The Gift Worth Waiting For

The anticipation level in our house is increasing. There are only 17 days until Christmas. Around our house the decorations are all up, the Christmas candles are lit, Christmas music is on constantly, and the only thing left to do is wrap the Christmas presents that have already been purchased. Around the world, many people find themselves in a similar position in which they are waiting for this glorious day. Now think about all the anticipation we all have for Christmas day and finally for being able to open our presents. Can you imagine the disappointment if you didn’t receive anything you needed, or worse you received nothing you wanted! We anticipate Christmas because we know that we will receive a gift worth waiting for. Tonight we are going to look at a gift that is waiting for us and was worth the wait.

Jesus is God’s Gift - A Gift Worth Waiting For

What is so special about Jesus?

What is so special about the birth of another baby?

Babies are born everyday

Worldwide there about 385,000 babies born each day

In 2019, that number was only 10,267 babies.

Any parent will tell you that there was anticipation and excitement with the birth of their child. Each child was special in their own way as the parents waited and planned for their baby’s arrival.

But what is so special about Jesus that each of us and people around the world would agree that Jesus is God’s gift, a gift worth waiting for?

Luke records the timing and the details surrounding the birth of Jesus

The Timing of His Birth

Luke 2:6–7 KJV 1900

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

On the surface we would say there is nothing special about the birth of Jesus.

He was just the firstborn son of a Jewish woman named Mary who was recently married to Joseph

But the verse talks about the timing of Jesus’ birth

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

Jesus was not just the son of Mary

Jesus is also God’s son.

Jesus is both fully human, born of a woman and fully divine

He is the son of God

He is God became flesh, the creator born to live among creation

Jesus was no ordinary child

He was the “God/man” born fully human, but also fully God

That’s a gift worth waiting for

Jesus is one of a kind; no other child in all human history was born in such a way. Jesus is God’s gift, a gift worth waiting for.

A gift worth waiting for, both Luke and Paul refer to the timing of Jesus’ birth

Luke is referring to the natural time of child birth - 9 months

Paul on the other hand is referring to the completion of God’s eternal plan.

When we think of all God’s gifts He has given us,

His timing is always perfect

God sees and knows the personal details and events of our life

He is aware of the individual times and seasons of our lives.

God is working in and through our lives with the perfect knowledge of His eternal timetable

For us the idea of waiting even 17 days now seems like forever!

Being married and sharing the same Amazon account, I know all my gifts and I know that they have already arrived. I get notifications when they are shipped and delivered.

Despite that, my wife is still making me wait until Christmas to open gifts that I could be using right now! Gifts that I desperately need/want!

To me, 17 days is almost an eternity

The Bible tells us that from the fall of Adam and Eve to the birth of Jesus there was 4,000 years of waiting

Even with the close of the last prophet, the people endured 400 years of God’s silence until this very night an 8 pound child of God cried out and spoke!

Simeon - Waiting for Comfort

Luke 2:25–28 KJV 1900

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

We’re introduced to Simeon in Luke 2:25-28

He was righteous before people, and he was devout in His relationship with God

Things weren't going well for the nation of Israel

They had not heard from God for many years under Roman rule

They lost their political independence and were living in fear of King Herod wondering if the Messiah would ever come.

According to verse 26, Simeon would not die before he had seen the Messiah in the flesh.

Simeon’s expectation focused on the comfort Christ would bring

Among the Jews of Simeon’s day, one of the popular titles of the Messiah was Comforter.

They were longing for the messiah to come and bring His comfort to them

The desire to be comforted is a universal human need. We all struggle with loneliness, emptiness, insecurity, even desperation. In fact, the Christmas season is one of the major crisis times of the year for depression and suicide.

After 6 weeks of his birth, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple where they encountered Simeon.

As he broke out into praise, he acknowledged that God had not only fulfilled the individual promise to him, but also the promises of the prophets to send the Anointed One to comfort both Jews and Gentiles.

Anna - Waiting on Forgiveness

Luke 2:36–38 KJV 1900

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The other Christmas Character waiting with anticipation was Anna

After her husband had died, she dedicated herself to fasting and praying in the temple

The Bible even tells us that she never left the temple, she worshipped day and night

She was looking forward to the same person as Simeon was

But with a different orientation

Instead of looking for comfort, Anna was looking for forgiveness.

