The Gift

It’s Hard To Believe

Why do we talk about Christmas?

Happened over 200 years ago.

Doesn't apply to day does it?

Let’s pray

Picture the Manger - shepherds, farm animals, angels, glowing baby jesus, 3 wisemen

Not 3 wisemen, not a baby.

King Herod killed everyone under 2

Ever been around a 2 year old

Terrible 2’s

Wisemen knelt in front of a toddler

Matthew 2:10–11 ESV

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Unusual Gifts

Gold Frankincense, Myrrh

What is the strangest gift you ever got?

Bass slippers?

But each symbolized something

Gold - for a King

Frankincense - for a High Priest

Myrrh - ?

Myrrh

Mentioned 17x in Bible

Anesthetic

Most common known for embalming the dead

Jesus was born to die

Imagine if I could predict the all the scores of the next Super bowls and who would play.

700 years before Jesus was born Isaiah told about him and named him the Suffering Servant and the Lamb of God.

But before that, we must realize we have a problem and Jesus came to solve it.

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We are Sheep

Not a compliment

Train your dog - but not sheep

Sheep are Weak

Sheep are Witless

Sheep are Wayward

Isaiah 53:6–7 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

The Solution

Ever been hurt, betrayed, left out, misunderstood?

Jesus understands

Isaiah 53:3–5 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

The Man of Sorrow

Why follow Jesus?

He suffered and sacrificed for you.

Prayed so hard he bled - Hemosiderosis

Not my will

Arrested falesly

stripped and beaten

carried a cross - 100 lbs

7 inch nails

Separated for the first time form the Father

It is finished - paid in full

Isaiah 53:8–9 ESV

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Why it Matters.

Different from every other belief

Passover

once a year - the blood of the lamb covered

It was a picture of what Jesus would do for good

Myrrh

the Gift that foreshadowed hi death

Luke 9:22–23 ESV

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

It’s Hard To Believe

Not just a holy story

Your lies, your selfishness, your hated and anger

When God became flesh—Wisemen travelled hundreds miles—Myrrh!

This child—God in flesh—Lamb of God—Born to die—Live!

Not baby in a manger—Lamb of God—Died for you—Died for me.