He Came, So We May Come
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION: Merry Christmas (Let’s pray)
Every Christmas season much is said about the birth of Christ
Articles, magazines, blogs, and books are written and many podcasts and shows discuss the birth of Christ…
People will argue over the idea of a virgin birth
Or how many wise men there were exactly...
or especially this year, what really was the star that led the wise men from the east?
But few, rarely talk about why Jesus came… why He was born… at least in an honest way… in a way that relies more on the primary source rather than our feelings and our biased opinions…
And this question is too important to simply rely on our feelings, subjective opinions, or our political agendas
So, I intend to briefly answer this question for us tonight.... why was Jesus born...
To answer that question we must go to the Scripture which tells us of His birth
In doing so, we’ll see that we do not simply celebrate the birth of a child 2000 years ago b/c he inspires us to care for the poor...
Or gives us an object lesson of which we are to reform our immigration policies with…
No, His birth, His life… is much more than that… He is much more than an object lesson or some example for socio-political reform...
We’ll look at several verses that speak to why Jesus was born… why the Son of God, the Word of God, took on flesh...
The first group of verses most people accept, understand, and possibly even embrace, as they pertain with salvation and fulfillment
The second group of verses however… most do not… even those who accept the first group… for the second groups pertains to truth and division. but you cannot accept the first group without accepting the others as well. Christ is not Mr. Potato Head… you cannot takeaway and keep the pieces you like.
Why He Came
Why He Came
We’ll start with Matthew 1:21 an angel speaking to Joseph in a dream...
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
This is perhaps the most succinct and clear reason given in Scripture… Jesus was born to deliver us, to save us from our sin…
Why? B/c we can’t save ourselves… God is perfectly holy in a way that prohibits any kind of sin any kind of self-serving thought or action to be in His presence… therefore, for us to enjoy life everlasting we must be delivered from our sins.
Let’s go to the next one...
Matthew 5:17
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I will do my best to explain this briefly....
Christ didn’t come to null and void the Law… nor to do away with the moral commands and expectations given by God… rather Jesus came to fulfill the Law…
In doing so, Jesus was the teacher and doer…
He taught us to obey the law by obeying the two great commandments of which the Law is summed up… Love God & Love Neighbor
And He lived in perfect obedience to the Law so that He may fulfill it…
In His sinless life Jesus fulfilled the moral laws of the Law
In His sacrificial death He fulfilled the ceremonial laws of the Law
Thus allowing Him to build upon the Law with the inauguration of the New Covenant
Now, in John 12:46 we here Jesus describing His purpose of coming using terms of light and darkness
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
The world has been in darkness since sin entered into the world through one man, the first Adam, back in Genesis 3… and now, Jesus, the second Adam, the Son of God, has come as a light, as a source of truth and life
A light for mankind, though the world rejects the light, but His sheep do not… and it is to His sheep that He gives life, but not just life, abundant life...
John 10:10 in the midst of Jesus talking about how He is the Good Shepherd says...
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus wasn’t born for His benefit… He came to serve and to give, not to take, not to steal, not to kill…
In His coming He gives life to His sheep and gives it to them abundantly...
This is not a reference to material blessings… but eternal blessings.... that we are able to enjoy here and now...
Blessings of joy, peace, purpose, contentment… regardless of our circumstances… if this is lacking in your life… you need to come to Jesus to receive them… the world will not and cannot give them to you… whatever the world gives you will only leave you empty, wanting… the world, ultimately, will destroy you… Christ, meanwhile gives you life…
Now, to be clear, the world may destroy your life because you trust in Jesus… but that’s only the physical body, and as we will speak about shortly, that will be raised up in the last day...
Another reason Jesus came is Matthew 9:13
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus, being the light of the world, the Good Shepherd, comes to call those who know they need saving… not those who think they are good on their own… not those who are prideful and trust their works… but those who are humble and poor in spirit recognizing their spiritual depravity and spiritual brokenness.
Now, this first group of verses I think most people can get behind… but these next five… not so much… for not only did Jesus come to save us… but He also came to testify of the Truth and to judge… two things this world… hates.
