The Christmas Story

What Christian characteristic is most celebrated in the Christmas story? There are three.

Joy: “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”
Peace: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men.”
Love: “For God so loved the world that He sent His Son.”

It is about these three that all the Christmas songs, cards, sermons, and decorations celebrate.

What Christian character is least celebrated at Christmas? Humility
What Christian character is most represented? Humility
What Godly characteristic is most evident? Humility

Philippians 2:3-8 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Jesus was not born in a prestigious town.
His mother and father were not high society.
He did not enter the world in robes of purple.
He did not carry a jeweled scepter.
He did not come to us in gleaming glory.
He did not burst on to the scenes of history riding a white horse.
He was not escorted by the wealthy or powerful.
He did not achieve, acquire, triumph, or climb the ladder of success.
He had no long life to leave a legacy.
When taken to court, no high priced lawyers defended Him.
When sentenced he received no leniency.
His death was not heroic, daring, or noble.

He was born
In a little town called Bethlehem,
To a virgin,
And a carpenter,
In a cave,
Surrounded by hay and stars,
And welcomed by shepherds.
Later welcomed by a few unknown wisemen from a foreign country.
For His first birthday soldiers killed all the male babies two years old and younger.
He grew up as a redneck from Galilee,
Became an itinerate preacher,
Surrounded himself with fishermen and outcasts,
And was on the public scene only briefly.
Ultimately, His followers deserted Him.
Liars and schemers had him arrested, tried, and convicted.
He was publicly whipped and beaten mercilessly.
While waiting his execution, he was rideculed and rudely mistreated.
He was forced to carry the instrument of his death through the streets.
He was hung as a criminal on a cross.
Even while dying, he was mocked and tormented.

Humility was evident from the Godhead, to the manger, in Galilee, in His gospel, entering the Golden Gate, in the grape juice, in the Garden, in the synagogue, at Golgotha, and the grave.

1 Peter 1:18-19 "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

That which purchased our salvation was humble blood, offered humbly upon a cross, by God who humbly stepped away from His throne to humbly express His unconditional love for sinners, through an act of humble sacrifice, providing the price for sin which his holy character required.