Advent: Christ
One Verse Advent • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ladies’ Tea - January 3
Youth Ugly Sweater Contest - January 3
FIGHTER VERSE
FIGHTER VERSE
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
SERMON
SERMON
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
My Christmas sermon series is One Verse Advent...
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Each Sunday we unpacked a phrase or word:
First Sunday of Advent: for unto you is born this day
Second Sunday: in the city of David
Last Sunday: a Savior
Next Sunday: Lord
This morning: Christ
OPENING
OPENING
With just days away from Christmas, I suspect gifts are starting to gather under your Christmas trees.
I remember as a kid taking inventory of all the gifts under our family tree, finding out which ones were mine and which ones belonged to my siblings.
I examined each gift addressed to me, picking them up to check the weight and shaking them a bit to see if I could tell what was inside.
At that young age, I didn’t pay much attention to the wrapping or the bow; it was all about what was inside.
When it comes to Christmas, I think a lot of people are more focused on the wrappings, the ribbons, the lights, the bows, the decorations, the family gatherings...than the real focus of Christmas - the gift of Jesus.
Many people know about Jesus. They know His name, His story, maybe even some of His teachings. Yet the most important question remains unopened: Who is this Jesus?
Opinions vary: teacher, prophet, moral example, miracle worker.
Listen to this exchange that Jesus had with his disciples...
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
How do you think Jesus responded to what Peter just said?
Now wait a minute, Peter. Let’s not get carried away. A teacher, prophet or even a miracle worker, but the Christ, the Son of God?
Of course not. Here’s how Jesus responds...
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
What did the Father reveal to Peter? That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God!
And that’s not all...
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus is using a play on words here. Jesus calls Simon Peter, petros, which means small stone. And then he said upon this rock, not petros but petra, which is a foundational stone.
The church’s foundation is not built on Peter, the small stone, but on the foundational truth of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God.
There are two truths that are affirmed by Jesus as coming by revelation from the Father:
you are the Christ
the Son of the living God
On that night outside of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, the angel told the shepherds...
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Why is this term “Christ” so foundational to the Church and who Jesus is?
Contrary to what some might think: Christ is not Jesus’ last name, and, of course, Jesus Christ, is not a swear word.
EXPOSITION
EXPOSITION
To unpack this important word, Christ, let’s first look to the end of John’s gospel.
THEME OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
THEME OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
These verses have been identified by many as the theme of John’s gospel. John, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, set out to prove that Jesus is the Christ, not just some prophet, or moral teacher or some miracle worker, but the Christ, the Son of God.
What was revealed to Peter again? You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
CHRIST
CHRIST
The title “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Christos”. It’s Hebrew equivalent is Messiah.
Christ literally means the anointed one, which draws from the OT practice where kings were understood to be anointed for their role.
THE MESSIAH PROMISED
THE MESSIAH PROMISED
Throughout the Old Testament, God promised a Savior who would redeem His people. From Genesis to Malachi, the Scriptures point forward to One chosen by God—anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King...the Messiah.
By the time of Jesus, Israel lived under Roman rule and longed for deliverance. Many expected a political liberator, someone to overthrow oppression. Yet God’s plan was far greater.
The Messiah would deal not only with external enemies, but with the deepest problem of all—sin.
When Jesus arrives in the Gospels, He does not announce a rebellion, but a kingdom. He does not raise an army, but calls disciples.
To call Jesus the Christ signifies that he was sent from God to be King and Deliverer.
That’s why John sets out in his gospel to prove that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Authors Bill Hull and Ben Sobels in their book, The Discipleship Gospel: What Jesus Preached, We Must Follow, write...
The title “Christ” invokes the weight of the entire Old Testament—it encapsulates all of Scripture’s teachings about God’s promised savior and everything the Bible reveals about Jesus.
Just what does the OT say about a coming Messiah?
We’ll start with the prophesy from Micah...
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
We covered this in the second sermon of the series - in the city of David - but it deserves repeating here, because Micah foretells of the coming Messiah. He will be ruler in Israel who has no beginning and who will have no end.
Jeremiah proclaims...
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
And from the prophet Isaiah...
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
And...
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And from the prophet Daniel...
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
And listen to this prophetic word given to David through Nathan...
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
There’s no doubt the Jews were promised a Messiah and there’s no doubt the Jews were EXPECTING a Messiah.
But who would this Messiah be? Who would fulfill all the OT prophesies?
Here’s where John’s gospel comes in. He’s making the case that Jesus is the Christ, the long awaited Messiah.
Let’s walk through this gospel, starting with the first chapter...
A WALK THROUGH JOHN’S GOSPEL
A WALK THROUGH JOHN’S GOSPEL
Listen to this account in John’s gospel...
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
Andrew is the first to tell his brother about Peter, identifying him as the Messiah, the Christ.
The heavenly Father reveals to Peter Jesus’ true identity - the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And at Pentecost, listen to a portion of Peter’s message...
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
This is Peter testifying to Jesus’ true identity - let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain - Jesus is both Lord and Christ. We’ll talk about Jesus as Lord next Sunday.
The Messiah was promised to the nation of Israel and he came, but his own rejected him.
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
But don’t let their blindness cause you to miss seeing who Jesus truly is.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Continuing in the gospel of John, let’s move to John 4 where Jesus is interacting with the Samaritan woman at the well...
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Then we come to John chapter 5...
This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
A few verses later...
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
And then throughout the gospel of John, we see the I AM statements that Jesus made:
I AM the bread of life
I AM the light of the world
I AM the gate
I AM the good shepherd
I AM the resurrection and the life
I AM the way, the truth and the life
I AM the true vine
And the clearest of the I AM statements comes in John 8...
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Make no mistake: the Jews understand his claim. Look at their reaction:
So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Then you see the Messianic fulfillment in Christ’s crucifixion.
It was pointed out by John the Baptist...
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Fast forward to the moments before his crucifixion...
Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
And his final words on the cross...
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
This was foretold back at the beginning in the Garden of Eden. Here God is telling Satan his fate, fulfilled on the cross.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Of course, it doesn’t end there. Three days later Jesus rises from the dead.
And when Thomas finally comes face to face with Jesus in the upper room, here is his declaration...
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
That brings us back to John’s closing words from his gospel...
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
CLOSING
CLOSING
When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” he wasn’t giving people the option to believe about him whatever they wanted.
The specific, concrete truth came out of the mouth of Peter and that truth had been revealed to him by his Father in heaven.
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. That is what we are to believe, and by believing we may have life in the name of Jesus.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
The angel said to the shepherds...
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
There’s no misunderstanding Jesus’ claim to be the Christ. It makes me think of this wonderful quote from C.S. Lewis...
I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic– on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg– or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The only proper response after going through all these Bible passages is to fall at his feet and declare: You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!
Jesus is the One sent by God to be our Messiah, our Deliverer, our Redeemer, our King. Surrender to him, follow him, serve him.
He is the real gift of Christmas.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Amen!
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
CLOSING SONG
CLOSING SONG
Silent Night
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION
