Baby, Creator, Savior, Lord, and King!

John 1:1-18

There are many things about what has happened to Christmas that disturb me.  While I resent the secularization and commercialism of a Christian holy day, I understand it.  At best, lost people think of Jesus as a historical figure that made some contribution to the betterment of mankind.  At worst, lost people don’t think about Jesus at all.  For them, Christmas is just another opportunity to over-indulge their appetites.  That the unsaved miss the meaning of Jesus’ first coming is tragic yet understandable.  My concern is for believers that keep Christmas in a non-Christian way.

Don’t get me wrong; I believe we can enjoy most everything we think of as being “traditional” at Christmas.  We don’t have to give up the good food, the lights, Christmas trees, the tinsel, or the TV specials.  We just need to remember Whose birthday we are celebrating!

How many pictures of Jesus have you seen this past week?  I’m certain that at this time of year most have been of the baby in the manger.  This is appropriate for it was part of God’s plan that the Messiah experience humanity.  Galatians tells us that Jesus gave up His attributes of divinity for a season so that He might become the perfect sacrifice for sin.  Mary’s labor was no different from that endured by the ladies present here today.  Her water broke, she began to have contractions, her back hurt, there was pain and effort and sweat and pushing and stretching and burning – and then a new creature came forth from her body.  Jesus was born just as you and I, through His mother’s strong effort.

I find it wonderful that God selected Mary and Joseph – a poor couple from one of the poorest towns in the nation.  On top of that was the appearance of illegitimacy.  How many do you suppose believed Mary’s story of her conception?  The babe was fully human.  He was born into a humble family and to most everyone illegitimate!

Jesus is so much more than the baby born in the stable at Bethlehem --

I.                   Jesus Is Creator

A.     The Ever Existing One

B.     Spoke all things into existence

II.                Jesus Is the Dying Savior

A.     The good news given first to shepherds

B.     Jesus born to live and to die for our sins

III.             Jesus Is the Empowering Lord

A.     He rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God

B.     He empowers us to live a righteous life and to love one another

IV.             Jesus Is the Final Judge and Returning King

A.     There will be a new heaven and a new earth

B.     There will be a great catching away – rapture

C.     There will be a final judgment

D.     There will be an eternity in God’s presence

How will we celebrate Christmas this year?  Will we just go through the motions, follow the traditions?  Or will we demonstrate how excited we are to welcome the Baby, the Creator, the Savior, the Lord, and our King!