Christmas Eve Message

Thank you for tuning into this year’s Christmas Eve service. Like most things in 2020, this service has been very different. I’m grateful to Josh Sweetman, Maranatha’s Youth Director for organising and putting this whole service together. I’m thankful for all the readers, you’ve done an excellent job. Thank you, everyone, for giving of your gifts and abilities in service to your King, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In the reading of Ruth Bell Graham’s One Wintry Night, we’ve heard the story of creation, God’s creation. How God created it, the fall into sin, and the consequences that came as a result: God’s curses upon the serpent, the earth, women and men.

Then we heard about God’s redemption, how he has redeemed us from this life of sin and death, and has given us new life in his Son, Jesus.

And we all are looking forward to the day when Christ will return and make all things new! When the entire universe will be restored and all the curse of sin has been erased.

One of R.C. Sproul’s favourite Christmas Carols was “Joy to the World.” The verse he appreciated most, was this one: No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.”

This is the good news! We are living in a fallen, broken, sin-stained, disease ridden, sorrow-filled, thorn infested world. But Jesus came into this world. Jesus came into the brokenness. His entire earthly ministry demonstrated what he would one day come to fully do: he healed, he restored, he caused to grow, he made the deaf hear, the mute speak, the blind to see. He came to forgive sins.

And this is how he did it, he went as far as the curse was found, every place, every human being who is under the curse, Jesus took their curse upon himself. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, he writes: “Christ (Jesus) redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Gal. 3:13).

Jesus willingly took the curse upon himself because he was able to bear it. He lived a perfect life, and therefore the curse couldn’t cling to him. Being fully human and fully God, he was able to pay the eternal penalty once and for all!

Jesus has replaced a curse with blessing.

Have you received Jesus’ blessing? Have you accepted his amazing Christmas gift?

All you need to do is believe that Jesus died for you. All you need to do is put your trust in him. He has already paid for your sins. Accept it, believe it, and receive blessing and peace! Amen.

Let us pray:

Father in Heaven, thank you for sending your only Son, Jesus to be born on Christmas Day over 2000 years ago. Thank you that in Him, sins are forgiven. Thank you that we can receive forgiveness of sins by putting our faith and trust in Jesus. Holy Spirit work in us to put our faith in Jesus, to experience even now the true life given in Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.