He Gives Life for Death

Giving Failures

The Babylon Bee is a humorous website that puts out funny fake news stories. A recent one had a picture of the 3 wise men at the manger and reported this from Bethlehem:

Three wise men visited the baby Jesus, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to his mother Mary. Afterward, the wise man who brought myrrh confronted the other two wise men since it had been his understanding there was an agreed-upon spending limit for the newborn king of the Jews.

“We all said before this, since we’re buying gifts for God among men, that there would be a temptation to go overboard,” said Caspar, the wise man who brought myrrh. “That’s why I distinctly remember us setting a denari limit on the gifts. What happened?”

“Well... I thought she’d like gold,” replied Balthazar, the wise man who brought gold.

“Of course she’d like gold!” shouted Caspar. “That’s not the point. We weren’t supposed to try to show each other up here. But instead, she’s like ‘Wow! Gold!’ right before she opens my gift where she’s all, ‘Oh. What’s this?’”

“She seemed to like the myrrh once you explained it to her,” Balthazar said.

“Yes, she was very polite about it,” Caspar responded. “But do you know what you don’t have to explain to people? Gold!”

“Hey, I got showed up too,” said the wise man Melchior, who gave frankincense.

Caspar pointed an accusing finger at him. “You were also over budget.”

“Hey, you get to give gifts for the birth of the Messiah only once,” said Balthazar. “It’s time to splurge a little.”

“Or, at the birth of the man who will judge all our sins, maybe it’s time to keep your word,” Caspar responded. “I’m just saying.”

They did all agree the baby was very cute.

Our sermon series has set out to point out that we don’t have much to offer Jesus in the way of gifts. Most of us came to Jesus at the ends of our ropes. We were exhausted and spent. We learned the reason for that is that we are born into a world of sin and that we needed a Savior.

God Knows How to Give a Good Gift

Each Christmas our family would gather around the Christmas tree and read this story. It is a story about the greatest gift that has ever been given – the baby Jesus.

Luke 2:1–21 NIV

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. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Luke 2:1-

Because we have all experienced Christmas, we know that when it comes to gifts, expectation exceeds realization. The toy, the outfit, the truck, or the diamonds all fade. With God’s gift of Jesus Christ there is no disappointment in Jesus. He grows bigger and bigger and better and better with each day that we know Him. The reason for that is that Jesus Christ, God’s gift, gives life.

2 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.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Because we have all experienced Christmas, we know that when it comes to gifts, expectation exceeds realization. The toy, the outfit, the truck, or the diamonds all fade. With God’s gift of Jesus Christ there is no disappointment in Jesus. He grows bigger and bigger and better and better with each day that we know Him. The reason for that is that Jesus Christ, God’s gift, gives life.

His Son Gives Us Life

In the Gospel of John there is a description of an interesting situation. One of Jesus’ dear friends has passed away, leaving his two sisters grieving. His name is Lazarus. Let me tell you a little bit about Lazarus.

First of all, the name Lazarus in Hebrew means “God is my helper”

Secondly, Lazarus became sick and died. This is the story of all of us. Because of Adam’s sin, we all became sick and died. We were dead in our sins.

John 11:17 NIV

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

Next comes good news! Dead men are good candidates for resurrection. You can’t be resurrected if you’re not dead. Lazarus is dead – flatlined. He is wrapped up and sealed inside the tomb. After 4 days, Jesus goes to the house and meets the women. The rabbis taught that the soul hovered near the deceased for three days after death and then returned to God (SB, II, 544); thus, on the fourth day death was assured. As if to emphasize this belief, Martha told Jesus not to roll back the stone, for the body had already begun to putrefy.[1]

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

Next comes good news! Dead men are good candidates for resurrection. You can’t be resurrected if you’re not dead. Lazarus is dead – flatlined. He is wrapped up and sealed inside the tomb. After 4 days, Jesus goes to the house and meets the women. The rabbis taught that the soul hovered near the deceased for three days after death and then returned to God (SB, II, 544); thus, on the fourth day death was assured. As if to emphasize this belief, Martha told Jesus not to roll back the stone, for the body had already begun to putrefy.[1]

This sermon series has been about the Gift Exchange. We have very little to offer, but God has so much. Because of our sins, we can only offer death to Jesus but He offers life. Now, what is about to happen in our story about Lazarus is a bigger picture about the gift of life that Jesus makes available to each of us.

