The Ultimate Gift: Christ's Greatness at Christmas
Among Us: A Christmas Story • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsChristmas is a time to remember the greatness of Christ. Jesus is better than anything you are going to receive this coming Christmas
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Christmas has much sentimental value for most people. Some positive, some negative. Some of my earliest Christmas memories with my family was watching the movie A Christmas Story. This was on repeat for like two - three days.
The movie centers around what Ralphie wants for Christmas: a red ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle. A BB gun. Everyone tells him that he will shoot his eye out. But one Christmas would be the last Christmas we would watch this as a family.
Later in life I would have my own family, and we would hide Christmas presents around the house rather than under the tree and watch as the children tore through that house like a tornado. Not my late wife’s favorite part of Christmas but it was mine.
But one Christmas, would be the last Christmas that tradition would take place. Children grew up and moved on to other interests and an intricate member of the family dies.
For the last 10 years I have all of our children at home on Christmas morning and Shelley cooks a breakfast fit for royalty where I get to eat carbs. There is much laughter and awe as we exchange tokens of our affection towards each other.
This year God willing, we will do this again but for sure may be this year, or the next, or the next after that will be the last time we get to experience this the way we have. Everything crumbles, everything decays, everything dies.
As we are preparing to move we are throwing away broken dishes, torn garments, inoperative toys, many of which were at some point brand new Christmas gifts. A token of some family member or friend’s affection.
At the end of the day, all of it will end up in a landfill. Every memory will eventually be forgotten or marred by some destructive force: divorse, accident, abandonment, death, this is a broken world.
Now that I have properly depressed you and “killed” the Christmas spirit let us go to the Word of God and find our hope and our joy over the greatness of a gift what will never see decay. The gift that will never become a distant memory
The gift that will never decrease in value, of which we derive our value. In fact, all of those beautiful memories of love and friendship and family and presents ought to be shadows, or representations of something greater and eternal.
Let us examine John 1:19-23 and verses 43-51 and marvel at the greatness of Christ this Christmas. (pray)
I. Humility vs Majesty
I. Humility vs Majesty
19 And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
John, born into a priestly family was from the tribe of Levi. He began his ministry in the Jordan Valley at 29-30. He was a cousin of Jesus and served as His prophetic forerunner
But this was not the nature of their question. Their question was more like, “who do you think you are” or “who do you claim to be” by the way to speak to people that they should respond with repentance.
This was not a request for biographical information—it was a challenge to his authority.
20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
John was immediate and emphatic in his answer:
confessed
did not deny
confessed again
John leaves no room for misunderstanding because misplaced glory is dangerous and John would not have the crowed assume that he was anything greater than what he was.
This is not the modern notion of humility which is often, “I am nothing” this is biblical humility that says, “I know exactly who I am and who I am not” it is a self-image based on heaven and not based on self or public opinion. but they press him:
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 Therefore, they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
This is a world not unlike ours in that they were obsessed with status. We require big titles: The Reverend Doctor Archbishop so and so. What then? Eliah, the Prophet. Categories of greatness they can control:
• Elijah = miraculous power
• The Prophet (Deut. 18) = ultimate authority
• Messiah = deliverer, ruler, king
John answers “I am not” and “No”. Greatness is not found in titles but in viewing yourself accurately the way God sees you. (Jamie example). But this is what people want so they press some more:
22 Therefore, they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
John was not some stranger. They knew who his parents where, where he was born and the nature of his birth. They were not asking him for details known to the village.
They were virtually saying, “we need something impressive to report”In other words, “Give us something that sounds important.”
But John neither gives them an ostentatious self declaration, nor does he give them a deprecating one, he gives them exactly God’s description of him:
23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
That would be exactly Isaiah 40:3. This is absolute humility. Our author by the same name (John) intentionally sets this up this way:
• John = voice
• Jesus = the Word (John 1:1)
A voice fades when the Word arrives. He is saying emphatically “I am not the message, just the mic.” Mics disappear once the message is heard. John understands something that the world refuses to accept:
• True greatness does not compete with Christ–it clears the way for Him
• True ministry does not draw attention to itself
• True humility magnifies Jesus
To receive glory from the world is one thing, but to receive glory from the glorifier Himself is ultimate. Because John was faithful in staying in his lane neither exalting nor degrading his gift and calling Jesus says,
“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!…” (Matt 11:11)
Why did Jesus say this? because his entire life, John screamed:
30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
At Christmas the world will be pondering “what am I getting” John ponders “Who is He?”. The world builds celebrations around itself. John builds his life around preparing the way for Christ.
The greatness of Christmas is not found in what we receive, but in who arrives. Jesus is better than anything you are going to be receiving this Christmas.
Now, having removed himself from center stage, John hands the spotlight fully to Jesus. The question is no longer who John is but who Jesus proves Himself to be.
