The Snowfall
That's Christmas to Me • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Two Christmas’ I will never forget.
Snow on Christmas morning in the High Sierra’s and the HD.
The first Christmas was heaven’s snowfall. God covering the world in mercy. In Christ, the stain of sin is washed away, and a new season of grace begins.
The first Christmas was heaven’s snowfall.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Circle: Bethlehem the town of David
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Not so silent night: Shepherds quake at the sight
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The prophecy of Jesus birth place was 700 years before he was born.
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Star of David Image:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0209/9589/9456/files/israeli_flag.jpg?v=1548460595
Known as Ma-gen David ("Shield of David"), the symbol is most commonly associated with protection, from the idea that it was on King David's shield.
Unity: The two interlocking triangles are often seen as representing the relationship between God and the Jewish people, or the unity of the spiritual and physical worlds. One triangle points up (towards God) and the other points down (towards the physical world), with the star representing the connection between the two.
Snowflake Image: Similarities in the star of David and a snowflake.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f8/5e/8f/f85e8f7d9a682bdc2db1f3ae785cdd45.jpg
*I would like to draw some parallels or similarities of a snowflake / snowfall and Jesus.
That first Christmas was a heavenly snowfall. Jesus was that snowfall.
The Singular Uniqueness of a snowflake and Jesus.
Science tells us that out of the billions of snowflakes that fall, no two are identical. History tells us the same thing about Jesus.
Peter Stoner in his book Science Speaks, calculated numerical probabilities for Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of Jesus being the Messiah.
The probability of one person fulfilling just 8 specific prophecies by chance is estimated at 1 in 100 quadrillion (1 in 10¹⁷).
Cover the entire state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars.
Mark just one of those coins with an "X".
Thoroughly mix all the silver dollars across the state.
Blindfold a man and tell him he can walk anywhere in Texas and pick up just one coin.
The chance of him picking the correct, marked coin is the same as the chance of one man in history (Jesus) fulfilling those eight prophecies by random coincidence. (Jesus fulfilled over 300 not just eight)
The Descent
Think about where a snowflake starts. It doesn't originate from the earth; it descends from the sky above.
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
He is the Divine coming down to us for us.
What is a snowflake, fundamentally? It’s water. It’s just water in a different form.
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Jesus is the Living Water. He took on a solid form flesh and blood.
The Purity: A snowflake is pure white, reflecting the full spectrum of light. Jesus was absolute purity. Perfect, like unblemished nature of fresh snow.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
It reminds us of the sinlessness of Christ. He had to be born without sin (Christmas) to be the perfect sacrifice (Communion).
The Melt (Sacrifice)
For a snowflake to water the earth, it has to melt. It has to lose its form. Jesus had to lose his perfect sinless form and take on our sinful form for us.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He gave up His form so we could find ours new form in him.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When we place our faith in him, he credits our spiritual bank accounts with his own perfection.
The Covering
What happens when it snows? It covers. It makes a broken, dirty world look pristine.
That is what the bible calls Atonement. Jesus’ righteousness covers our sin and covers our shame. When God looks at you, if you are in Christ, He doesn't see your red scared ledger; He sees the snowy white purity of Jesus covering you.
Let me illustrate this.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Mirror with sins written in red. GUILT, SHAME, REGRET, of MY SIN!
"Why is the marker red? Because sin always costs life. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. When we sin, we earn death.
This red writing represents the debt I owe to a Holy God. It represents the guilt, shame, and regret of my sin... that keeps me awake at night. It is the scarlet letter of my soul."
But then... Christmas happened. God sent His heavenly Snowfall, His Son not to condemn the reflection, but to redeem it.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
With the power of His love, with the shedding of His blood, you and I can be..… White as snow.
The stain is gone, buried under the grace of God.
Now, when God looks at me, He doesn't read the list of my failures. He sees the purity of His Son.
Let us take communion together, not celebrating our perfection. Let’s celebrating His covering.
Communion: the bread represents His body, and the cup represents His blood. As we partake, let us remember the cost of this pristine white covering.
Bread: We take this cracker that represents your body Jesus and remember your sacrificial love for us.
Wine: We take this grape and as we bite down we will remember.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Ending Song: “Jesus Paid it ALL”
