Christmas According to Jesus

Hebrews 10:5-7

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

but a body you prepared for me;

with burnt offerings and sin offerings

you were not pleased.

Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—

I have come to do your will, O God.’”

The best attested birth in the history of the world is that of Jesus of Nazareth. Though no physician attended the birth, all mankind knows that something momentous occurred under those leaden Judean skies the night He was born. Though no birth certificate is registered in musty files hidden in some political capital, His birth was noted in the annals of Heaven itself. Though no showers honouring the birth of this child were given for the mother, yet the birth was acknowledged by both poor and rich, by rude shepherds and polished magi.

Scofflaws would have us believe that this birth which we celebrate is nothing more than a fable. Modern mockers would relegate this most meaningful event to mere myth much as we have fairy tales about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. The ignorance of such hecklers is revealed when they attempt to discredit the Word of the Living God. They assert that His birth is known to only two writers—Matthew and Luke. Knowledgeable readers realise the fallacy of this position, for the birth of this One is well attested throughout the whole of the written Word.

Among the places where the birth of Messiah is acknowledged is a brief passage in the Hebrews letter. The writer of the letter cites the Fortieth Psalm, a prophecy relating to Messiah, in order to present the biblical faith of Christians as seen through the eyes of Messiah. I recommend to you that the verses of our text have ever presented Christmas according to Jesus.

The Christ Did Come into the World. The first truth attested in this passage is that Christ did come into the world. A man named Jesus of Nazareth did walk the dusty Judean roads. He did preach a message of righteousness, calling men to faith in the Living God. Those who knew Him best received Him as the promised Messiah.

There is a disturbing passage in the opening verses of John’s Gospel. You recall the words of John 1:11. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Paul states that the Christ was born under the law [see Galatians 4:4], a reference to His heritage as a Jew. The Messiah did not come to a society unaware of His pending arrival. Even the chief priests and teachers of the law knew where the Messiah was to be born [see Matthew 2:3-6]. They were even cognisant of the timing of His arrival! Their knowledge failed to equip them to look for His arrival, because they did not want a Saviour. They would have been thrilled to receive One who would affirm them and exalt them, but a Saviour who would fulfil prophecy was not at all welcome.

You need to know that if the Christ has not come He shall never come. The whole of the Old Testament points to His coming. From the protoevangelium to the last prophetic word delivered by Malachi, God points to the coming of His Anointed One. The whole account of humanity narrows and narrows to a point finer than the point of a spear until it focuses on a young Jewish girl.

When our first parents sinned and plunged the race into rebellion, God in mercy promised that the Seed of the Woman would crush the serpent’s head [see Genesis 3:15]. As we trace the promise of God we see His sovereign choice of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob to form the lineage of the Messiah. The lineage of the Christ veers to include Judah [Genesis 49:10] and through Judah we are introduced to Boaz who married Ruth who bore Obed, the father of Jesse who was the father of David.

David received the promise that the Anointed One would be one of his descendants [2 Samuel 7:11b-16]. Carefully, ever so carefully, God superintended the lineage and recorded that lineage in the accounts given in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Joseph was a descendant of David through Solomon [see Matthew 1:1-16] and thus any child who bore his name would hold legal claim on the throne of Israel. Mary was also a descendant of David through Nathan [see Luke 3:23-37] and therefore avoided the curse placed on Jehoiachin, also known as Coniah [see Jeremiah 22:24-30]. Thus, Jesus of Nazareth had both legal and theological claim to the throne of David.

Any scholar could have verified that the firstborn son of this young woman would hold a strong claim as the Messiah, and the claim was only validated through wedding Joseph. Moreover, the location of the birth of the Anointed One was known to Jewish sages. When Herod asked the chief priest and the teachers of the law where the Christ was to be born, they did not plead for time to return to musty tomes where they might study what had been written. Immediately they responded that the child would be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet Micah had prophesied in his ancient prophecy [Micah 5:2]. These scholars even knew the time of His birth, for Daniel had accurately prophesied the time when He would present Himself [Daniel 9:25, 26].

Perhaps it was Daniel’s prophecy which disturbed these scholars and caused them to discount the coming of the Messiah. Daniel prophesied His presentation, but he also indicated that the Anointed One would be cut off. The words are strongly suggestive of One who surrenders His life instead of conquering the enemies of the state. The scholars were looking for a political entity instead of anticipating a theocratic reign. They thought as mere men, failing to see the beauty and the glory of God in presenting this Messiah as a sacrifice for sin. This is the message of Christmas which is lacking in far too many churches even in this day remote from His birth. The Christ was presented so that He might give His life as a sacrifice for sinful man. That is the message which Jesus Himself, speaking through the words of our text, would emblazon across skies growing ever darker as sin seemingly grows more powerful in this day.

God Became Man. What transformed this brief life from being just that of another unknown Jewish prophet to One who divided all human history is the fact that He was unique. I don’t say that this Jesus was unique in the sense that He was a good man or even that He presented a challenging message. He was man—indeed, He was perfect man. He thirsted and hungered and knew fatigue; but He was so much more than mere man. This One was also very God. He was the unique God-man.

