Christmas Message 2025
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Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Merry almost Christmas church.
In a few days, we’ll be celebrating Christmas, and I want to take a minute and invite you all to our Christmas Eve service from 5-6 on 12/24. It will be short and sweet, but a good time to come together and worship as we settle in for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, amen?
Today, we’re going to be in John chapter 1 for the most part, we’re taking a break from our verse by verse study thru Exodus right now for this special message today. I want to go to John 1, because I believe this is a good place to start for the Christmas story. It started a long, long time ago, but not exactly when most people think it did.
The split between BC and AD marks the birth of Jesus, even though the math was wrong, we get it...nobody’s perfect, right? Last year, we talked about the the fact that one man made that date happen, and He was the most influential human being in the history of the world.
More than 2,000 years ago...really, a little over 6,000 years ago, a story started. The Trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were there, and they wanted to do something special. They wanted to make an image of themselves, so they could commune with them.
So, they started with...well, let’s read some of it together:
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 nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
In the beginning, God decided to make everything. In 6 amazing days, He made everything. It started with God, the Spirit, and Light, which the Light of the World is the Word. Jesus was there at the beginning.
The Light of the World illuminated the earth. Our NKJV says darkness could not comprehend it, the word used is directly translated as overcome it. Darkness bears witness to light. It’s temporary, fleeting. Miles away we can see a single candle, that’s how powerful light is. That Light though, didn’t just shine to say “Let’s see what we have here.” It was shining to say “I’m here.”
From the beginning, the Light came into the world. Not as we mostly understand it from this passage of scripture. Let’s read these next verses and reset our theology:
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
John came to bear witness to the light. What does that mean? Does it mean this world is blind to it? Partially. It means though, that John is a Herald for the Light. What does it mean to be a Herald? Hark the Herald, Angels sing, what does that mean? It means John is the messenger, the one who says “Remember the Light of the World? Remember the beginning? This is that Light.
John paved the way for us, Christians, for how we should act with this world. Everywhere we go, proclaiming the Light of the World in our daily lives. Remember, that light isn’t a flashlight, it’s not a little circle illuminating and then leaving darkness. It’s flipping on and, at once, like turning a light on in a room, exposes everything. It tells us to see clearly what is before us. What has been hiding from us...and what we’ve been hiding also.
It’s scary, isn’t it? It’s embarrassing. What is the underlying cause of embarrassment? Pride. Sometimes it’s because we know better. Others it’s “if you only knew what I’ve done, you’d never forgive me.”
From the beginning, Adam and Eve were ashamed of their sin. What did it make them do? Hide from God, right? They honesty thought God might not find them, because they didn’t want Him to. Do you know what, though? Even though He knew they would sin, even though He knew they HAD sinned, what was He doing right afterward. He searched for them, called to them.
When He found them, what did God do? He asked them what they had done. In that Adam blamed Eve for everything, and that’s my story. It’s all her fault, right? No, they confessed their sin to the Lord. And what did the Lord do? He provided a sacrifice, the first death of an any animal on earth for the remission of our sins and covered them with the remnant of that sacrifice so they wouldn’t forget. BUT, that meant God could no longer be with them.
See, it’s the sin that captures us, but the confession is what sets us free. That’s where the Lord can say “You’ve identified that you’re unworthy, now let me start the healing process.” This is why fellowship is so important. God wants to fellowship with us. When we’re together, He has a multiplied chance to get thru to those in the group. Hidden sin will kill you. Shame is the dungeon of the devil. If nobody knows you, you’re not healthy. When the RIGHT people know you, though, you’ll not only notice that you’ll breathe free air again, but there are other people like you that need a warrior to come alongside them and fight with them.
“You wouldn’t understand” is only for children. Draw people in close and go to war. Let the Light do it’s job. Let’s read the next 2 verses together:
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Don’t ever think you’re alone. Even the people in Exodus who saw and heard God on Mt. Saini, they heard the commandments given from God. It wasn’t just Moses. They knew Him. Do you remember what He said first, right before the commandments?
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
They had forgotten Him, and He wanted them to know Him again. Just like now, some of you have forgotten Him. Maybe some of you have never known Him. Now is the time, He wants you to get to know Him again. He is Good. He is ALL that is Good. Everything we think is good serves us. Everything that is God serves everyone. That’s the place to start. You’ve got a few days till Christmas. Kids, you should go thru your rooms and find out what you can bless others with. Things you need to make room for.
