A Christmas Story
Sermon Title: A Christmas Story
Sermon Date: 12-25-2016
Some years ago, the United States sent a capsule to the moon, and for the first time a man—Neil Armstrong—walked on the moon. The President at that time said, “The planting of human feet upon the moon is the greatest event in human history.”
I mean no disrespect, but he was totally wrong. The greatest event in human history was not planting human feet upon the moon but when God came to a manger in Bethlehem and His feet were planted upon Earth. That’s the greatest event. We call that the incarnation.
Almighty God stepped out of heaven’s ivory palaces into this world of woe and put His feet upon earth.
What good does it do us to put a man on the moon if we can’t get God in our hearts? What good is it to know how the heavens go and not know Jesus, and how to go to heaven? What good is it to know astronomy and not know Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star? What good is it to know botany and study the flowers and not know Jesus, heaven’s sweetest rose, the Rose of Sharon? What good is it to know geology and the ages of the rocks and not know Jesus, the Rock of Ages? What good is it to know the events of history and not know that history is “His story”?
N.T. Wright shares in his book Following Jesus:
“The longer you look at Jesus, the more you will want to serve him in his world. That is, of course, if it’s the real Jesus you’re looking at. Plenty of people in the church and outside it have made up a ‘Jesus’ for themselves, and have found that this invented character makes few real demands on them. He makes them feel happy from time to time but doesn’t challenge them, doesn’t suggest that they get up and do something about the plight of the world. Which is, of course, what the real Jesus had an uncomfortable habit of doing.”
If there is no virgin birth, none of us is going to heaven. Our salvation is inextricably interwoven with the virgin birth. No virgin birth, no deity. No deity, no sinless life. No sinless life, no sacrificial death. No sacrificial death, no salvation. No salvation, no heaven—no eternity with God.
- To Restore
Jesus is a reconciler. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
- He restores joy from sadness
Luke 2:10 - And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
John 15:11 - These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 3:29, John 16:24, John 17:13, 1 John 1:4
- He restores light out of darkness
Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:16 says the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
- He restores life from death
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
(Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV)
- To Redeem
A little lamb was born in Bethlehem. The great I AM was born a lamb. Most of us would never have heard of Bethlehem, a village south of Jerusalem, had not a little Lamb been born there. But His birth there was not accidental. It had been prophesied for centuries.
"But thou Bethlehem, Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
Did you know that for centuries Passover lambs were raised in Bethlehem? In those shepherds' fields outside Bethlehem, a very special breed of sacrificial lamb was raised and nurtured to be brought to Jerusalem at Passover to be slaughtered to cover the people's sins. How fitting that Mary's Lamb, God's perfect Lamb, the Lord Jesus, would be born there! And He was born in a stable. How fitting that a sacrificial Lamb would be born in a stable! This Lamb came to be the final Passover lamb, the one sacrificed for sin forever. Your destiny, my destiny, the destiny of the world was wrapped up in Mary's little Lamb.
May I ask you a question? In this Christmas season, have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Mary had a little Lamb. His fleece was white as snow.
Son of God from Heaven above, for sinners here below.
Mary's Son, Eternal God, He — the Great I Am,
With wool so white on Christmas night became a little Lamb.
Mary had a little Lamb. His fleece was white as snow.
That spotless Lamb was crucified to pay the debt I owe.
Oh, spotless Lamb, with wool so white, Thy crimson blood, I know,
Can take away my crimson sin, and wash me white as snow.
- To Reign
- To reign in your life now
- To reign in eternity
Luke 1: 33 And of His Kingdom there shall be no end.