This Jesus is very God. Throughout the Word of God He is presented as God. He called God His Father and religious Jews understood that by that statement He made Himself equal to God [see John 10:22-33]. There is not a hint of arrogance either in His repeated conversations with the Father or in His intimacy with the Living God. This One demonstrated power over creation, revealing His divine nature. He walked on the water, calmed raging storms, turned water into wine and multiplied loaves and fishes so that thousands were fed. The record stands that He is God of creation.

When John the Baptist was in prison and discouraged he dispatched some of his disciples to verify the identity of Jesus. When they inquired of Jesus as to His identity, He said, Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me [Matthew 11:4b-6]. Without question, Jesus is God with power over the body of man.

Confronted by the powers of darkness this Jesus freed men, women and children held captive by demonic powers [cf. Matthew 8:31; Mark 16:9; Luke 9:42]. He is God over the world of spirits. By His resurrection, He is declared with power to be the Son of God [Romans 1:4], and He has received authority to judge all mankind [John 5:24-30].

If He is God over nature and God of the human body and God of spiritual beings, should it be thought a surprising thing that He is able to forgive sin? Indeed, this One is granted authority to have life in Himself [see John 5:26]. Perhaps you recall the incident recorded of one particular time when Jesus did forgive sin.

It was in Capernaum where Jesus often resorted. A crowd had surrounded the house in which He was staying. Some men carrying a paralysed friend tried, but because of the press of people they could not get the paralytic near Jesus. So they broke through the roof and lowered their friend on his bed through the roof right into Jesus’ presence. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this”

[Mark 2:5-11].

His disciples worshipped Him as God. When Thomas at last saw the Risen Saviour he cried out, My Lord and my God [John 20:28]! This was not simply an exclamation or an oath such as thoughtless people might utter in this day. Thomas was a Jew and would never blaspheme by misusing the Name of God. He was confessing that Jesus was very God! The magi worshipped the babe in the manger [Matthew 2:11] as did His disciples when they witnessed His power over nature [Matthew 14:32, 33]. Those who were healed often worshipped Him [e.g. John 9:35-38]. The women who witnessed His resurrection worshipped Him [Matthew 28:8, 9]. The eleven disciples worshipped after He was risen from the grave [Matthew 28:17; Luke 24:40-53]. Why would you wait to worship? He is God! He is worthy to receive honour and glory and praise. Amen.

This Jesus is God in human flesh. The Scriptures affirm this truth repeatedly. Of the Jews, Paul wrote: Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen [Romans 9:5]. Amen, indeed!

Paul makes such a powerful assertion of the deity of this Jesus in Titus 2:11-14. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Note especially that we await the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

What more powerful statement as to His divine nature can be provided than that which is given us in John 1:14, 16-18? The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Since He is God, we should humble ourselves now. Now we should worship. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

[Philippians 2:5-11]

I’m not waiting! I’ll worship now! I’ll call Him Lord now! Amen!

The text states that a body was prepared for the Christ. To this point, I have emphasised His deity. The text is quite clear in emphasising His humanity, however. We must not neglect this vital truth. The Son of God shared our condition. God became a man. This was in order that we might have confidence before Him. That is a powerful statement which is presented in Hebrews 2:14-18. One great purpose for Jesus’ humanity is clearly stated in that passage, and that purpose is that we might obtain confidence in His priestly service. We no longer approach a God who is distant and remote and terrifying, but we come before that God who became as we are.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

We know that Christ has shared our humanity and therefore we are confident before Him when we need help. This is the consistent testimony of the Word of God. Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need [Hebrews 4:14-16].

Assuredly it pleased that Father to have all the fullness of the Godhead dwell in this Jesus of Nazareth [see Colossians 1:19]. Surely, the knowledge that He has identified with us gives us still greater confidence before Him. But we are also reconciled to God through His physical body. Now [God] has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation [Colossians 1:22]. More than simply reconciling us to God, God has purified us and made us holy through the sacrifice of His Son. Underscore the significance of this truth: it was necessary that Jesus have a body in order to bear our sin in His own body. Through His sacrifice, we are reconciled. The first Adam sinned and the second Adam accepted the punishment of the race. Since the first Adam was a man, this second Adam must also be fully man.

God Gave Himself as a Sacrifice. Christmas is a happy season. Most of us get a warm, fuzzy glow whenever we think of the Christmas Season. The brilliant lights and bright decorations create an air of anticipation in young and old alike. Old familiar carols resonate with our most precious thoughts of Christmas’ past. The exchange of Christmas cards and the ubiquitous greeting of “Merry Christmas” from everyone we meet compels us to smile in spite of ourselves. Even the few Scrooges among us are driven to expressions approximating joy during this happy season.

I would not wish to dash that spirit of joy and happiness, but as Christians, we are ever conscious of a pall which dampens the seasonal merriment. There is great joy in the knowledge that God became a man, but we also know that His coming demanded that He would taste death for every man. This babe was born to die; and His death was to be for sins which He did not commit. He would provide a sacrifice for wicked people.

