Love Came Down

Introduction

The title of the message this morning is that “love came down.” Love came down and met us at our greatest need.

with the exception of the word “life,” love is the most abstract term in the Bible. God’s love, the key attribute of His dealing with mankind in the OT, comes to its pinnacle in the NT when His Son, His one and only Son, Jesus, came down as God incarnate to save us from our sins.

Charles Spurgeon

"Infinite and yet an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son."

the 19th century, “Prince of Preachers”, was so overwhelmed at the humility God revealed in the form of His Son, Jesus in becoming a man for the sake of mankind.

Max Lucado

"The omnipotent, in one instant, made Himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl."

Lucado highlights the vulnerability and humility of Jesus for you and me.

C.S. Lewis

"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God."

A reflection of the deep love and redemptive purpose behind Christ’s birth.

Magnitude of Love

1 John 4:7–8 “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

The very nature and attribute that we can exhibit is sourced in God.

Other than the source of our love, we discover today that of the other attributes we have studied in this period of Advent, there is no other attribute as important as love.

Galatians 5:22–23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

The very first attribute listed in the fruits of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Manner of Love

Love is define as a felling of deep affection.

When we read 1 Cor. 13 & we study this important subject, we realize from a Biblical perspective that love is much more than a feeling. Love has feet. Love expresses itself. Love is manifested in actions, not words even though words are important and they build us up, love is so much more.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 “4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Motive of our Love

Luke 10:25–28 “25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.””

Love 546 x

1 Cor. 13 does remind us that love is manifested. It takes on an appearance, it reveals acts of kindness, love is an action word and love is felt ultimately in our actions.

Romans 5:8 “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God demonstrated His love toward us, and today in our text we read that He manifested His love toward us.

Manifest-phaneroo-rendered apparent, meaning God showed His love toward us.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 5319. φανερόω

5319. φανερόω phanĕrŏō, fan-er-ŏ´-o; from 5318; to render apparent (lit. or fig.):—appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).

We want to answer the most basic question today, “how can I know God loves me?” “How has the Lord demonstrated or shown His love for me?”

Turn in your Bibles this morning to:

1 John 4:9-11

1 John 4:9–11 NKJV

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Prayer

Message

"Love is a feeling you feel when you feel a feeling you've never felt before."

When we hear that catchy phrase it highlights an emotion, an overwhelming experience that is new and different from anything we have experienced. Love is difficult to put into words.

In the first letter of John, written by John the Beloved, of Peter, James & John, John has been framing this concept of love and its source in our Lord. Our ability to love comes about at birth, our DNA instills in us the ability to love because we have been created in God’s image.

John begins to shed light into this abstract attribute of love. The subject is broad but He begins to microscope in a manner we can see, touch, and feel love.

1 John 4:7–8 “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Firstly, John reveals to us how love has been presented to us.

The Presentation of Love (1 John 4:9)

1 John 4:9 “9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

What are we talking about this morning? God loves us in tangible, practical ways that we can touch and feel.

Let’s rekindle the Christmas story and be reminded as to how God demonstrates His love towards us.

The ultimate manifestation is in the gift of His Son, Jesus to save us from our sins. Let’s look at other ways He loves us.

Divine Revelation

Firstly, God manifested His love through divine revelation. He did not just force feed the Christmas story, but with love and compassion and engagement He brought mankind into His divine plan and communicated and eased their insecurities. He engaged the personalities of the Christmas story.

God sent the Angel Gabriel to assure and comfort Mary.

To Mary (Luke 1:26-38): God sends Gabriel to Mary with the message of Christ's conception, reassuring her that she is favored and loved by God.

Listen to Luke 1:28 “28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!””

How has the Lord shown His favor toward you? You might say this morning by the very fact that I sit here at Christmas as a born again believer. Jesus met me where I was and drew me out of a life of sin and I am saved. He didn’t have to do that, but he chose to reach out to me, just as He reached out to Mary.

“Count your blessings, name them one by one.”

Can you reflect upon God’s hand upon you and saying to you, “highly favored one.”

