The Prophesied Messiah Brings New Life
Notes
Transcript
Scene 1/ Christmas day, a celebration, maybe even a celebration of the birth of Jesus; but do we really recognise what happened on that first Christmas day? When that baby was born, few recognised him. (John 1:10)
Christmas Day is a day of celebration!
In the lead up to Christmas there are all sorts of celebrations.
There are work Christmas parties.
There are school end of year concerts.
There are Christmas carols.
Who celebrated this morning when you opened some presents?
When you go into shopping centres, it is very clear that this is a time of festivity.
Usually there will be a huge Santa Village
In fact at Orion shopping centre at Springfield last week there was an enormous line of families waiting their turn to get into the Santa Village.
In reality it is all about festivity and getting you to buy things.
Occassionally you will see a manger scene, but if there is one it will have a lessor place, the birth of Christ is acknowledged but it isn’t central.
All of the big Christmas carols in the capital cities have some songs which acknowledge the birth of Christ.
Tonight on the news there will be a story about church services and a few words from some church leaders.
There will be stories about meals provided to those who can’t afford a Christmas lunch, or who sadly don’t have a family to share it with.
The birth of the baby Jesus will be celebrated.
But do we really recognise what happened on that first Christmas day?
The reality was very different from what we celebrate today.
Yes the angels appeared to some shepherds.
Yes the shepherds told the towns people of Bethlehem.
But that was about it.
Nothing else really happened.
It seems that for most of the world and even in the villages of Judea, life just continued on as normal.
John 1:10 simply tells us that when that baby was born, few recognised him.
He came to the physical world he created.
The creator of heaven & earth, incarnate as a human baby.
But humanity as a whole didn’t even notice.
Apart from a few shepherds; and two old people at the temple, no one noticed Jesus’ birth.
A handful of people.
There was no great fuss.
Matthew’s Gospel tells us that some time later some Magi, wise men from the east arrived.
And the King at the time, a very insecure fellow by the name of Herod sought to get rid of the child Jesus.
But that is it.
The people, who should have been expecting him, didn’t even notice his birth.
The people, who should have welcomed him, didn’t even bother to go and see for themselves if the Magi were correct.
Rather than welcoming him; they actively rejected him.
Scene 2/ Yet that baby, born in humble circumstances, is the Logos, the creative word, who is God. (John 1:18)
John’s gospel in chapter 1 and verses 14 & 18 says these incredible words.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
God revealed to us.
A child, who grew into a man.
A man who is both fully human and fully divine.
Christ, the Lord.
When he was born, few recognised him.
Yet God had turned up on earth.
When he was born, few recognised him.
Yet God was made known to man.
When he was born few recognised him.
Yet through him we can know God.
It is an incredible journey, an incredible privilege to be known by God and to know God.
To understand the depth of this revelation we need to understand the enormous difference between knowing about God & knowing God.
You can look at it this way.
Right now there are astronauts on the international space station.
A couple of them have been up there a lot longer than planned because their space ship had a malfunction and now they are waiting for the next one so they can get home.
There is an emergency spaceship docked but if they use that then the remaining crew have no way to escape if they need to.
Now you can study rocket science your entire life.
You can also study astro physics.
You could also study medicine & specialise as a space travel physician.
You could watch every video of every take off, mission & landing.
You could even go in the simulators and know everything about travel outside the atmosphere of this planet.
But until you strap yourself to the top of the rocket.
Until you experience the lift off and the journey into space.
Until you look down upon the earth.
Until you put on that space suit and step outside the space craft.
You don’t really know what it is to be an astronaut.
It is the same with Christ.
You can know about him.
But until you know him.
Until you have experienced his work in your life.
You do not know God.
This truth demands that we make a decision.
Scene 3/ We need to understand; that baby born in humble circumstances demands a response, acceptance of him as God or rejection of him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
Either Jesus is who he claimed.
Either he is who his disciples came to believe him to be.
Either he is what he proved himself to be by being born as a human,
Growing up and then dying a sacrificial death on that cross in our place,
And then rising from the dead.
Or he is nothing.
That baby, whose birth we celebrate today, changed the world.
That baby who is recognised by billions as being God incarnate.
God revealed to humanity; demands a response.
Throughout the writings of the Apostle John he speaks of belief in Christ.
John does not use the word belief to indicate that we mentally agree with something.
John uses the word belief to indicate action.
“I believe something therefore I act on that belief”
“I believe Jesus is God incarnate, come into this world so that I can know God.”
Therefore I act on that belief and I allow this belief to posses me and direct everything I am and do!
The result is that the teachings of that baby, who grew into the man Jesus, have done more to lift people out of poverty and oppression than any force this world has ever known.
This demands a response.
Do we recognise his birth for what it is, God being made known to humanity; humanity being able to know God.
Or do we reject him and reject the knowledge of God.
Scene 4/ Those who accept become God’s children, born anew, born to be with God forever.
13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
This is not something we achieve because some distant relative was a minister and as a result we somehow gain merit with God.
Nor is it something we deserve because we haven’t been as bad as some other people and as a result we get across the line.
Nor is it something we gain because we have done good and therefore we have earnt our place in heaven.
It is only as a result of the gift of God.
The gift of life made possible because the Logos, the creative word who is God made it possible.[1]
It is the work of God alone.
A gift to be received.[2]
Scene 5/ Those who accept this gift live in the love of God; not under the condemnation of law. (John 1:16-17)
There is this simple contrast.
A contrast between acceptance or rejection of Christ.
A contrast between grace; undeserved favour.
And law; getting what we deserve.
Many see Christ, but do not recognise him for who he is; those who believe, experience grace and the very presence of God.
This is what really happened on that first Christmas Day.
It is so much more than a nice story.
It is so much more than a nice warm feeling and some thoughts about being kind.
The birth of Jesus demands a response.
We accept him as Lord and let him take his rightful place in our lives.
Or we refuse to recognise him and so reject God made known to humanity and the opportunity to be known by God.
What is your choice this Christmas?
[1] Borchert, G. L. (1996). John 1–11 (Vol. 25A, p. 118). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 1:13). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
