we include in the Christmas story something we would prefer to forget -- that Jesus’ birth is also the occasion of the death of innocent children.

This is the dark side of the Christmas story -- & it is hard to accept.

The slaughter of innocent babies -- is a piece of the Christmas story that does not fit -- & yet it is part of the story -- & no doubt for good reason. -- It is recorded in Matthew 2:16-18 (NLT).

“Herod was furious when he learned that the wise men had outwitted him.

He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in & around Bethlehem

who were two years old & under,

according to the time he calculated from the wise men.

Herod’s brutal action fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah:

‘A cry of anguish is heard in Ramah -- weeping & mourning unrestrained.

Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted -- for they are dead.’”

We don’t usually tell or hear this part of the Christmas story. And to be perfectly honest with you -- in the forty plus years of my pastoral ministry -- I have never preached on this text. I’m a little ashamed to admit that -- but I take some comfort in the fact that I’m not alone.

I’ve never seen this part of the story on a Christmas card -- or heard it sung in a Christmas carol -- or seen it acted out in a Christmas pageant.

Oh, we do sing & tell about the wise men coming -- & we act that out.

But we always cut the story short! -- We leave out this episode.

Even though what happens here is the direct result -- or the direct consequence -- of the wise men’s visit -- we leave it out! It’s too harsh -- too gory! -- Dead babies -- & Mary & Joseph along with Baby Jesus -- refugees running for their lives. It is just not a part of our holiday picture!

And yet this week -- as I prayed about today’s message -- the Holy Spirit led me to this passage -- & impressed upon my heart the importance of talking to you about the dark side of the Nativity!

When we think about Christmas -- we see so many pictures of laughing children -- firelight -- goodwill & harmony -- & gently failing snow. However -- for a great many families -- this Norman Rockwell view of Christmas -- is very different from reality!

The holiday season -- for many people -- is the hardest time of the year -- in part, because of the glaring contrast between their experience -- & the romanticized image of Christmas so often projected.

For millions of families -- their struggles to put enough food on the table -- & to pay utility bills -- are mocked by commercials urging them to buy more & more expensive gifts.

The working mother -- whose energy barely seems enough for the demands of the rest of the year -- grows increasingly frazzled as she tries to produce all those little extras that are expected of every good mother at Christmas time.

Families hurting from a chronic illness -- or a recent devastating loss through death or divorce -- feel alienated by the cheerfulness of the crowds -- who expect them to put on a brave front for the holidays.

It is to those of you who find this to be the hardest time of the year -- that this passage telling us of the dark side of the Nativity -- may be the very spark of hope & comfort you need to hear today.

I read recently a fictional Christmas correspondence -- between Martha Stewart & Erma Bombeck.

It reminds us that Christmas isn’t always picture perfect.

Martha Stewart writes: -- Hi Erma,

This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself -- to tell you what I have been up to. -- Since it snowed last night -- I got up early & made a sled with old barn wood. -- I hand painted it in gold leaf. -- Now it’s time to start making the place mats & napkins for my 20 breakfast guests. -- I’m serving the old standard Stewart 12-course breakfast. -- I made dishes to use for breakfast from Hungarian clay -- which you can get at almost any Hungarian craft store. -- Well, I must run. -- I need to finish the buttonholes on the dress I’m wearing for breakfast. -- I’ll get out the sled & run this note to the post office as soon as the glue dries on the envelope I’ll be making.-- Love, Martha Stewart.

Response from Erma Bombeck: -- Dear Martha,

I’m writing this on the back of an old shopping list; -- pay no attention to the coffee & jelly stains. -- I’m 20 minutes late getting my daughter up for school -- packing a lunch with one hand -- while on the phone with to the dog pound with the other hand; -- seems old Ruff needs bailing out -- again. -- Still can’t find the scissors to cut out some snowflakes. -- I tried that cranberry thing; -- frozen cranberries mushed up after I defrosted them in the microwave. -- Oh, the smoke alarm is going off; -- talk to ya later. -- Love, Erma.