And what we are about to see is not just about forgiveness and salvation which we saw last week about realizing how great Christ actually is
II. Majesty Revealed
II. Majesty Revealed
43 On the next day, He desired to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
John the Baptist steps off the stage and immediately Jesus takes over. Here Jesus purposed to go into Galilee, on mission, with sovereign intention. He does not stumble into his disciples, He freely, & deliberately, & sovereignly picks & calls them.
No need to audition, no credentials or resume requested, not even a probationary period to see if he will workout. A simple command from His maker without explanation is uttered:
“Follow Me.”
He is not summoned to a system, cause, or program, he was summoned to a Person. Christianity is not firstly about affirming beliefs but about a Savior to follow. Without knowing Philip was recruited as an evangelist:
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Did you notice how he describes Jesus?
“THE FULFILLMENT”
The fulfillment of Moses, the fulfillment of the Prophets, the fulfillment or Scripture. That first, what we call Christmas was not an interruption of redemptive history it was the climax of it. It marked the beginning of the end of waiting.
Everything God has been promising, foreshadowing, and preparing for has now arrived. It is like the final scene in a movie where everything promised is now revealed.
all the anticipation and unresolved tension as reached the climax and we are about five minute from the rolling of the credits. The Bible clearly sees this this way:
“This is what was spoken through the prophet Joel… in the last days” (Acts 2:16–17)
“In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2)
“It is the last hour” (1 John 2:18)
Philip was more right than he could have understood at the moment. Nathanael on the other hand, understood the implication of what Philip was saying and he was not that ready to concede to that idea
46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Nazareth was insignificant, unimpressive, overlooked. No pedigree, no reputation, no expectation. But it would be precisely the right place for God to place His greatness.
Philip decides not to take Nathanael on but simply tells him to come and see for himself. Ultimately, all anyone can do is point and/or invite someone into the presence of the Lord
The greatness of Christ does not need defending—it needs beholding. Remember the Samaritan woman? Left her jar went into town and told everyone “come and see a man” they came:
42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is truly the Savior of the world.”
All I can tell anyone is “come and see” True greatness does not need to be propped up–it reveals itself
• Christ’s greatness is shown in sovereignty: He finds Philip
• Christ’s greatness is shown in authority: “Follow Me”
• Christ’s greatness is shown in fulfillment: Moses and the Prophets
• Christ’s greatness is shown in unexpectedness: Nazareth
The world looks for greatness in power, prestige, and presentation. God reveals greatness through humility, obedience, and fulfillment. But Nathanaels dismissive question will be addressed
Jesus is about to show him something greater than Nazareth. He is about to know not only where He comes from but who He is.
III. Majesty Seen
III. Majesty Seen
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said about him, “Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
Rather than waiting for formal introductions Jesus speaks first showing that that He knows Nathanael deeply and completely.
The word deceit is a loaded word in Israel’s history as its patriarch Jacob was known for deceit. It is embedded in the meaning of his name, that is until God changed it to Israel.
Jesus reveals through divine knowledge that among Israelites Nathanael is genuine—without the deceit that once marked their patriarch.
48 Nathanael said to Him, “From where do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Immediately Jesus answers Nathanael’s dismissive question. Not only can something good come from Nazareth but the very author and definer of good is the One who came from Nazareth
Jesus does not tell him what he learned about Nathanael but what he saw while not physically being there showing His omniscience.
Whatever Nathanael was doing under that fig tree—praying, reading Scripture, wrestling with God—it was private. Unseen. Unshared. But completely unobstructed to the eyes of Mighty God
The greatness of Christ is not merely that He calls disciples—but that He knows them fully before He calls them. Nothing about Nathanael is hidden and nothing about you is either.
49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
Jesus’ supernatural knowledge moved Nathanael to confess Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. This does not mean that Nathanael at this early date fully understood the Trinity or the Incarnation.
Rather He understood Jesus to be the Son of God in the messianic sense. Nevertheless, he was now on a truth path. Christmas is not merely sentimental when it is seen rightly. But this was only the beginning of Nathanael’s truth journey
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
The first Christmas which we celebrate year after year was the doorway to the unveiling of Christ’s majesty,
51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
This is one of the most astonishing claims Jesus ever makes. Every Jewish ear would hear Genesis 28—Jacob’s ladder. A bridge between heaven and earth. A place where God meets man.
He does not say, You will see a ladder. He says, You will see it on Me. Jesus is declaring:
• I am the connection between heaven and earth
• I am the meeting place of God and man
• I am the access you could never build
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.
Not no one goes, but no one comes. Access is the issue. This is ultimate greatness. Not power that crushes. Not splendor that dazzles.But majesty that reconciles heaven and earth in Himself, for Himself, and through Himself.
Conclusion
Conclusion
At Christmas, the world measures greatness by what it unwraps. God reveals greatness by who He sends.
Jesus is the ultimate gift. He is better than anything you will receive this Christmas— because He does not fade, break, disappoint, or decay. He is the One who sees you. The One who calls you. The One who bridges heaven and earth.
The greatest thing you can do this Christmas is not ask, What am I getting? but answer the question Jesus still asks: “Who do you say that I am?”