This time is about the greatest gift that’s been given to this world. It’s not about the gifts under the tree. The Lord delights in giving us things. Take the things that have brought you joy and let them bring joy to others. That’s how the light of this world is spread. From the Father, to us, and then person to person, just like the next verses talk about:
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Children of God are not selfish, but selfless. Jesus says John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Laying down your things is different than laying down your life, I get that...but it’s a place to start. The more you give, the more room you have. And the Lord will fill that room with so much that you’ll have to move things out to keep up with those things. When we invite Christ into our lives, things get hard because the war for our soul has just begun. The enemy wants you to fail, he wants this to be his last stand. Surgery is not comfortable, but it’s necessary for the patient to survive. Most times, that means living without something inside them. I don’t mourn the calcium deposits that had built up and tore my rotator cuff. It hurt to grind that stuff out and heal...but there are things growing inside us that are killing us and it’s time we let the Spirit remove it from us.
Turn over that secret sin you’re drowning in, because it will consume you and drag you to hell. I know it’s real, because the only book that continues to be proven true tells me it’s real, and just like heaven, it’s forever. You can go to hell knowing how to get to heaven, but you don’t have to. It’s your choice. God will honor that choice, and if you choose it, don’t be mad at Him for letting you choose it.
For scripture says:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Saini, which we don’t know exactly where it is, was where the Law came down. It’s where God made known to us His requirements for heaven. It doesn’t matter where the law came down, just that it came. It doesn’t matter because God was just revealing what is written in the hearts of all people.
Zion is where grace was poured out on the world. Thru the wounds of a savior that, like the first sacrifice in Genesis would provide the blood of life, but the spiritual covering to protect and seal us forever. All because God wanted to make sure there is a way that His people could have an opportunity to be with Him. It was going to take a choice. A choice that was propheseyed about 700 years before Jesus:
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given. The child was born, the man. The Son was given, the gift for all of us.
Jesus the Man was THE MAN. He was fully man. He was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil had his way. Jesus the Son isn’t who answered the devil with scripture, Jesus the Son spoke the answers to Jesus the man. Jesus the Man had to resist to fulfill what Adam screwed up. The Child that was born was man, like you and I. The Son was the teacher, the wisdom that came from the Father.
The thing is...from the beginning, this was the plan. God made man as a companion to Him. He wanted to commune with us. He wanted to instruct us. He wants to see us fail, to fill us with His wisdom, to encourage us to succeed. He wants to be there for us when we hurt, to lift us up when we get it. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He wants us to know that. John 3:16 echoes these verses
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.
Unto us, a Child is born. Unto us, a Son is given. From the beginning, the government would be after our children. Why? Because the Light of the World is so evident in our children. We so easily remove that light. Jesus said “unless you come to me as these children do, you cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” Think of how our children come to us. They run to us, with arms wide open. Happy to see us, relieved to see us.
This Christmas season, 3 days until we celebrate the birth of this Savoir of ours...make them the best ever. The most fun, most loving, most forgiving, the most Christ filled they have ever been for you. In 3 days, our world was changed. 3 days is enough to establish a pattern. We spend so much time tied up in our rules, that we choke out Grace. The reason for the season is Jesus. The Child was born, the Son was GIVEN.
Let this be a season of giving for us too. Let us reflect what Christ has done for us in the tangeable way our world sees it, and let that giving of worldly things lead to a relationship with those we give to, to bear witness to the Light of the World that takes away all of our sins.
I mentioned that darkness bears witness to Light. It’s proof that it’s temporary. Just like evil is proof that there is Good. We know what is evil because we know what is good. Darkness can’t hide the light forever. Look at the stars, the blackness of space does not keep the light from shining.
Why is space black? Because it doesn’t have an atmosphere to reflect it. The blackness can’t stop the stars. We’re seeing with the JWST that the stars keep coming, further and further away, they’re there. The blackest parts of space have more and more and more stars. The darkness gives testimony to the light. They prove there is light an unstoppable light out there. It radiates out, bring light and heat with it everywhere it goes.
Christ had to come as a vulnerable child, to be served before he could serve. Christ had to see this black world, and know that it was His job to bring the Life.
Jesus the child, the man, did not deserve the path set ahead for him. He lived a sinless, peaceful life. The only person ever to live like that. Yet, Jesus the Son knew why He had come. Jesus the Man and Jesus the Son had to live together. Jesus had to know the stress, the pain, the struggle, the temptation we all felt. He knew His path was short.
I don’t know if Jesus the man knew exactly the punishment He would take so we could live free, so we could go to Heaven and live forever with the sinless Lamb of God. Jesus the Son did.
