THE PROBLEM OF CHRISTMAS
INTRO:
It’s Christmas Movie season at my house right now. And the rule in my house right now is…If it doesn’t have something to do with Christmas it CANNOT be shown. So, Christmas movies are on repeat right now.
In every good Christmas movie, the plot is essentially the same, there is a problem that is messing up the perfect Christmas.
- Jingle All the Way
Problem: Howard Langston can’t find the sold-out Turbo Man action figure his son desperately wants.
- Home Alone
Problem: Kevin McCallister is accidentally left home alone and must protect his house from burglars…and for Buzz, his girlfriend is “Woof”.
- It’s a Wonderful Life
Problem: George Bailey believes his life has no value and considers ending it after a financial crisis.
- A Christmas Carol
Problem: Ebenezer Scrooge is enslaved to greed and bitterness, cut off from love, generosity, and joy.
- The Santa Clause
Problem: Scott Calvin unintentionally becomes Santa and must decide whether to embrace the responsibility or reject it.
- Elf
Problem: Buddy doesn’t know where he belongs and must reconnect his Dad to love, family, and Christmas spirit.
- The Grinch (the cartoon version)
Problem: The Grinch’s bitterness and isolation lead him to steal Christmas—until his heart is changed.
- Miracle on 34th Street
Problem: No one believes Santa is real, and faith, wonder, and belief are on trial.
- Polar Express
Problem: A young boy struggles to believe in something he cannot see.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
Problem: Charlie Brown can’t find meaning in a Christmas overwhelmed by commercialism.
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
Problem: Scrooge must confront the consequences of a life lived without compassion or generosity.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The Jim Carey version)
Problem: The Grinch believes Christmas is about possessions rather than the heart.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Problem: Rudolph is rejected because he’s different—until his uniqueness becomes essential.
- Frosty the Snowman
Problem: Frosty is melting and must find a way to survive long enough to bring joy to others.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (my personal favorite)
Problem: (Expanded angle) Clark believes the “perfect Christmas” will finally bring happiness and validation.
- A Christmas Story
Problem: Ralphie desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, but every adult insists, that????? “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
But he’s longing for something he believes will finally make Christmas complete—and facing repeated disappointment and disbelief along the way.
- Every Hallmark Christmas Movie
Problem: A successful, career-driven woman leaves the big city, returns to her small hometown, and must choose between her fast-paced life and a charming, emotionally available man who runs a Christmas-themed business.
- She’s too busy for Christmas
- She’s emotionally guarded
- She’s forgotten what really matters
- The town has:
- One stoplight
- A tree lighting ceremony
- A bakery / inn / Christmas farm on the brink of closing
- And the man:
- Wears flannel
- Knows everyone’s name
- Has unresolved feelings from high school
- Somehow has unlimited time in December
- Two things that are never a problem in a Hallmark Christmas Movie. Hair and Lighting…those are always perfect.
TEXT: MATTHEW 1.21-23
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, d they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
TWO PROBLEMS SOLVED BY THE REAL CHRISTMAS:
- Distance
Something happened in Genesis Chapter 3. The disobedience of Adam and Eve led them, and the rest of mankind to experience something deeply painful and hopeless…distance. Distance from the God who created them. They were removed from the Garden and separated from God.
God could have stayed distant.
He could’ve left them in their sin.
Maybe, He could have spoken from heaven. You know written something in the clouds. Maybe He could’ve used some more of that tabernacle smoke, or a cloud by day and fire by night stuff He did in the Old Testament. But that didn’t really work. You’d think that it would, but it didn’t.
Maybe He could have sent another prophet. Maybe just one more Isaiah or Daniel or Jeremiah would do the trick…after all, it’d been 400 years since He’d sent one. Maybe another prophet would work.
But the angel says:
“God with us.”
Light does no good if it stays far away.
You can know about light and still live in darkness.
You can believe light exists and still stumble.
So God did something radical.
John says: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Matthew says it this way: “Immanuel.”
God didn’t just send help…God sent Himself.
- Darkness
John wrote in his gospel: “The light shines in the darkness…” (Jhn. 1.5)
Darkness is assumed. But it is not victorious. “and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Darkness has continually attempted to extinguish the light that we have in Jesus…Because in the light of Jesus, we find life…that’s what John 1.4 says.
The angel tells Joseph why Jesus must come:
But Matthew says it this way…in verse 21…“He will save His people from their sins.”
Sin is not just bad behavior—it is darkness.
- It separates us from God
- It distorts what is good
- It traps us in guilt and fear
And here’s the problem:
Darkness cannot fix itself.
The only thing that can erase darkness is light.
The angel says:
“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Jesus didn’t come merely to inspire us.
He came to rescue us.
Light doesn’t negotiate with darkness.
Light overcomes it.
CONCLUSION:
Light only makes a difference if you have it with you.
Several years ago, I was in a hunting club in Gordon, AL and I asked Bro. Bradley to go with me. I hate to admit it, but I had missed a pretty good deer the week before, so I felt that Bradley might have an opportunity to do a little bit better than me.
Before we left, he asked me, “What do I need to bring?” and I told him…all you need is your gun and a flashlight…
So, we go hunting that afternoon, and sure enough about 10 minutes before dark, I hear Bradley shoot. He texts me immediately. Just shot a a big one! So I tell him, because it’s getting dark, sit there for a bout 5 minutes and go ahead and get down and start looking. When I get there Bradley is holding his cell phone and is a bit panicked. “I know he was standing right here…I felt really good about the shot. I can’t find any blood”
I said, “Where’s your light?” He said, “I thought my phone would be good enough.” and I replied, “No man, you need a real light.” I turned my flashlight to where Bradley was looking, there was sign of a good shot all around him. The deer wasn’t 15 yards away.
But light only does you any good if you have it with you.
We’re going to sing a final song together as we prepare to depart. As we sing and celebrate, let this remind you that you need the light of Jesus with you. Just as your neighbor will offer you light in a moment, Jesus has offered you light by sending his son to live a life you could not live and die a death you could not die, making a way for you to be right with God again, solving our problem of distance and darkness.