Did God upset the apple cart of life for Mary & Joseph? By no means. He realized they were in love. He realized they wanted to build a life together. He realized they would want children of their own.

So, what does God do as a manifested love, a demonstrated love. He, through His angel, Gabriel, goes and speaks to Joseph.

Matthew 1:18–21 “18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

Jesus met Joseph at his lowest ebb. He met Joseph through divine revelation over the thing that hurt him to his very core. He thought His future wife had been unfaithful.

Close your eyes for just a moment and contemplate in these moments how God has demonstrated His love for you in giving His Son in your stead..... but more than that, how you have felt, touched and know the Love Jesus has for you in how that He has reached out and loved you.

In your family? Your career? Your friends, Your church, your health, the peace, hope, and joy....and love? Has the Lord met you in your greatest needs?

Let me get you to reflect upon another way the Lord loves you. Have there been times you felt as the underdog or not recognized for your efforts or looked over whether it be in your career or you may have felt you did not fit in with the in laws, your new neighborhood, your new work team, you feel you are an outcast.

The Overlooked

God recognizes those that are overlooked.

Oh dearly beloved, if any group had self concept issues and felt inferior it would have been the shepherds. They were the bottom of the social strata.

Luke 2:8–14 “8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!””

Listen to me: We always reflect upon the announcement to the Shepherds but I do not know that we give justice to the manner in which Jesus made the announcement.

“the glory of the Lord shone around them.” “and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

God brought about fanfare to arrest the shepherds attention and share that He was bring peace to all men including shepherds. God was determined that the shepherds would respond to the good news.

How has God recognized you from the pack? How has the Lord loved on you when it seemed you were down for the 10 count? What can you look back on in your life and know that only by the grace of God things turned out as they did?

Through Providential Protection

Oh dear church, God’s love was manifested in how He offered divine protection to the Holy family.

Matthew 2:13–15 “13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.””

Matthew 2:19–23 “19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.””

God's love is seen in the way that He bestowed His providential protection on the Holy Family through angelic warnings, guiding Joseph to flee to Egypt and later return safely.

Has God protected you? Has God watched over you in a period of immaturity when you made bad choices? Has God protected you from making a poor career choices or choosing the wrong mate to marry?

Garth Brooks sings “thank God for unanswered prayers.” How many times has God placed roadblocks in our lives as His divine watch care from us being led down a primrose path?

The Star for the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12): God provides a celestial sign to lead the Magi to Jesus, showing His love extends to the Gentiles and those who seek Him.

Matthew 2:12 “12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”

Sub-point: God presented His love by sending His Son into the world.

Christmas Connection: Luke 2:11-12

Luke 2:11–12 “11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.””

Savior-Soter-deliverer

– The angel’s announcement to the shepherds reveals God’s love in presenting the Savior as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

The swaddling clothes reminds us of the humanity of our Lord-God incarnate coming to meet us in the human need for love. Amen.

The swaddling clothes reminds us that God is concerned about the lesser things that bring us comfort in this world. What are some of the traditions, the scenes of Christmas that brings comfort, peace, joy, and love to you?

Application: Highlight how the incarnation is the ultimate display of God’s love, meeting humanity in our need.

The Purpose of Love (1 John 4:10)

1 John 4:10 “10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Sub-point: The purpose of God’s love is propitiation, showing His commitment to redeem us from sin.

Christmas Connection: Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 “21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

The purpose of God’s love revealed in the Christmas story is not in the mager scene, not in the star, not in the wisemen, or the shepherds, but on His redemptive act for mankind. The birth of Christ and everything we have reflected on this Christmas season or participated in as we celebrate is not to celebrate in the sentiments or the symbolism's, but to understand that God’s actions were deeply intentional. In God’s great love for you and me and for all humanity, He wanted to restore the broken relationship with humanity. He wanted to wipe away the sin for those that receive His love gift by reconciling us to Himself. He wanted to restore the broken relationship He has with you and me.

– The angel tells Joseph, “He will save His people from their sins,” linking Christ’s birth with the purpose of atonement.

Propitiation-hilasmos-Sin offering or sacrifice for atonement.