What I do know is, that from the beginning, this was the plan. I heard a pastor say recently, talking about Joseph, being thrown in the pit by his brothers, he said “God didn’t look at that situation and say “Jesus, this isn’t going as we planned it, we need to do something, these people are screwing everything up on earth. What can we do to help this guy?”” He knew that time in the pit, that time in slavery, that time in the pit, those years and years were producing in him a man who would understand mercy and grace and be able to pour it out when his brothers came before him pleading for grain. A man who would shed tears for their hearts and help them, and not seek revenge. God was preparing Joseph for a role that would change lives, and He had to put Joseph thru all of that so Joseph would know His heart.
From the beginning, baby Jesus was destined to live a selfless life, and die an underserving death for one reason, to make a way for broken people to be able to make it to heaven, because we cannot earn a ticket there. The chasm is too far. There is only one bridge that was paid on the cross, and it was the only way. It’s so important in our culture that movies and books mirror the Bible because they know it’s the greatest story ever told. The greatest love story ever written.
From the beginning, your story was known, thought out, your path set aside, knowing that your story would be powerful and would change lives. But God left us a choice, we can choose to love the One who gave us life, or choose the world that will take it from us. A baby in a manger.
Ellen shared this on facebook yesterday, and it’s a perfect way to end this message, so I’ll read it to you now:
This week, I lingered in the final breath of Malachi’s words and I felt the unbearable weight of what followed.
When the prophet finished speaking, heaven did not answer.
The echo of his voice faded…and then… nothing.
Four hundred years of silence.
No open vision.
No burning word.
No prophet rising with fire in his bones.
No “Thus says the Lord” breaking the darkness.
Four hundred years of waiting.
Of longing.
Of groaning.
Of hearts lifted toward heaven that seemed sealed shut.
Generation after generation was born into the quiet.
They lived.
They died.
And still—no voice.
Until one night.
On a dirt floor in a forgotten place…
in a stable that did not look holy…
in the shadows of obscurity and insignificance…
a sound was released.
After four hundred years, heaven spoke again—
not with thunder, not with fire, not from a mountain- but from the lungs of a newborn.
A cry pierced the silence.
A cry that split history in two.
A cry that carried eternity within it.
In that moment, the King of Glory stepped down into the dust of His own creation.
The Eternal wrapped Himself in skin.
The Word became flesh—and cried.
The Son laid aside His throne and chose a manger.
Heaven’s highest treasure placed in a feeding trough.
He came low.
He came meek.
He came breakable.
Wrapped in swaddling cloths, laid where animals ate, born beneath the looming shadow of a cross.
A Lamb born to be slain.
The Hope of a hopeless world breathed His first breath in the dark.
A weary world rejoiced as a young virgin labored and delivered its redemption.
In that manger, the Great I AM made Himself vulnerable.
Touchable.
Killable.
And with one holy cry, the silence was shattered.
The separation was broken.
The way was opened.
Then, suddenly, heaven could not remain quiet.
The skies erupted with angelic voices declaring,
“Glory to God in the highest!”
Wonderful.
Counselor.
Mighty God.
Everlasting Father.
Prince of Peace.
With the cry of an infant, heaven invaded earth.
Behold—our Redeemer.
Behold—our King.
Behold—the fulfillment of every promise.
Behold—the sound that broke four hundred years of silence.
Not the roar of an army.
Not the shout of a king claiming His crown.
But the fragile cry of God-with-us.
He did not arrive with a sword in His hand, but with nails already written into His future.
He did not enter wrapped in royalty, but in cloths that foretold a burial.
The silence was not just broken, it was answered.
Every unanswered prayer.
Every tear cried into the dark.
Every generation that waited without seeing.
Every promise that seemed delayed but not denied.
All of it converged in that single cry.
That night, heaven did not just speak- heaven gave.
God did not send another prophet.
He did not send another sign.
He sent Himself.
And in that stable, eternity took its first shallow breath.
Omnipotence learned weakness.
Glory learned humility.
Love made itself small.
The cry that shattered the silence would one day be echoed again- not from a manger, but from a cross.
The first cry said, “He has come.”
The final cry would say, “It is finished.”
From swaddling cloths to grave clothes, from a feeding trough to a borrowed tomb, He came to be broken so we could be made whole.
And even now, that sound still reverberates.
It calls the weary.
It awakens the forgotten.
It reaches into the places where heaven has felt silent again.
If God could speak through the cry of a baby,
He can still break silence in our darkest night.
So behold Him.
Not distant.
Not untouchable.
Not unmoved.
But Emmanuel.
God with us.
-Jessica Jecke