I personally know very few people who enjoy the Martha Stewart picture perfect Christmas.

Kids get sick -- people lose their jobs -- people even die.

Trouble doesn’t take a holiday -- even at Christmas.

That shouldn’t surprise us: -- for even the first Christmas was not picture perfect.

In the midst of all the miracles & joy -- there were a lot of hassles -- & a lot of hurting.

So look with me at Matthew's account of the Christmas story -- & let’s see the hassles -- the hurting -- & the hope of Christmas.

1. Christmas Can Be Full of Hassles!

Do you remember the words Charles Dickens put in the mouth of Ebenezer Scrooge?

Scrooge says -- “What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; -- a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer…? -- If I could work my will…every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, -- should be boiled with his own pudding -- & buried with a stake of holly through his heart.”

You may not feel that strongly about the hassle of Christmas -- but I have listened to a lot of people complain about Christmas. Christmas costs too much; -- too much time in shopping & decorating -- too much stress trying to get everything done.

But may I remind you -- that the very first Christmas was a hassle for Joseph & Mary, also!

The first hassle was Mary’s pregnancy!

Joseph & Mary were engaged -- but not officially married -- when Mary learned she “was with child by the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:18).

Joseph was ready to call the whole thing off -- until an angel explained the situation. Joseph probably wished the angel would also explain the situation to mom & dad -- & the rest of the family.

Imagine the hassle Mary endured as an unwed mother -- the hassle of a wedding -- the whispers & guessing. Why would Joseph do such a thing; -- or who would of thought such a thing of a nice girl like Mary?

But the hassles are just beginning.

Not long after the wedding -- the Emperor determined that every Jewish male should return to his birthplace -- & pay a new tax -- a bill Joseph hadn’t planned on -- & a trip he hadn’t planned to make.

His bride is ready to give birth -- & now all this extra expense!

Do the hassles of Christmas bills & Christmas trips sound all too familiar to you?

Joseph & Mary head out for Bethlehem -- where they meet another hassle; -- there is no room in the inn! With his wife about to give birth -- Joseph settles for the only available accommodations: -- a stable!

In that dirty stable -- surrounded by stinking animals -- without a doctor -- Mary gives birth to the Christ Child!

And just when you think everything is over with & okay -- an angel brings a message to Joseph: -- take Mary & the Baby to Egypt! King Herod is going to try to murder the Baby!

How would you have responded? -- Lord, enough is enough!

Why don’t you just zap Herod with an aneurism -- or a heart attack? Haven’t we been through enough?

But Joseph packs up his family & strikes out for Egypt -- where he will get a job & set up housekeeping -- until the angel of the Lord tells him -- “You can go back home now.”

Have you hassled with air-line delays; -- with the raising cost of gasoline; -- the increased cost of postage on Christmas cards; -- with visiting in-laws with whom you do not get along; -- with cooking a less than perfect Christmas dinner; -- frustrated over packages that were not delivered? -- Oh, the hassles of the Christmas season!

Over & over -- Joseph & Mary endure hassle after hassle -- all for the sake of the Baby.

But notice something else: -- for every hassle -- God provides help!

God sends angles to explain what He’s doing.

God provides a way for them to get to Bethlehem.

God provides a stable when there is no room at the inn.

God sends the Wise Men -- with gifts to finance their trip to Egypt.

Over & over the story reminds us that God always provides help to deal with our hassles!

He does the same thing for you & for me!

No matter what your hassle -- God offers you His help!

He is not Santa Clause -- but He will give you what you need -- if you ask Him.

He won’t always save you from every pothole in the road -- but He will give you grace to keep going!

He won’t knock off everybody who threatens you -- but He will protect you & guide you!

When Christmas is full of hassles -- remember that God is full of help!

Psalms 46:1 says: -- “God is our refuge & strength; -- always ready to help in times of trouble” (NLT).

Are you struggling with some Christmas hassles? Why not turn to God for help?