The Messiah is quoted as acknowledging that God did not desire sacrifice and offering, even going so far as to say that burnt offerings and sin offerings were displeasing. We need but read a scant few verses further to see the author confess that we who are Christians have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all [Hebrews 10:10]. It was the will of God that Messiah should offer His own body as a sacrifice. What is vital for us to grasp is that this is the last sacrifice required; it is the only sacrifice sufficient to put away sin and to make us perfect. By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those whoa re being made holy [Hebrews 10:14].

No man could ever offer a sacrifice great enough to propitiate God’s wrath. Instead, God must provide a perfect, an infinite sacrifice in the place of all mankind. Christmas is the strongest possible argument against man’s goodness. Christmas is a powerful argument against futile religious exercise designed to compel God’s grace toward mankind. Had man been essentially good, the Son of God would have never have needed to come. Sacrifice and offering would have been sufficient—if man were good. Burnt offerings and sin offerings would have no doubt sufficed—if man were able to be good. However, not only was man incapable of offering a suitable sacrifice which would assuage the wrath of God, but God would not find any such effort pleasing.

How is it, then, that people still think they can be good enough to make God love them? How often have ignorant people musing on heaven commented about their good works? “Well,” they foolishly say, “when God judges me, he’ll weigh my good deeds against my bad and if my good outweighs the bad I’ll go to heaven.” No one ever acknowledges (in fact, they secretly hope) that their bad deeds outweigh their good! Ever and always people imagine that they are essentially good.

The Bible takes a dimmer view of mankind’s goodness, however.

The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

[Jeremiah 17:9]

The only ones to be judged by their deeds are those already under condemnation. Before the Great White Throne when the dead are judged we see an awesome scene. Listen to John’s frightful words as he unveils what judgement for the lost shall be.

I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:11-15].

If someone should insist that he will stand by his own efforts, that one needs to hear my words—words which are now spoken in compassion and with gentleness. Brother man, your good deeds will condemn you. Sister woman, will you really argue that you are righteous? Will you actually defend your goodness? Do you actually think that you can compare your goodness as worthy of God? Are you so blind that you truly believe that you have lived a righteous life? God, through Isaiah spoke to that moot issue over seven hundred fifty years before the birth of His Son.

All of us have become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;

we all shrivel up like a leaf,

and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

[Isaiah 64:6]

It is insufficient to claim that you have never committed a serious crime. Have you ever felt hatred toward another? Have you ever experienced greed? Did you never tell so much as a little fib? Can you honestly say that you have never longed to possess another for your own gratification? We have sinned and our character is always sinful. We need a Saviour—One who will take away our sin through becoming a sacrifice for our sin. Jesus, the Son of God, has presented Himself as that sacrifice for sinful man.

I spoke with a young librarian at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Dallas on one occasion. I asked of his relationship to Christ and he responded that he tried very hard to be a good man. “Do you succeed?” I asked.

“Well,” he responded, “I certainly try. I keep the Ten Commandments, you know. I just believe that will be enough.”

“So you keep the Ten Commandments?” I began. “Name the fifth commandment.”

The young man was nonplussed. He sputtered and stammered and at last admitted that he didn’t know what the fifth commandment was.

“How can you maintain that you live by the Ten Commandments when you can’t even name them?” I asked. “Wouldn’t you like to know a better way to live?”

Intrigued, he asked what better way there might be. I pointed him to Christ and told him of the wonderful story of God’s love presented in the birth of His Son. I told how the Son of God was born so that He might present His life as a sacrifice. That young man saw the beauty of this glorious truth and soon yielded to the plea of the Spirit of God as he received the sacrifice of the Messiah in his place. What a rich Christmas present! Life… Salvation… Forgiveness… All this is offered to you in the Son of God.

I confess that I kneel in wonder before the words which the Apostle wrote long ago. Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [2 Corinthians 5:14-21].

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us… In these words is the Christmas story! The Son of God came in order to present Himself as a sacrifice for sinful man. We are free in Him, and only in Him are we free.

The Christ was Obedient to the Father. I have come to do your will, O God. Do you know the will of God for your life? We know a great deal of the will of God because He has revealed His will to us. The will of God is that we give ourselves to the Lord and to the church which He loved [2 Corinthians 8:5]. The saved know that the will of God is to do good in order to silence the ignorant talk of foolish men [1 Peter 2:15]. God wills that we be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18].

Godly lives are clearly the will of God. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life [1 Thessalonians 4:3-7].

It is God’s will that we be saved and that we honour Him through godly lives. Salvation is provided through the sacrifice of His Son. Hear Him speak of this provision through His obedience to the Father’s will. I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day [John 6:35-40].

The Messiah was obedient to the will of the Father and so we can be saved. Since He promises us salvation through accepting His sacrifice in our place, can we doubt that He will also enable us to live lives which glorify Him? Our great Saviour will not only redeem us from the sentence of eternal death, but He will give us power to live godly lives. He not only will bring many sons to glory, but they will forever glorify His Name as they reveal the beauty of His work throughout all eternity.

I confess that I used to tremble at the thought of facing Jesus. No longer is that true. Now I long to see Him. Here is the reason we can have confidence before Him. We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad [2 Corinthians 5:1-10].

Now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure [1 John 2:28-3:3]. Amen.