The Real Meaning of Christmas: Chocolate!

A Chocolate Nativity, adapted from: http://www.acutting.co.uk/chocolate-nativity

I want to talk to you about the real meaning of Christmas today: chocolate!

That’s a joke!

I want us to use some chocolate to talk about the real meaning of Christmas.

I should warn you that some of this is slightly tenuous!

There’s a bit of artistic licence, and you have to hold yourself in readiness for some really bad puns, I’m afraid.

Please laugh politely.

It is Christmas!

And if anyone wants to buy some chocolate afterwards, we may be able to do a deal!

In the beginning, God created the galaxies.

But people decided to break away from God.

And it all became rocky.

God had promised that he would send a Saviour, who would put the world right.

Eventually, an angel appeared to a girl named Mary, and she was terrified.

The angel thought it might-eas-‘er (Malteseer) distress if he said to her, “Do not be afraid”.

Mary felt very unworthy, but she was God’s selection to be the mother of his son.

Although she was in a bit of a Twirl, Mary humbly put her trust in God.

Mary was promised in marriage to Joseph.

This was all kin’er a surprise (Kinder Surprise) to him.

He was a good egg (Kinder Surprise egg) so he planned to divorce Mary quietly, but an angel appeared to him in a dream to tell him that this was all God’s doing.

His son would save the people from their sins.

The Roman Emperor, Ceaser Augustus, d-éclair-ed that everyone had to go back to their home town to be taxed.

So Mary and Joseph had to make the journey betwixt Nazareth and Bethlehem, the city of great King David of old, because Joseph was of the house and line of David.

With Mary heavily pregnant, it was no picnic.

Of course they couldn’t take a Double Decker.

So I guess they buttoned up their coats – if they had Buttons in those days.

Maybe they put on their snickers.

Just when Mary was beginning to Flake, they came to the inn.

It may have been in a Quality Street.

Perhaps it was After Eight when they got there.

The inn keeper might have said to them, “If I had a room, I’d give you your-key (Yorkie), but we’re totally full.

You can use the stable if you like.

Of course you won’t be able to Locket, but at least it’s pretty dry”

Perhaps there were some Animals in the stable

There may have been a kitty kat.

Did it Nestle up to Jesus?

Certainly no Penguins.

Anyway, Jesus, God the Son, was born and they laid him in a manger.

Shepherds were out in the fields taking care of their sheep, when God gave them a boost.

Angels told them to go to see the baby who was born to be their saviour, Christ the Lord.

It was news of great joy for all the people.

Straight as an Aero (arrow) they headed into town.

They were there in a jaffa.

When they had seen the baby, they went on their way with celebrations, rejoicing and praising God.

The wise men from the East had seen a star (Starbar), perhaps up in the Milky Way or near Mars, which spoke to them of a new king.

They went for a hob nob with King Herod in his palace in Jerusalem.

They had heard a whisper of the one who was to be born king of the Jews.

But, horribole (Haribo) wicked king Herod was a Jammie Dodger.

He tried to fudge it and trick the wise men.

Herod said he wanted to worship Jesus, but really he wanted to kill him.

But the wise men were smarties and they didn’t fall for it.

God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.

In fact, they were heros because they risked their lives for Jesus by defying king Herod.

The wise men came to Jesus and presented him with their bounty, their gifts of gold, frankinsense and myrrh, and they bowed down and worshiped the baby as their king and their God.

You might say that the shepherds and the wise men were randoms.

They remind us that Jesus came for All Sorts.

His birth is good news of great joy today for you and for me.

I hope that’s been a useful Refresher on the Christmas story.

It would be great to take some Time out midst the Christmas Revels to think about God’s great gift to us of his Son.

The crunch(ie) question is whether we will trust him as our Saviour and seek to live with him as our Lord.

As the Bible says, we are to taste and see that the Lord is good.

* * *

I might also have said the wise men brought "Kingsize" gifts

Maybe used a Lion bar – I’m not Lion (lying)

Is there some chocolate called Divine?

Can you still get Planets? etc. etc.