A Role Written for the Savior
Casting the Christmas Story • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
I am excited to see that we have a white Christmas this year, this is the first time since 2010 that there has been a white Christmas in Cincinnati. I very clearly remember that was a snowy year, because a couple of months later our son Brody was born in the middle of a snow emergency.
I am excited to conclude our Christmas series this year Casting the Nativity — We have considered the role of the Magi and of the Shepherds and of the parents of Jesus as we see them in the Nativity — But today our focus isn’t on people who were cast into roles but upon Jesus for which the role was written. Our message this morning is entitled A Role Written for the Savior.
A role we find filled in John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Let’s Pray
Controversy
Controversy
I have mentioned this before already, but what really stands out to me about Christmas this year in 2022 is a couple of debates that have sprung up, one of which is a new topic and the other is one that has been around for some time.
Nativity
Nativity
The first debate that I have seen become an issue is the subject of nativity scenes. This is an old debate. The claim is that nativity scenes are a violation of the 2nd commandment. Let me read Deut 5:8 for you and you will see where this thinking comes from.
8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
And on the surface can understand the position, in fact years ago I held the position that you should not have nativity scenes for this very reason. But if you notice, there is a colon at the end of the verse. It points you to the very important caveat in v9
9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
The concern of the graven image is directly tied to the idea of forming an idol to be bowed down to or to be used as a focus for worship. For us as Baptists in particular there is an association with religious statues and their use as a focus for worship by the Catholic church, and I understand the reaction against that.
We really can’t take verse 8 without verse 9. But if we do then we have to remember that this command isn’t just about nativity scenes. v8 says that graven or carved images shouldn’t be made of anything that is in heaven above. So, then those little porcelain birds that adorn curio cabinets would be out and so would be pictures of butterflies. — Or anything that is on earth, so that means no pictures of deer or chickens or cows, etc. No nutcrackers that look like men, no Norman Rockwell paintings, I could go on. — And also nothing in the waters. So no pictures of whales or fish, I’m not sure if it’s OK have your prize fish mounted and hung on the wall but with poorness of my fishing skills I would never have to make that determination.
The best way to have good theology is to have consistent theology. You can’t just apply the second commandment to a nativity scene without applying it to everything else. I can respect someone who truly believes that they are violating God’s law by having any man made images of living creatures as long as that is applied across the board — otherwise it really starts to just become a tool for pharisaical christians to look down their noses at other believers.
To that end, having a nativity scene in our house has become very important to me. More, now than ever. This year it seems that you could barely find Christ in Christmas if you sent out a search party. Having a nativity scene front and center in our house is a reminder, a declaration that what we are celebrating isn’t tree’s and lights, gifts and visa bills — What we are celebrating is what we read in Luke 2:11
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Church on Christmas
Church on Christmas
The second debate is whether or not to cancel church since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday was in 2016 and the next time, if you can believe it will be in 2033.
If you are here this morning then you have joined us in Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The reality that many Christians would not only forsake assembling together but would do so on the day that we celebrate the birth of the savior is beyond me — Especially given the very well known saying of Jesus that we find in Matthew 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
And you can argue that it isn’t about gifts it’s about spending time with family. But didn’t Jesus also say in Luke 14:25-27
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
This doesn’t mean hate like you and I would think it but what Jesus is saying here is that you must love Him more than your family to be Christ’s disciple — period — full stop. There aren’t these levels of being a follower of Jesus — It’s not that you just aren’t as commited of a Christian if you love your family more than Christ — You AREN’T a Christian.
Only God
Only God
In those places where we still see nativity scenes and see the baby Jesus, we see a role that could only go to God. Rev 13:8 describes Jesus as Rev 13:8
Revelation 13:8 (KJV 1900)
8 ... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Before the mud that formed Adam was called into existence by the word of God: it was already determined that this Baby would lay in a manger in Bethlehem. — It was already determined that the boy would grow into a man — and it was already determined that in death that man would take upon himself the sins of the world.
In Hebrews 10:5-7 we read this
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
John MacArthur says this of what we just read:
That passage of Scripture gives us a remarkable look at the heart of the Savior before His birth. He knew He was entering the world to be the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. His body had been divinely prepared by God specifically for that purpose. Jesus was going to die for the sins of the world, and He knew it. Moreover, He was doing it willingly. That was the whole point of the incarnation.
This was a role that only the Word of God could fulfill. Let’s look at John 1:14 again
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The word Word which we find in this verse is probably one of the most commonly exposited Greek words in the New Testament — I would say right after the words that translate to love. It is the word λόγος (Logos) — It’s more than just word as in those pieces of language used to construct a sentence. It is more than someones integrity like you and I might say that we are keeping our word. — It encompass the entirety of communication and expression.
We won’t have time for a theological discourse on the nature of the Trinity this morning but what I can tell you is this, the baby in the manager — that focal point at the center of every nativity. — That is the person of God which is the expression of who God is, made flesh as a baby.
First, you have to understand that this baby in a manger in Bethlehem condescended his throne in heaven to come to earth, and in doing so demonstrated his humility. Take a look at how it is worded in Philippians 2:6-9
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
This isn’t to mean that Joseph and Mary were poor in the way we might consider people in 3rd world countries poor. Joseph was a tradesman and his skills were very portable and very usable wherever he went. — But still, when it came time to dedicate Jesus in the temple we read in Luke 2:22-24
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
They offered turtledoves or pigeons, this was the offering required for those who could not afford a lamb for an offering. Nobody could look at the king of kings in this abode for livestock and immediately appreciate that it is He who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. — But in this birth Jesus communicated something about God. — We see a picture of a humble and meek estate, especially for a King but in being incarnated as a human Jesus left his grand estate in heaven to take on lowliness of humanity.
But even still — this baby was a body prepared to be sacrificed.
It is hard to think of a baby that way. A body prepared for sacrifice. But here upon the manger lay the baby Jesus, like a lamb laying upon an alter.
Loosing it’s meaning
Loosing it’s meaning
This year I read the book of A Christmas Carol for the first time. I have always been a fan of the story from the various movies that have been adapted from the book. Charles Dickens has been credited as the man that invented the modern Christmas, by writing the book.
in 1641 Puritans had taken political control in England and Christmas at that time had become nothing but a time for feasting and drunkeness. There became an increasing sentiment that Christmas had become a time more for sin than for honoring the savior. Most believed it was far more appropriate to celebrate with a time of fasting rather than feasting.
The Pilgrims who came to America hated Christmas. They outlawed what they called the exchanging of gifts and greetings and similar satanical practices and they levied a fine against those who did not comply of around $8,000 in todays money.
Charle’s Dickens A Christmas Carol put celebrating Christmas back in public favor and really set in motion what we consider Christmas today.
Challenge
Challenge
Today it is easy to get sucked into the worldliness of Christmas. — And, While more and more I get where the Puritans were coming from, I hate the idea of losing this celebration once a year of the birth of Christ and the traditions that have grown up around it.
This Christmas I am not going to worry about what other people are doing. I am a Christian. I’m going to celebrate Christ. — And by the looks of it, for you have made it to church today, even though Christmas fell on a Sunday, you have too.
I would like to think that if we as a church found ourselves in a society that could no longer afford the luxury of the gift exchange or the decorations or even the Christmas feast — That we would be content in celebrating the glory of the word becoming flesh to dwell among us.
Let’s Pray