Silent Night

Introduction:

2,000 years ago, an even took place that sent shock waves through the world. It started off slowly and with little visible affects, but soon the ripples from the event began to grow in intensity. Demanding the attention of the world. The event that sparked this cataclysmic shift was the unassuming birth of a baby boy.

Though the advent of this child had been promised for centuries, the world was caught off guard and ill-prepared for him. Though the world was ill-prepared, his advent took place at the right time, the perfect time.

For the lengthen of time shows us the greatness of the one who has come, as the the histories display the multitude of heralds who proceed his coming.

Galatians 4:4–5“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

The Time Has Come:

What we celebrate tonight, and what we remember in joy, is not that he will becoming, but rather that he has already come, and that he will come again as promised.

Luke 2:6–7 “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

John 14:2–3 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

As Luke records for us in verse 6, “the time came,” helping us understand that it is not simply that nature has taken its course and now it was time for Mary to give birth. But much more importantly, the right time had come for, according to God’s purposes and timing, for the child who would save the people from sin, has come.

Nothing that God does or brings about is by accident. Rather it is brought about with the highest level of care and precision done according to the infinite wisdom of God the Father. Nothing is left to chances, for even the very moment that the baby was born was ordained.

This should give us great comfort in life, as we look at everything that happens, whether good or bad, and know that God is bringing about his purposes. He is not the author of evil, but that which the enemy uses for evil, God refashions to be in the end an instrument of good.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Which means that in the hope that we have in the Advent of this child, we can find peace with God. Peace that life has meaning and purpose, but only in Him, joy that even in the pain and hurt that we experience in life He is present in Christ. And confident that regardless of what lies before me, in Christ I am not forced to face them alone, for he is my strength and my song.

Conclusion: The Condensation of the King of Glory:

The ripple affects of the birth of Jesus in a far away place and time, are still affecting us today, and still turning the world upside down.

Because this child was no ordinary child, instead he was and is the King of Glory, who has come to deal with the brokenness of the world and set things right again! To free you from slavery to sin, by bringing you out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.

Philippians 2:5–8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This is what the King of Glory has done, he has emptied himself, took upon himself the form of a servant, by being born in the likeness of men, and then humbled himself to the point of death. So that he could destroy the power of sin and death over humanity. This is unprecedented in the world religions. For all the world’s religions says that we must work our way to God, by doing good works to appease him.

But Christianity stands opposed to that way of thinking, by showing us that it is God who has come to us! That is what is celebrated, that is what Christmas is all about.

Galatians 4:4–5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

The Time has come, salvation is here, embrace the King of Glory and experience life eternal!