2. But Christmas can not only be full of hassles -- Christmas Can Be Full of Hurt!

Pain doesn’t take a holiday! Christmas is a very painful time for many people!

Sometimes it’s grief -- missing a loved one who has passed away.

Sometimes it’s living in a sick or handicapped body.

The single person -- or divorcee -- dreads spending another lonely Christmas -- wondering why!

Families of military men & women -- miss their loved ones even more at Christmas than any other time.

Christmas can not only be full of hassles -- but also full of hurt.

Why does the Lord allow such pain & heartache on Christmas?

But the truth is -- Christmas has been full of hurt ever since Jesus was born!

Herod tried to fool the Wise Men into showing him where this “King of the Jews” would be born -- so he could eliminate any competitors for his throne. When he figures out the Wise Men have fooled him -- it sends him into one of his characteristic rages -- & he gives orders for his troops to ride out to that little town of Bethlehem on a special mission.

The soldiers see fear on the faces of the people as they ride into town. Nobody knows for sure why they are there.

Perhaps the soldiers start rounding up all the families with small children. -- From that group they sort out those with small sons. Then they carry out their orders -- killing all the boys two years of age & under.

Can you feel the horror? -- Can you imagine the pain?

They cry out for mercy -- but in the end it doesn’t make any difference.

These innocent children are slaughtered like lambs -- & horrified parents are left clinging to the dead corpses -- screaming in grief. The soldiers are dispatched; -- the deed is done.

This is a crime so unspeakable & heinous -- the details are hard to even contemplate -- much less to describe. What kind of a monster could do such a thing?

Nobody even tells them why their little boys were murdered.

But we know why: -- King Herod’s fury knew no bounds when he realized that the wise men -- instead of bringing him the information he wanted -- had ignored him & returned home by another way! He became a madman in his determination to destroy the one Child who -- in Herod’s imagination -- threatened his throne.

Does this part of the Christmas story have a familiar ring to you -- in the light of this week’s headlines? -- “Eight slain by shooter at store.”

“A man opened fire with a rife at a busy department store Wednesday -- in Omaha, Neb. -- killing eight people in an attack that made holiday shoppers run screaming through a mall.

“The young shooter, who left a note predicted, ‘Now I’ll be famous,’ -- wounded five others, two critically -- then took his own life.” Does your heart go out to those who are hurting today?

Christmas can be full of hurt! -- It is at Christmas that the pain of fractured family relationships is perhaps most keenly felt.

The pain of children whose parents have neglected -- or abused them -- or failed to accept them -- or affirm them. The pain of parents whose children have opposed -- or scorned -- or ignored them.

The pain of husbands & wives who have forgotten how to care for each other -- & now concentrate on building walls of self-protection.

The Christmas season is historically a time of great joy. -- But there was another side to that first Christmas which we sometimes forget.

Loneliness -- disappointment -- & fear -- surrounded the advent of the Christ Child.

Joseph & Mary were certainly lonely that night; -- far from home -- jostled by crowds in & around Bethlehem. Loneliness must have hung over them like the chill of night.

A mother & her daughter -- dressed in shabby clothes -- were standing outside a big department store -- admiring the manger scene in the window. It was a big manger scene with the Wise Men & their lavish gifts -- with Mary & Joseph -- & the Christ Child.

The little girl kept staring at the face of Mary -- that white plaster face -- so pure -- so lovely.

Finally -- the little girl said to her mother -- “She’s so beautiful -- but she doesn’t know the pain & trouble we have.”

My friends -- what Christ came down at Christmas to say -- to that little girl -- & to all who are like her in the world -- is that God knows all about the pain & trouble we face in this cruel old world!

The world that Jesus came into as a baby was a dark & cruel place!

He came to working-class parents -- in an enemy-occupied country.

He was born in a stable -- a temporary homeless shelter.

Soon His parents became refugees -- fleeing Herod’s wrath -- seeking sanctuary in an alien land.

