Christmas Misconceptions

Matthew 10:34 KJV 1900

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Introduction

Have you ever seen a date coming, maybe a test in school, a meeting with your boss that you realize you are going to have to deal with something.

I have been seeing the collision with this verse and this Sunday for since we began Matthew Chapter 10, and at I first I thought wouldn’t be funny if we ended up at this verse the Sunday before Christmas…well the Lord has a sense of humor because here we are. The Sunday with the expectation of shepherds, wise men, and babes wrapped in swaddling clothes.

So in this portion of the Missionary Discourse Jesus is realigning some of the preconceived notions of the disciples concerning His nature and purpose.

He is removing some misconceptions because what his disciples are going to find is that as they go out and preach the gospel of peace they would end up finding themselves in more trouble than peace because....

The World doesn’t naturally want the peace the real Jesus offers but rather desires the phony peace of a pseudo Jesus.

Have you noticed that.....The World wants Peace but they do not want the Prince of Peace.

Three Christmas Misconceptions concerning the Person, Purpose, and Personality of Christ

Misconception #1: The Person of Christ

Misconception: The world see a helpless baby in a manger but the Bible describes someone infinitely more

Jesus is Immanuel: God with Us

Matthew 1:23 (KJV 1900) — 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Jesus Christ is God not simply good

Jesus is the Impossible: Born of a Virgin

Jesus was born of a virgin.....that is humanly impossible

Luke 1:37 (KJV 1900) — 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

The is how God comes as a Sinless Man

While Mary was a sinner like any other person she gave birth to a child conceived by the Holy Spirit, a child that would inherit man’s sinful nature.

Mary’s blessing was that she bore Jesus

Jesus Christ is a Man but without sin

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV 1900) — 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Im-per-ator: His is King

Jesus Christ is the King not

Luke 19:38 (KJV 1900) — 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Misconception #2: The Purpose of Christ

Misconception: Jesus’s purpose was nothing more than to be a good teacher whose philosophies we should emulate

Christ came to offer himself a ransom for many so that we may have peace with God

Matthew 20:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Christ was born to die

Peace with God is only possible through the blood of Christ

Colossians 1:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Misconception #3: The Personality of Christ

Misconception: That Jesus is a peace loving hippie type that wants to be agreeable with everybody by never being disagreeable.

Jesus is the Truth

Jesus is Decisive

Jesus is very clear concerning Himself

He has not been ambigious

Jesus is Disruptive

Here is the proof: Be in the company of unbelievers and bring up Jesus and see how the mode changes

Jesus is Divisive

The only true unity can only be found in Christ not apart from Christ