The Cradle, Cross and Crown
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· 33 viewsA brief message for Christmas Eve showing how Jesus was born for a purpose. He was born to die.
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Invite Children to come forward
Invite Children to come forward
This evening I want to share with you what has come to be known as “The Christmas Story.” How many of you know what a story is? Maybe your parents still tell you bedtime stories. Or you read a good book that contains a story. Or a movie that tells a good story.
Have you ever watched a good movie only to find out at the end that it was based on a “True story.”
Remember the Titans
Miracle
Breakthrough - The story of a St. Louis teenager by the name of John Smith who feel the ice into a lake near his home. He was under the water for 15 minutes and just when the rescue crews where ready to give up God urged one rescue working to look in one other spot and low and behold they found John. John was in a coma for a long time and just when they were about to give up hope, God performs a miracle and John wakes up and makes a full recovery.
Tonight, I want to tell you a real life story about the birth of Jesus which is found in Luke chapter one.
luke 1.26-
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
luke 2.1-
Did you know that “Jesus” means “God is salvation?” At Christmas we celebrate that fact that God sent his one and only son to bring us salvation.
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Let me tell you another story:
Every year around Christmas, these sweet treats show up everywhere in different sizes and flavors. The Candy Cane is not just a sweet treat that we enjoy around Christmas but it is designed to be a delicious reminder of what Christmas is all about!
According to the legend of the candy cane it was first created in the 18th century in Europe. During this time there was a law against any public display of Christianity. One man, who happened to be a candy maker, wanted to figure out a way to make a piece of candy that he could give to local children as a Christmas present that would allow him to tell the real story of Christmas.
The Shepherd’s staff - He wanted children to know that Jesus is our shepherd and he wants us to know his voice.
The letter J for Jesus - He wanted children to know the most powerful name.
He is our Rock - He wanted children to know that Jesus is dependable and strong.
The stripes - He wanted children to know that Jesus paid the price for our sins.
Peppermint - He wanted children to know the sweet fragrance of Christ.
Hard candy - He wanted children to know that Jesus was broken for us.
May Candy Cane always be a reminder to you of all that Jesus is to us!
The Christmas story is more that just Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem, the star and the shepherds. The real message of Christmas goes much deeper. The full message of Christmas can be summed up in three words: A Cradle, A Cross, and A Crown.
The Cradle
The Cradle
On the first Christmas night the Bible says that the Angel appeared to those fearful shepherds and said:
“Fear not, I bring you good news.” ()
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
During World War II, many a mother would take her son and try to keep the memory of the father, who was away at war, in the memory of the boy. One mother I heard about took her son every day into the bedroom and showed him a large portrait of the father who was away. And one day the little boy said, “Mom, wouldn’t it be great if Dad could just step out of the frame?”
That’s exactly what happened on that first Christmas. For centuries the people of God looked into the heavens longing for God to step out of the frame, and at Bethlehem that’s exactly what God did.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The whole world was thinking of Caesar. The whole world was thinking of Rome. But in God’s eternal plan, He was thinking of a baby in a manger in the little tiny town of Bethlehem.
The Cross
The Cross
In order for Christmas to have its full meaning, it cannot be separated from the cross.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus himself said this:
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Jesus was the only person in history who was born with the purpose of dying.
Apostle Paul:
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
God is saying to all of us, “I love you. I love you so much I gave my Son.” But He’s saying more than that. He’s saying, “I can forgive you, because of what He did on the cross.”
The Crown
The Crown
Chiseled into the cornerstone of the United Nations building is a quotation from the Bible that has not yet been fulfilled.
4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
The passage speaks of the time when the Messiah will reign over the whole earth.
When Jesus comes back to earth the final time, it will be as commander of the armies of heaven and He will end all wars. A new world will be formed, sin will be eliminated, tears will be wiped from every eye. Disease will be no more and death will be now more. This is the full message of Christmas.