John's Nativity

        Christmas time is magical for us as kids - but as we grow up, the schedule, and events and preparations can be a bit overwhelming. And then throw in the 'unexpected' but sadly inevitable... 'problems' and difficulties that come with living in a fallen world - and it can leave you feeling pretty drained. And at times like these, even the thought of adding one more thing can be a little much. However, I am going to ask you to think about adding one more thing. But this 'one more thing' doesn't really take a lot of effort.

In light of the circumstances of this past year, and even this past week - this 'one more thing' can help us keep the proper perspective on things. We spend this 'advent season' in anticipation of the celebration of the Christ Child - the birth of Jesus. But even as our lives have a mix of wonderful magical things as well as difficulties and even pain - so does the event of Jesus entering this world as a baby.

As we think about the Christmas story, as we think about this peaceful 'picture' of the Nativity - Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus in the manger - I'd like us to add something; something which may not feel like it fits. I shared this idea a few years ago, but wanted to remind us again. I'd like for you, when you think of the manger scene, to...

I. Add a red dragon

Some of you may have heard me preach on this idea previously. But given the current state of our world and our lives, I think it's highly appropriate. And I understand that may seem a bit out of place for those who haven't heard it before - but it's actually biblical. We usually look to the book of Matthew or Luke for the Christmas story, but I'd like to read a different account from a very different point of view. I want us to look at what the Apostle John wrote, but not from his Gospel account, but from what he wrote in Revelation 12:1-5 (NIV)...

A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. (2) She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. (3) Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. (4) His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. (5) She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

Not quite the traditional Christmas story, I know... The book of Revelation is a difficult one to understand with all of its apocalyptic language and symbolism, but this passage is talking about the birth of Jesus; the birth of the promised Messiah. This past week I mentioned at Leonard Mangione's funeral how he was so curious about the Book of Revelation - but that he now has solid answers where I could only guess. But this passage makes it slightly easier to understand it's meaning.

So, based on this verse, it's accurate to say that the 'red dragon' was actually a part of the nativity scene - he might not have been as easy to spot as the shepherds, but behind what we could see - he was there. And his presence there explains the mix of both joy and pain we can feel at this time of celebration.

I'd like to look at this scripture a bit to perhaps get a better understanding of what John was describing. First of all, let's discuss...

A. The woman

In the first two verses we're told about this pregnant woman. Since this section is referencing the birth of Jesus, the woman who gave birth must be Mary, right? And in our nativity story, it is. But as we look at the context of the story and the way that it's described, we also may see something else - an even deeper meaning as well.

Now, not all scholars agree, but it seems that this 'sign', this woman represents more than just Mary, but possibly the entire nation of Israel - the people through whom God chose to bring the Christ child into the world. The 'crown of twelve stars' seems to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. And it appears that the 'moon under her feet' represents the Old Testament or old covenant and being 'clothed with the sun' refers to the truth of the New Testament or new covenant.

So, it seems we symbolically have Mary, and the male child 'who will rule all the nations' who is Jesus, and then we also have...

B. The dragon

Now this one is actually named, so we don't have to presume. Let's continue in Revelation 12:6-9 (NIV)...

The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (7) And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. (8) But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. (9) The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

The red dragon represents the Devil, Satan. We can read all the way back in Genesis that Satan, as a serpent, was out to destroy God's creation in the Garden of Eden, and here we see that he was again trying to ruin God's plans. The devil wanted to destroy Jesus at His birth. John shows us this 'bigger picture', the battle behind the birth of Jesus. While the manger scene was quietly playing out on earth, there was a spiritual war going on. I find it interesting that while Jesus came to bring peace on earth, there was war in Heaven.

So why was the dragon, Satan, present at this 'Silent Night'? Why did he see this moment as so threatening to him?

II. Why devour the child?

Satan is not all knowing, but he did understand some things about God's plan. Satan may not have known God's full plan for Jesus, the Christ Child, but he figured it meant devastation for him if he didn't act. Satan is powerful, and we can't forget his power or influence - but God is all powerful.

Evidently Satan understood enough to guess what was revealed in this passage from 1 John 3:7-8 (NIV)...

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. (8) He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

The Devil may not have fully understood it at the time of Jesus' birth, but Jesus brought something entirely new to earth - something that hadn't existed previously - something that would completely take away Satan's power over people.

Years ago there was a conference in England on comparative religions. Experts debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. The debate was going on for some time until C. S. Lewis entered the room. Someone told him they were trying to figure out Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's..."

A. Grace

The 'something' that Jesus brought that would destroy the devil's work was 'grace'. We see this in John's writings from John 1:16-18 (NIV)...

