The Purpose of His Coming

Introduction: Kids playing with wrapping paper rather than the gift.

The purpose of the wrapping is not to replace the gift — it is to present the gift.

C. S. Lewis said in his book on miracles:

“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation.”

— Miracles, ch. 14

He argues that if God became man, then every other miracle becomes plausible; if God did not become man, Christianity collapses.

The Incarnation is

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Incarnation is Jesus coming to Earth as a human.

This is how we tend to picture Jesus — as a human — for good reason.

However, if we only focus on the humanity of Jesus, it is like being distracted with wrapping paper and neglecting the gift.

ILLUST - receiving a gift that you ask for is great - but even greater is receiving a gift you never knew you needed!! (Example?)

Why the Incarnation from On the Incarnation:

1. Because only the Creator can restore creation (overcoming corruption and death).

• If God simply let humanity perish:

He would be unfaithful to His goodness and to His purpose in creating humans for life.

• If God simply ignored sin:

He would be untrue to His own law (“you shall die”).

2. Because only the Jesus could pay the debt of death on behalf of all mankind by representing both God and man.

3. Because Jesus gives us a true and full knowledge of God (overcoming ignorance and idolatry).

The Creator came to us so that we might come to him.

“The next six verses (15-20) of the letter are generally, and rightly, reckoned among the most important Christological passages in the New Testament.:

Wright, N. T. 1986. Colossians and Philemon: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 12. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

We are going to see two aspects of who Jesus is that make the case for four truths we can apply this Christmas based on the Incarnation.

Jesus is Supreme over all Creation (15-17)

Jesus is Sufficient for all Redemption (18-20)

This structure is evidenced by the two nouns:

(v15) He is the image of the invisible God. . .

(v18) He is the head of the body, the church.

“He appeared in a human body only because of the love and goodness of His Father, for our salvation. So, let's start with the creation of the world and God, its Creator. The first thing you need to understand is this: the renewal of creation was done by the same Word who made it in the beginning. There is no conflict between creation and salvation because the same Father used the same Agent for both, saving the world through the same Word who created it in the beginning.”

— Athanasius, St. . On the Incarnation: In Modern, Updated English (p. 13). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Jesus is Supreme over all Creation (15-17)

Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV) 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

15 He is the image of the invisible God,

image = εἰκὼν

Jesus displays God perfectly

We reflect God’s image darkly (because of sin)

Not only does he display God — He IS God

Col 1:19 - “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell”

John 1:1–4 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Hebrews 1:2–4 ESV

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

John 14:9 ESV

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Look to Jesus to know your Father.

Illustration - my photo and Brooks

When you see Jesus — you see the Father — Your heavenly Father.

When God, the Almighty, was creating humans through His own Word, He perceived that because of their limited nature, they couldn't know their Creator, who is invisible and uncreated, on their own. So, He felt compassion for them and didn't leave them without the knowledge of Himself, because their existence would be meaningless without it. What good is it for a creature to exist if it can't know its Maker? How could people be rational beings if they didn't know the Word and Reason of the Father, through whom they were created? Without this knowledge, they would be no better than animals, only aware of earthly things. Why would God have made them if He didn't want them to know Him? But actually, the good God gave them a part of His own image, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, and made them in the same image and likeness. Why did He do this? Simply so that through this gift of being like God, they could recognize the true image, which is the Word Himself, and through Him understand the Father. This knowledge of their Creator is the only truly happy and blessed life for people.

— Athanasius, St. . On the Incarnation: In Modern, Updated English (p. 24). (Function). Kindle Edition.

the firstborn of all creation.

“firstborn of all creation”

Not only was Jesus God but he was also human

100% God and 100% human

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

All things were created BY him, THROUGH him, and FOR him

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: Crown Him Lord of All! (Colossians 1:13–20)

For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause. The primary cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, and the final cause the purpose. When it comes to Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He planned it), the instrumental cause (He produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure).

Jesus above creation

— heaven

— — earth

— — visible

— invisible

(an aside) - The Incarnation reminds us there is no impassable divide between the physical and the spiritual.

