For You.
Notes
Transcript
What was Jesus born for?
What was Jesus born for?
Doesn’t sound like a weird question, but imagine asking a new mom!
“What was your baby born for?” (Confused, appalled, disturbed)
A baby needs a reason to be here?
But, with Jesus, that is the right question! What was Jesus born for?
Christmas for Simeon & Anna: what do they take away from it? Jesus is for them.
Christmas not just celebrating a baby: we have a “for us” God. (Gospel!)
Jesus was born for you: Born to save you, forgive you, redeem you.
Jesus for you: radically extraordinary & absurdly ordinary.
Jesus for you is radically extraordinary
Jesus for you is radically extraordinary
Simeon opens the gift of Christmas:
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Simeon can die in peace! Despite death, he will witness God’s promises to His people
Simeon can die in peace! Despite death, he will witness God’s promises to His people
What would it take for you to die in peace? Promise + Assurance
Extraordinary Promise: No matter what (even death): I’ll be okay, sins forgiven
Rise again as if death never happened, & even better: New Creation
All true, even though you’re a poor, miserable sinner! (extraordinary!)
Radical Assurance: Knowing God can & will keep promise for you.
Assurance is recieved; not from us (good works, money, sinlessness)
Assurance is knowing, not hoping (radical!)
You can die in peace: You get to see Christ for you, too.
You can die in peace: You get to see Christ for you, too.
[12:00 left] (member who stopped coming, beer, church is to receive)
We expect God to be angry, demanding, out to get you
Relationship w/God not primarily what we do for Him, but what He does for us
Baptism, Word (Bible, Absolution), Lord’s Supper
Why for 100’s of years church sung Simeon’s “Christmas” song, Nunc Dimittis, after Lord’s Supper
Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your Word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Isreal.
Christmas IS about the gifts!
Christmas IS about the gifts!
Maybe not Hot Wheels, Xbox, or Superman underwear
But Christmas is about the gift of a God who gives Himself for you.
Jesus is the baby born for you with extraordinary promises and radical assurance.
Jesus for you is absurdly ordinary
Jesus for you is absurdly ordinary
Simeon opens another gift (albeit a different one):
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
“A sign opposed”: A baby comes to save the world? It’s absurd!
“A sign opposed”: A baby comes to save the world? It’s absurd!
Gen 3:15 - God promised that the offspring of Eve would crush Satan’s head
Expectation: Jesus in an Iron Man suit, Jedi Master Jesus, God coming in Holy horror!
Satan’s ready for Armageddon, and God sends a Baby into battle.
A baby, simple water, bread, wine — ordinary things of creation, yet all God for you
Why would God send salvation in such lowly, humble, ordinary ways?
Why would God send salvation in such lowly, humble, ordinary ways?
We treat God like a vending machine: as-needed, get’s me through hard times, “on call”
We want Him extraordinarily fixing ordinary problems to make life glorious
God’s not done w/creation yet: the ordinary brings extraordinary salvation (new creation)
Shows God’s power: God doesn’t need to use extraordinary to do extraordinary!
Jesus does the absurd, ordinary, & weak for you:
Jesus does the absurd, ordinary, & weak for you:
“and a sword will pierce through your own soul also”
Jesus came for the purpose of dying, a sword that would pierce the soul of His mother
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!
For you, He takes your sin, shame, guilt, punishment, even hell
Jesus is the baby born for you with ways as absurd as death and as ordinary as wood & nails
Jesus is the God for you.
Jesus is the God for you.
Christmas gift: you get to live as someone who Jesus came for.
Stop trying to earn salvation. Stop trying to pay for your sins. Stop thinking God has it out for you if life isn’t swell.
Live (and even die) in peace.
Christians are people of peace b/c we have a God who is for us in ways radically extraordinary & absurdly ordinary.
Gospel of Christmas: “for UNTO YOU a child is born”
Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with his favor and grant you His peace. Depart in peace, Amen.