Hebrews 9:22 “22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

Those beautiful words of Mary Did You Know written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene in the first stanza says this:

Mary, did you know That your baby boy Would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know That your baby boy Would save our sons and daughters? Did you know That your baby boy Has come to make you new? This Child that you delivered Will soon deliver you.

Dearly beloved, we are talking about this love that came down this morning. This love that God manifested toward us in the birth, the life, the death and sacrifice, and yes the resurrection of our Lord and Savior for us.

As we think about the purpose for which He came, let’s be clear as to how raw and real the reality of what Jesus was facing in the humanity of Christ.

When we consider the prophetic words Jesus Himself stated before His time to go to the cross I am overwhelmed at His great love manifested for us.

Words in Red that Jesus Himself Said

Matthew 20:28 “28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””

John 3:14–16 “14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 10:11 “11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

John 10:15 “15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

John 12:27 “27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”

Oh dear church, do not just see Christmas as a celebration of Jesus’ birth, but the beginning of God’s plan to save humanity, but also to engage us in His divine plan of leading others to His saving knowledge.

The Practice of Love (1 John 4:11)

1 John 4:11 “11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Sub-point: Believers are called to practice love as God loved us.

As John the Beloved wrote and clearly communicated the nature of love founded in the God we love and His Son Jesus, He sent. He stated in no uncertain terms, “if God so loves us, we also ought to love one another.”

We ought to do it.

Ought-Opheilo-Which means its an obligatory term. We owe it to God based on what He sacrificed for us. This word can refer to owing money or goods, or more broadly to being obligated. We know that we were saved for free. Nothing we can do to earn our salvation. But the term does refer to in the fact we ought to do it is that we have a debt to pay to Jesus for what He did for us. We should love others as He so graciously has loved us.

How can we practice love this Christmas?

Do as Mary practiced by sacrificial submission and trust.

Luke 1:38 “38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

Sacrifice: Mary accepted the divine plan despite the personal cost, which included potential shame, misunderstanding, and the risk of rejection in her community. She surrendered her plans and reputation to fulfill God's purpose.

Reflection of Love: Her willingness to carry the Christ child demonstrated sacrificial love rooted in faith and obedience to the Lord.

What areas of your life is God calling you to submit and trust Him. Is it with your time, is it with your treasures, is it trusting His decisions even though you see things differently?

Shepherds’ Sacrifice of Time and Labor

Luke 2:15-16: "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."

Sacrifice: The shepherds left their flocks. They stopped life as it was. They immediately changed direction to seek Jesus. They risked their livelihood and security to respond to the angelic message.

Reflection of Love: Their actions demonstrated a new love for God that prioritized their worship, their obedience and devotion to the angelic announcement.

Have you rendered your calendar over to Jesus? Is He your highest priority? Does everything about your persona testify to family and friends and coworkers that “for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

Is your love for Jesus a priority this Christmas?

Simeon and Anna practiced patience and prayer to see God move in their lives.

Luke 2:25-38: Simeon and Anna spent their lives waiting for the Messiah, worshiping and praying faithfully.

Simeon’s Sacrifice: He patiently waited for the “Consolation of Israel,” trusting God’s promise, even into old age.

Anna’s Sacrifice: Anna, a widow for decades, devoted herself entirely to God through fasting and prayer, living in the temple.

Reflection of Love: Their sacrifices of time and devotion showed their unwavering faith and love for God’s redemptive plan.

Matthew 2:11 – The Magi demonstrate love in action as they worshipped and gave sacrificially gifts to the Christ child. They expended resources in travel.

They gave of their time, talents, and gifts for the Lord.

Oh church family, may we love pragmatically. May we love in tangible ways, reflecting the self-giving love of God through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and service during the Christmas season.

In closing, as we think about love, a manifested love let’s consider John 3:16:

John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Jesus gave to us. In giving back, that love that we ought to manifest. How will you show your love for Him this Christmas?

Love through giving of yourself, your time, your talents, your money, prayer, patience, a testimony?

The greatest gift you can give Jesus is your soul. He wants to show and demonstrate His love to you by saving your soul. Amen?

Let’s pray.