The Scandal of Christmas

The Scandal of Christmas

Genesis 3:1-10 The Message… The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?”   2-3 The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’”   4-5 The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”   6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did “see what’s really going on”—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. 8 When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.   9 God called to the Man: “Where are you?”   10 He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.”

Introduction: Scandal is defined as an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage.

Transition: The Christmas story is familiar to us, but the scandalous truth is something we choose ignore and deem as inappropriate for our picturesque customs.

Exposition: The scandal of Christmas is sin, which is rooted in self and that is a dilemma that demands a savior.

Conclusion: Yes, our story is scandalous but our God is the solvent for sins scarlet stain!