John 11:25–27 NIV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 11:25-2

“If Jesus Christ had only been in a swoon, or in a sleep, there would have been no glory to God in his awakening. Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. It would bring no glory to Him to give life or salvation to those who did not need it. Before the Apostle Paul could say, “Now I live,” he had to say, “I am crucified.” Resurrection life can only come where there has been death. We must die to self if we would live unto God. To share with Christ His resurrection power, we must needs go to the Cross and the grave with Him. If we refuse to die, we refuse to enter into the new and fruitful life.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

“If Jesus Christ had only been in a swoon, or in a sleep, there would have been no glory to God in his awakening. Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. It would bring no glory to Him to give life or salvation to those who did not need it. Before the Apostle Paul could say, “Now I live,” he had to say, “I am crucified.” Resurrection life can only come where there has been death. We must die to self if we would live unto God. To share with Christ His resurrection power, we must needs go to the Cross and the grave with Him. If we refuse to die, we refuse to enter into the new and fruitful life.”

He is the resurrection and the life!

John 11:43–44 NIV

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Ravi Zacharias in preaching on this same passage makes a marvelous point:

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Ravi Zacharias in preaching on this same passage makes a marvelous point:

Have you ever wondered what you would do to frighten Lazarus after he was raised from the dead? What would you do to frighten him? “Lazarus, I’m doing to kill you?” Caligula said, “I’m going to kill you!” He said, “Ha, Ha, Ha!” And he says, “Stop ha, ha, ha’ing, I’m going to kill you as I’m killing all the Christians.” He doubles over in uncontrollable laughter, comes up for air and says, “Caligula, haven’t you heard? Death is dead! Death is dead!” How do you frighten someone whose already been there and knows the One who is going to let them out?

But just think of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven. Of touching a hand and finding it God’s hand. Of breathing new air and finding it celestial. Of waking up in glory and finding it home.

Ladies and gentlemen, your hope and mine in Christ is that one day we will be with God. One day we will be with Him…

Isaiah calls Him wonderful counselor.

Peter looks at him and says, “You are the Christ, the Son of God”.

The apostle Paul, Saul at that time, in says “What shall you have me do, Lord?”

Thomas raised his hand and touched His side and said, “Be my Lord and my God”. (The Lord of Me, the God of Me).

When Pilate looked at Him and said, “Art thou the Christ?” He said, “You have said it.”

When the priests looked at Him and said, “Are you the Son of God?” He says, “You are right in saying that I am the Son of God”.

And in John chapter 14 he says, “In my Fathers house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you that where I am you may be also.” “Lord, where are you going? If we don’t know where you are going how can we find the way?” “I am the Way. I am the truth. I am the Life. No man comes to the Father except by Me. “Show us the Father Lord.” “If you’ve seen Me you’ve seen the Father.”

“Philip, have you been with me so long and you don’t know that when you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father. I and my Father are one and he who believes in me, greater things than these shall he do.

Lazarus could never be bullied by death again! He knew the person who was the source of His life – Jesus Christ, the object of Christmas, the theme of Christmas.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 NIV

55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is True! Christmas is about Believing

(NIV) 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is True! Christmas is about Believing

The classic Christmas movies, Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus or Miracle on 34th Street work because of the idea that Christmas is about believing. There is a lot of magical believing about Santa Claus, flying reindeer, and elves on shelves that play all night. I’m not against those things but be sure that you can separate the meaning of Christmas from the magic of Christmas.

The magic of Christmas has an expiration date. It is a gift of the imagination but has no substance. On the other hand, the meaning of Christmas – the understanding that death is dead and that life flows from God like the river that flows from the throne room of God in Revelation- that is a gift that is beyond measure. It never breaks, doesn’t need batteries, and is attractive to all ages.

John 1:4 NIV

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

[1] Wead, D. W. (1979–1988). Lazarus. In G. W. Bromiley (Ed.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Vol. 3, p. 94). Wm. B. Eerdmans.