In fact, Christmas is spiritual warfare.

The Earth has been the habitat of demons with periodic skirmishes by the messengers of God. But now, the Creator steps into creation yet maintains his power— the Spiritual King steps on physical ground and wields his authority.

There is nothing in the physical world greater than Jesus.

There is nothing in the spiritual world stronger than Jesus.

Everything owes its existence to and currently exists for Jesus.

Jesus gives existence to everything

Jesus gives meaning to everything (or meaning of everything is found in him)

Things we see

If Jesus created everything, name one thing he did NOT create. . .

If Jesus created everything, name one thing that is more powerful than him. . .

Things may be out of your control, but they are never out of Jesus’ control

ILLUST - great theology - Veggie Tales - “God is bigger than the boogie-man”

Things we do not see

There is a world around us that we do not see and Jesus is in control of that as well.

Jesus

--------------- Everything in my life?

Jesus is before all things is a statement of fact for Creation — the question is — is it a statement of function for your life?

Jesus holds everything together even when you’re coming apart.

Paradox: As Mary held the baby in her arms, he in turn, held the universe in his hands.

She and Joseph ran a great distance to save save this baby’s life — the same baby who came the greatest distance to bring them eternal life.

(Mary did you know) “The baby you delivered would soon deliver you.”

I imagine Mary was still concerned about how she would feed Jesus - the very Creator of the food she would give him

I bet Joseph still worried about how he would provide for his child - who already owns the cattle on a thousand hills!

How would they protect him from the attacks on their family? The reality was no king of the land could outlaw the King of the Universe!

Mary and Joseph, you don’t need to worry about the present circumstances in the presence of Jesus.

Let me say that again. . .

Jesus did not come at Christmas to raise warm fuzzies once a year, he physically entered time and space to reveal his power and presence in the everyday!

Jesus is Sufficient for all Redemption (18-20)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

— Jesus is the head of the church - source? - authority? both

— Jesus is the beginning - arche — and ancient word

— Jesus is the firstborn FROM the dead

Preeminent = first

Only used one time in the NT

Make Jesus preeminent, not simply prominent

Make Jesus first; not simply alot.

If I could have a value that we would embrace as a church for this season it would be this: Make Jesus first; not simply most.

ILLUST - The relationship that many Christians have with Jesus treat him more like a Facebook friend than Lord of all Creation! In their minds they’ve clicked ‘Accept’ to a universal request to follow Jesus, expecting to check in once a week or so, to see what Jesus is up to. If they get into a bind, they can always message him (it says he’s always active), and expect that since they are friends, surely he’ll respond well.

Jesus does not call us to simply accept him — He calls us to follow him.

Before you think that this is not what Paul means when he describes jesus as preeminent, just listen to how Jesus himself describes the call to follow him:

Luke 9:23–24 (ESV)

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. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Jesus can not be an add-on to your life. He must be your life.

Jesus cannot be something in your life — your life must be in him.

Jesus

————————

What do you have here?

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1

As the “Prince of Peace” (

Jesus brings peace because he paid the price

The solution to our problems — the answer to the dilemma as Athanasius puts it — is Jesus and his work on the cross.

This is why Jesus came — to reconcile us to God the Father.

He also came to “reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven”

This is the universal fact even if it is not yet the perceived reality.

ILLUST - Retirement savings

Jesus never fails and he took our failures

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Jesus made peace by the cross. The instrument of death and pain is the method of peace.

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

The purpose of Jesus coming — the purpose of the Incarnation — The purpose of Christmas IS PEACE

The Expectation of Christmas is HOPE

The Purpose of Christmas is PEACE

The Outcome of Christmas is JOY

The Expression of Christmas is LOVE

What area of your life have you not yet surrendered? Jesus is already LORD!

What is something in your life that you need Jesus to be greater than?

What is something in your life that you have given permanence to that is not Jesus?

What is one area / situation in your life this week that needs to come in second? Where does Jesus need to be placed first this week?