The Book of Mark

Getting Ready for Christmas, Part 5

Mark 1:1-8 This week’s lessons teach us how John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ’s coming.
Theme
Preparing for Christmas Spiritually

Thus far in this message I have been talking about the preparation by John the Baptist for the coming of Jesus Christ. I have made a few helpful applications along the way. But I am sure you know that the important thing right now is not how John the Baptist prepared people for Jesus’ coming or even what you can learn from that incidentally, but rather how you can prepare yourself spiritually this Christmas. How are you to do this? Let me suggest three important things.

First, if you are not yet a Christian, the only reasonable and wise way to prepare for Christmas is by becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, that is, a follower of him whose birth we are remembering. That is exactly what John wanted his followers to do. You will recall that after he had pointed to Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” two of his followers left John and followed Jesus. John did not try to stop them. That is what he wanted them to do. In fact, when some of his disciples complained later that many were beginning to desert him for Jesus, John replied, “I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:28-30).

John wanted his disciples to follow Jesus Christ, and that is what true followers of Jesus want other people to do too. If you are not a Christian yet, we urge you, “Follow Jesus.” Turn from your sin and trust Jesus Christ, the unique and only Son of God, as your Savior. He came to be your Savior. He died on the cross to take away your sin. Believe it. Trust him. That is the first thing getting ready for Christmas is about.

Second, if you already are a Christian, you can prepare for Christmas by renewing your commitment to Jesus. Have the concerns of this world drawn you away from him who used to be your first love? Are you more concerned with the world’s acclaim than you are with his approval? If so, confess that to Jesus and allow these next days to be blessed ones in which he draws you back to the joy of that first love you once had with him.

Finally, tell others about Jesus. You ought to be doing that at all times, but it is especially right for you to be doing it at Christmas. That is what John did, and why he is remembered. Can’t you tell someone about Jesus Christ this Christmas? You must know people who need to hear what his coming to earth was all about. What a sad thing it would be to make all your other preparations for Christmas but leave him out of it.

Study Questions
  1. How can we encourage unbelievers to prepare for Christmas?
  2. How can we as believers prepare for Christmas?
Application

Reflection: Are the concerns of the world pulling you away from your initial commitment to follow wholeheartedly?

Application: Pray for direction, as well as grace and strength, to speak to someone who doesn’t know Christ this Christmas.

For Further Study: For additional thoughts about how to properly celebrate Christmas, download and read for free the PDF of James Boice’s Celebrating Christmas. (Discount will be applied at checkout.)

 

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Print
Tagged under
More Resources from James Montgomery Boice

Subscribe to the Think & Act Biblically Devotional

Alliance of Confessional Evangelicals

About the Alliance

The Alliance is a coalition of believers who hold to the historic creeds and confessions of the Reformed faith and proclaim biblical doctrine in order to foster a Reformed awakening in today’s Church.

Canadian Donors

Canadian Committee of The Bible Study Hour
PO Box 24087, RPO Josephine
North Bay, ON, P1B 0C7