Immanuel in the Hay: Finding Simple Ways to Share the Christmas Message

-

  


 The Christmas story is the greatest event in human history. So great in fact that history has been divided by that very event. 

    Everything prior to the birth of Christ was labeled as B.C. which means "Before Christ". Meaning that all of recorded human history that happened before the birth of Christ has that label. For example Alexander the Great died either June 10 or 11, 323 BC. Another words Alexander the Great died 323 years before Jesus Christ was Born, B.C. 

    Accordingly everything that happened after the birth of Christ is labeled with A.D. This stands for the Latin phrase "Anno Domini" which means "in the year of our Lord" So this year is 2025 A.D. which means 2025 years after the birth of Christ. 

   The birth of Jesus did more than help us categorize historical events. It was the moment when God fulfilled centuries of prophecy by stepping into our world. The God of the Universe who spoke the world into existence, became like one of us. That is news worthy! That is unbelievable!  

    And yet, the original story reveals a surprising truth: almost no one knew it was happening. I remember several years ago when the Chicago cubs won the world series. I was in a hotel room in Chicago and I remember hearing the fireworks go off and people honking there horns outside the hotel. The birth of Christ was far more important than a world series game! Yet it happened with no fireworks, no fan fair, no great parade. Very few people even knew it had occurred. 

    This lack of awareness persists today. Even more than 2,000 years later, there are still people who are unaware of the importance and the meaning of Jesus Christ's birth. For many, while they celebrate Christmas, the true meaning is lost to them. Christmas becomes a time for family, gifts, baked goods, and generosity, but they have no idea that the true meaning of Christmas is that God loved us so much that He came down to this earth to die for our sins that we might be saved.

The Secret Word of Hope

    This profound truth—that God is with us—is why the name Immanuel (which means "God with us") holds such power.

    There were two missionaries who were captured and imprisoned in the same cell, yet forbidden to speak to each other. When Christmas came, one of the missionaries, shivering and silent on the floor covered with hay, discovered a quiet way to communicate. Using bits of straw, he carefully spelled out the word Immanuel.

    As soon as his friend saw the word, he immediately lit up with joy. Though they were captives, they both believed that God was with them and that ultimate triumph would be theirs. The word transformed a moment of silence and cold into one of hope and a shared truth.

The Urgency of the Shepherds

    As we look into the Christmas story in the Bible, we find that a few people actually did know the importance of that very night: the shepherds. When everyone was asleep, angels came by night and informed them about the importance of that very night.

    Now listen to what the Bible says about what those shepherds did next after the angels departed:

“And it happened as the angels departed from them into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Indeed, let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord made known to us.’ And hurrying they came and sought out both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And seeing, they publicly told about the word spoken to them concerning this Child. And all those who heard marveled about the things spoken to them by the shepherds.” 

(Luke 2:15-18, ESV)

    Much like the missionary who used a little bit of straw to form the word Immanuel, these shepherds wanted to share the message about the birth of Christ with others as well. They didn't keep the good news to themselves; they hurried to find Jesus, and then they publicly told everyone about the Word spoken to them.

Taking a Page from Their Book

    We need to take a page from the shepherds' book. We must begin having conversations with our loved ones, friends, family, and coworkers.

    There are many people who celebrate Christmas but do not know or understand what Christmas is all about. This season, let’s be intentional about communicating the Gospel—the Good News that God is with us, and He came to save us.

3 Practical Ways to Share Immanuel This Christmas

Here are three ways you can actively share the message of Immanuel this Christmas season:

  1. Share the Why, Not Just the What: When discussing Christmas traditions (gifts, family gatherings, etc.), gently pivot the conversation to the meaning of the season. Frame it as the ultimate gift: The reason Jesus came was to die for our sins, offering restoration and eternal life through faith in Him.

  2. Use the Word "Immanuel": Intentionally use the word "Immanuel" in cards, social media posts, or conversations and explain what it means and why it's important! 

  3. Invite and Testify: Invite someone who doesn't normally attend church to a Christmas service, and be prepared to share your personal testimony with them. Tell them what Christ's birth and sacrifice means to you. The most powerful way to share the Good News is often simply sharing how the historical event of Jesus's birth has changed your personal life today.

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

In case you missed it

Ruined but Renovated

-
When I moved to Ashmore IL a little under 10 years ago to answer the call to pastor Ashmore Baptist church a lot of things have changed. For instance Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital in Charleston IL has expanded and grow exponentially. I have seen businesses come and go. Pastors of other churches have come and gone. But one thing that has not changed was the eyesore across the street from the church. What is interesting is at one time this house was a very nice house in Ashmore. You can tell that this house at one time was beautifully constructed and well made. It was a house that at one time sheltered families, where children would run and play in the yard. It was a home where memories were made, and families were raised. However over time, as it changed from owner to owner. The house slowly became neglected. Needed repairs were not made and the small problems started to grow into bigger problems. So a once beautifully made house that housed families, and rasied children and m...
Read more

What is Your Story?

-
 I am excited for this Thursday night. Me and my wife will be going to a red carpet showing of "This is Our Story",a project of EIU that will highlight several stories about Ashmore, Oakland, and Kansas. If you would like more information on this project and watch it when it comes on the air check out this link . As I was thinking about this project and looking forward to seeing the finished product. I thought about how everyone really enjoys stories. This is something that I have learned in the past several years and something that I have added to my ministry/ preaching. Most of Jesus teaching ministry was focused on telling stories. In fact the vast majority of the bible is story after story, many of which have stood the test of time.  The reason this is the case is because stories connect us together. Stories speak to us, we relate to them on a personal level. The stories we hear and love relate to us because it speaks to our common problems, or our common loves, or hopes ...
Read more

My Responses to the Olympic Opening.

-
      Like most people in the world this past week a lot of people have been watching the Olympic games that were held this year in Paris France. Many of us have been watching our favorite Olympic sports on TV. Cheering on our favorite athlete or team. Rooting for those people we might know either personally, or by some other association, who are representing their country before the entire world.        Like me, you have seen or at least heard something about the Opening for the Olympic games. They held this opening ceremony on the Seine River. Where on these large boats the athletes from these various countries were waving their hands in celebration before the entire world. This was the first time in the history of the Summer Olympics that the opening ceremony took place outside of a stadium. However, that is not why it got the attention that it did.      What stood out most about this opening ceremony was that within thi...
Read more

Parable of chasing the wolf

-
There was a shepherd who had a large flock and a big problem. A wolf had been taking his sheep one sheep at a time. The shepherd done all he could do to rid himself of this problem but nothing worked. Each week he saw more and more sheep taken from his flock and each week he felt more and more helpless.  Until one day the shepherd had enough and struck out on his own to deal with this wolf once and for all. He tracked this wolf for miles and every now and then he would get close enough to get a shot off  but he would never hit its mark.  He stayed the night in the woods, and the wolf circled his camp time and time again but the shepherd was unable to get a clear shot. Morning came and he sought to continue to track down this wolf.  As he was tracking the wolf, a great blizzard had started to come in and the shepherd realized he needed to turn back to make sure his sheep would be safe.   As he headed back the wolf began to emerge from time to time and the sh...
Read more