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (17) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (18) No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Christianity is the only religion based on God reaching down to us rather than us working our way up to Him. Buddhism has what is called the 'eight-fold path'; Hinduism has the 'doctrine of karma' of working your way to Heaven; Islam teaches 'five pillars of works', even Judaism is under the 'law of the covenant' - each of these offer a way to somehow earn God's approval. Only Jesus dares to make God's love unconditional, coming to us free of charge, no strings attached - through grace.

Under every 'religious teaching' other than Jesus, I have to try to make up for my sins by doing all kinds of 'good works'. The problem is, I'm never sure I've done enough good to outweigh all the bad. So, many people spend their lives trying to 'do good' out of a sense of obligation, or fear. Others just give up with the realization that they can't do enough good to outweigh the bad. They live their lives in guilt, trying to stay away from God believing He's probably out to get them.

Jesus changes everything. When Jesus brings God's grace, I can confess my sin and then accept His gift of forgiveness. I get a fresh start knowing that I don't get to Heaven based on the good I do, but because of the sacrifice that Jesus made. Then, my attitude changes - I'm not trying to do 'good things' to get to Heaven, I do 'good things' out of gratitude because I know I'm going to Heaven! That's grace!

Why did the dragon seek to devour the child? Jesus brought God's grace, and that was something that Satan desperately wanted to destroy. And another reason for wanting to 'devour the child' was...

B. Jesus' followers

We find this passage if we skip ahead in John's writings again, to Revelation 12:17 (NIV)...

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring - those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Satan couldn't destroy Jesus, so now he's intent on destroying those who follow Jesus - those who remain faithful to Jesus and actively spread His truth. He doesn't want their influence in the world. And he certainly doesn't want others following Jesus.

Someone once suggested, "If you could put a syringe into the world today and pull the influence of the followers of Jesus from it, the world would implode." Can you imagine what this world would be like if no one ever followed the teaching of Jesus; if no one had accepted God's grace and chosen to follow Jesus?

Now, we know that there has been a lot of evil done through the ages in the name of Jesus. The Church has always been made up of people, and people are not perfect - but there has also been an amazing amount of good that has happened over the centuries because of followers of Jesus.

Many of our original schools and universities were founded by Christians. Harvard was founded by a minister. Princeton was founded as a seminary. The vast majority of early senior leaders in Africa were taught to read by Christian missionaries.

Think about hospitals and health care. In one twelve year period during the Dark Ages, one third of earth's population from Moscow to Cairo died of the black plague. The pandemic we're now experiencing is awful, but still rather small when compared to that plague. But back then, it was the Church who picked up the dead and cared for the sick, going out in the name of Jesus to alleviate suffering.

During the Civil War, the Christian Sanitation Commission cut the death rate in hospitals in half by providing bandages and nursing care to the wounded. Christians are frequently accused of being 'homophobic', but in San Francisco one of the earliest and largest agencies helping people with AIDS is a Christian organization.

Think about the abolition of slavery. William Wilberforce, a devout Christian man led the fight to abolish slavery in England. The earliest opponents of slavery in the United States were Christians. Christians have built orphanages, worked for the end of child labor, marched for civil rights.

Take the fall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe. In East Germany there was a small group in a church praying for peace. It grew and grew until they packed the church and then tens of thousands spilled outside in candlelight marches. Those marches were the catalyst for Germany's reunification. It's reported that the people stretched a huge banner across one of the main streets, which read in bold letters: "We thank you, church!"

Now, I'm not saying that non-Christians don't also do good, benevolent things - many do. What I am saying is that in the world's history - followers of Christ have been at the forefront and have supplied the critical mass that led to much needed action. - Why did they do it? Because they genuinely followed the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christianity has been and still is the most powerful force for good in the world. Is it any wonder why the 'red dragon' didn't want the Christ-child to live?

So What?

I didn't share all of those good things to put us up on a pedestal or to pat the Church on the back - no. Christians in and of themselves are not any better than anyone else - but it's God's grace, His Spirit in us that makes all the difference, if we humbly allow Him to...

I wanted to remind us of all of the 'good' done in this world by Christians as a challenge. Do we understand the events of the birth of the Christ Child and the spiritual and eternal significance of it all, or are we just Christian in name only? Do we intend to make a difference like those followers of Christ who have gone before us?

Those Christians who make a difference in their world know that Christmas is more than just the birth of an ordinary child; Jesus changed everything! They also know that the war that started with the nativity is still ongoing.

This year, as you look at the nativity scene, remember that red dragon. Even amidst the celebration of this time of year, Satan is still trying to destroy those who follow Jesus - and he's still inflicting pain... But also remember, a few more words from John...

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

If you want to, maybe add a figurine of a 'red dragon' to your nativity set to remind you of the spiritual truths in that story. In order to celebrate the arrival of the Christ child, maybe it's appropriate to lay the dragon on its side behind the nativity set. The red dragon was there - but God destroyed his power long before Jesus arrived in the manger. Merry Christmas!