The Way Home

Luke 2:1–20 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Intro: Carol’s Home

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1. Jesus Left His Heavenly Home

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus was willing to leave His home, a place of comfort, beauty, perfection for you

He came down and didn’t even have an inn to be born in, but was instead born amongst the animals and placed in a manger, a feeding trough.

Soon after this Jesus family was forced to flee their homeland and hide in Egypt because of the murderous plot of Herod in which he killed all of the baby boys in Bethlehem.

Later in life Jesus explained to His disciples that the way He was leading them meant that He had no home.

Matthew 8:20 ESV

20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

This mission of Jesus placed Him even lower than the animals. Even those critters have homes, but Jesus had given it all up. Here He also teaches us that if we are to join Jesus as His disciples, we are also called to give up everything and follow Him. His way is one that doesn’t run away from suffering and humble servanthood, but towards it.

He came to be our brother, to suffer like we do, to suffer & die because of what we have done. His mission led Him straight to the Cross where He would be left stripped of everything.

How deep is His love for you that He would be willing to give up everything for you.

2. Jesus wants your heart to be His home

John 16:5–11 ESV

5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Jesus prepared His disciples for the time that He would leave them. His WAY would lead Him not only to His sacrificial death on the Cross, but to rise from the dead on the third day, and to ascend into heaven and prepare a heavenly home for us who believe in Him.

But this meant that He would be leaving them behind for a time. Yet He would not leave them alone. He promised to send them His Spirit, the person of the Holy Spirit, the “Helper.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.

1 Corinthians 6:17 ESV

17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

When we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus, we can truly say, “My heart is His home.”

“His heart is my home.” -Matt Maher

Song: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Everybody has trials and temptations Everybody knows heart break, isolation But we can lay our burdens down Lay our burdens down What a friend we have in Jesus East to west my sins are gone I see grace on every horizon And forever and ever His heart is my home

3. Jesus is THE WAY HOME

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.