The circumstances of Jesus’ birth suggest that God chose to identify with the poor -- the powerless -- the needy -- the hurting! Emmanuel means God with us -- in the tough times of life!

Thank God! -- For when God wrote that first Christmas story -- God brought our pain into it also.

Because Christmas is both pleasure & pain -- we then can be included in its reality!

That first Christmas story welcomes the family dealing with a recently murdered child -- or the husband whose wife just left him -- or the single mother who wonders how she is going to pay the rent -- & the teen who is housed in a downtown shelter where the straw is sticky -- & the place stinks like a barn.

This Christmas -- no matter what your lot -- know that God is with you. -- He does not ignore your situation. In fact -- because of your state -- painful as it may be -- God rests there in the straw & stink along with you. None of that -- in other words -- is foreign to Him!

Listen -- & you will hear Him say to you -- “I know what it is like; -- been there; -- done that! -- And so I can care for you right where you are this Christmas.”

3. If Christmas cannot promise no hassles -- or no hurting -- what does Christmas offer to hassled, hurting people? -- Christmas Can Bring You Hope!

Someone has said -- “We can live forty days without food -- eight days without water -- four minutes without air -- but only a few seconds without hope.”

The longer I live -- the more I realize how untrue that statement is.

There are plenty of people who live a lot longer -- days, months, years -- without hope.

People can live decades bearing the heavy burden of shame & guilt of wrong choices -- with no hope of forgiveness -- no hope of peace.

People can spend all their lives looking for meaning -- for purpose -- for direction.

People can live & die with absolutely no hope that they will live again after they take their last breath on earth. Do people live without hope? -- Millions do!

But nobody has to live without hope.

The Boy Who lived -- born in Bethlehem -- snatched from the jaws of Herod -- offers you Hope beyond your wildest dreams. Because He lives -- you & I can have hope today!

There is a reason why Jesus escaped the slaughter of the other innocent babies in Bethlehem!

Jesus didn’t die in Bethlehem as a Baby -- because His hour had not yet come!

It would not come until many years later -- when Jesus would willingly -- purposefully lay down His life on the Cross-- to offer us hope.

That Baby in the manger grew up to be the Man on the Cross -- & that Cross is what brings hope to the hassled, hurting people -- who need the hope of knowing that God cares about them, -- the hope that God can help them start all over again; -- the hope that can erase their past & give them the gift of eternal life.

That is why it was necessary for Baby Jesus to survive the slaughter of Bethlehem -- so that He could grow up & die for your sins! There would come a time when Jesus would stand before another Herod -- & a governor named Pontius Pilate. At that time -- brutal soldiers would get their hands on Him.

In that place He would indeed be massacred.

The Christ of Christmas had to live -- in order that the Christ of Calvary might die -- & rise again in Victory -- for sinners like you & me.

Jesus came as the light for our darkness! He came to show us the Heavenly Father.

His death on the Cross is a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for us. -- God’s love for us is perfect -- compassionate -- individual -- understanding -- constant.

Once we begin to experience this love as the foundation of our lives -- then we can begin to hope for healing -- for forgiveness -- for reconciliation. The healing process may be slow -- but the good news of Christmas is that God cares about our pain. We can be honest with Him -- about our hurts.

He supports us in our struggles -- & He does not expect us to hide from Him behind a false front of Christmas cheer.

That’s why you & I can celebrate Christmas! We celebrate the Hope God gives us through His Son: -- hope for today -- for tomorrow -- & for eternity.

God doesn’t offer us a hassle free -- or hurt free life --but He does offer us a hope-filled life through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: --

This morning -- dear friend -- Jesus Christ invites you to come Him. To come to Him & hope again.

To find hope in spite of all the hassles; -- hope beyond all of the hurting; -- hope you can find right now -- by bowing at His feet -- believing His Word -- & accepting His love.

Those who truly believe that Jesus is God’s Son -- & their Savior -- can look forward to finding light in their darkness! Won’t you come today & find Hope in Him?

Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