Why He Came
Why He Came
We’ll dive right in with Matthew 10:34
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Perhaps one of the most common misconceptions of the coming of Jesus…
I thought the angel in Luke said “Peace on earth”? Yes, he did… but to whom… among those whom God is pleased… those whom God favors… and who is that… those who call upon the name of the Son… those who have Christ as their Good Shepherd...
Outside of that truth… Jesus is not a source of peace… not for those who reject Him...
He came as the light of the world, but the world rejected Jesus… because the Light, Jesus, exposes the deeds of the world for what they are… evil… sinful...
Jesus continues this line of thinking into the next verse Matthew 10:35
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Even within our own families… unity may be lost… peace may not be experienced because of what Jesus represents… because of who He is… the Gospel and Christmas is not about restoring the broken relationships within your family...
The coming of Christ, the birth of Christ, Christmas, the Good News of the Kingdom is about restoring your broken relationship with the Father… and possibly, from that, in God’s grace, you may experience restoration with others… but that is not guaranteed… in fact, you will probably only experience that if your family and others come to know Jesus themselves… if not… expect those relationships to become broken… if they are not already...
And this division, this act of dividing is centered on this next reason of the coming of Jesus… John 18:36-37
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Jesus in His incarnation came, as a King, to bear witness of the truth, of another kingdom… and again… the truth is hated by the world… accountability to God is not welcomed here… yet, those who are of the truth, hear it and welcome it.
Finally, why has Jesus, the king, come and done all of this?
Sure, to save, to be the light, to be the witness… but why?
What is His primary motivator? What compelled Him to under take such a task?
B/c you’re so worthy of salvation?
B/c you’re so great?
B/c He loves you so much… what does Jesus tell us?
John 6:38
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
And what exactly is the will of the Father? John 6:39
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
And what exactly does that mean? To whom does this apply? Keep reading one more verse John 6:40
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Who gets to have eternal life? Who gets to be raised up on the last day to a life everlasting?
Everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him… a belief that bears itself out in obedience to the teachings of Christ…
But this is the important part… this is available to everyone… no asterisk, no exceptions… no hidden terms or fine print…
Ethnicity does not matter
Gender does not matter
Socio-economical class does not matter
Skin color does not matter...
Only faith… only belief in Jesus Christ...
Which is rooted in the understanding and acknowledgment of our sin and our need for a savior...
If you still struggle with this idea let us look at some verse that help us understand Who May Come and receive the blessings of the birth of Christ
Who May Come
Who May Come
Matthew 11:28
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Has this life has you worn out? The drama, the “conspiracies”, the politics, the arbitrary social obligations, wearing on you?
Are you tired of trying to figure life out? Tired of trying to find purpose, fulfillment, satisfaction? Come to Jesus… He’s waiting… He came specifically for people like you.... the gift of Christmas is for you and it is everlasting
A gift of everlasting joy
A gift that saves and redeems
A gift that keeps on giving for all of eternity
This invitation is reiterated at the end of the New Testament
Rev. 22:17
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Stop drinking water from Jacob’s well… from the wells of this world… drink from Him who offers living water freely so that you will thirst no more...
There is no one to whom this invitation is not available to… there is no one so steeped in sin they cannot be saved...
Romans 8:34
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Therefore.... Heb 4:16
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
No priest, no pope, no man need to stand between us and the Father… we have on one mediator Christ… and no works of righteousness, no sacraments needed either… Christ has done all the work necessary… so let us not refrain from going to Him in the time of need.
And in these truths let us find rest and rejoice that we may never lose our place before God...
John 6:37
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Maybe this is the first Christmas of which you have come to know the true meaning of Christmas...
Or perhaps, you knew it long ago but you have strayed from the faith… you have been walking in darkness and now the light has guided you back to Him, back to where you belong… rejoice in His grace, in His mercy… Christmas isn’t about how we can be like Him… it is about He has made a way for us to be with Him forever...
A way, a path marked not only by a Cross… but marked by an empty tomb...
marked by suffering and marked by the promise of the resurrection
For those who call upon His Name, Christmas is very special indeed…
Don’t let the devil, nor the world distract you this Christmas season from it’s original purpose… from reflecting on the truth of what God has done so that we may be saved from our sin and enjoy everlasting life… Don’t lose sight of that… be reminded of it, respond appropriately and then rejoice in the good news of Christmas…