The word redemption is related to the idea of captivity

When Anna saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to all who were waiting for redemption

Here, at last, was the one who would save His people from their sins

Jesus provides what we need

When Jesus came, He provided the very things that Simeon and Anna were waiting for

God’s comfort and His forgiveness

What are you waiting for this Christmas? Whatever it is, Jesus can give it to you

Can you identify with Simeon? Are you hurting right now?

Are you feeling lonely, empty, afraid, and maxed out?

Do you need some comfort? Counseling? A fresh sense of God’s presence?

If so, you can find what your looking for in Jesus

Or do you identify more with Anna?

Are you plagued with guilt this Christmas because something you’ve done or the way you’ve been living?

Do you feel trapped in a pattern of sin that you can’t break out of?

if you need forgiveness, Jesus can give it to you tonight.

There is no better time than Christmas to do just that

There are three actions steps from this passage that will help you experience God’s comfort and forgiveness this Christmas

Become a Marveler

Luke 2:33 “And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.”

When Joseph and Mary tried to process everything that was happening, they marveled at what was said about Jesus.

Websters Dictionary defines “marveler” is one that is filled with wonder, astonishment, and surprise.

Are we marvelers this Christmas? Or are we too caught up in the busyness and stress of the season?

Have we been running around because of the holidays or are we taking time to make Christmas a holy day?

Here’s an idea that may help you recapture the marvel of Christmas.

Pick one of the Christmas characters and put yourself in their sandals.

Imagine what it must have been like to witness the Christmas story first hand.

Go ahead; pick one -- Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, or the Wise Men.

Become a Mover

Luke 2:27 “And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,”

Both Simeon and Anna were movers. When the Holy Spirit prompted them to move, they didn’t sit still.

I wonder what would have happened if they had not responded?

Here’s the truth. Christmas splits people into 2 camps.

Since Jesus has entered the world, He has divided the human race. Jesus will cause the falling and rising of many.

Because of who Jesus is and what He came to do, He forces people to make a decision about Him.

The Bible uses powerful imagery ­

Jesus is either a rock that you build your life upon (that’s the sense of rising) or he’s the rock that you stumble over (that’s the meaning of falling).

On the cusp of the last Christmas of the millennium, Jesus is calling each of us to a moral decision ­ based upon our willingness to move and respond, we will either rise or fall.

You can’t stay neutral about Jesus. You are either for Him or against Him. You’re moving closer to Him, or further away. You either have the Son or you don’t.

Become a Messenger

Luke 2:38 KJV 1900

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Interestingly, as we work at becoming marvelers, we can’t help but become movers.

That leads us to the final action step from this passage -- become a messenger.

Do you have family and friends who’ve been caught up in preparations for Christmas?

Look at it this way -- maybe their anticipation and longings really represent an inner search for comfort and forgiveness -- those things that only the Messiah can provide.

God wants each one of us to become messengers of the Christmas story.

Illustration: Many years ago, there was a very wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting with his son. They had priceless works by Picasso and Van Gogh adorning the walls of their family estate.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His son had died.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season had vanished with the death of his son.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands who said, “I was a friend of your son. I was was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.”

The soldier mentioned that he was an artist and then gave the old man the package. The paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man hung the portrait over the fireplace, pushing aside millions of dollars worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces of art for which museums around the world clamored.

The following spring, the old man died. The art world waited with anticipation for the upcoming auction. According to the will of the old man, all the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he had received the greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled that day.

The auction began with a painting that was not on anyone’s museum list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” No one spoke. Finally someone said, “Who cares about that painting. It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s move on to the good stuff.”

The auctioneer responded, “No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a neighbor of the old man offered $10 dollars. “That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.”

The auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice…gone.” The gavel fell.

Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can bid on the real treasures!”

The auctioneer looked at the room filled with people and announced that the auction was over. Everyone was stunned. Someone spoke up and said, “What do you mean, it’s over? We didn’t come here for a painting of someone’s son. There are millions of dollars worth of art here! What’s going on?”

The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the Father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”

Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? The message is the same this Christmas. Because of the Father’s love…whoever takes the Son gets it all.

Conclusion: Let me wrap this up. As you and I become marvelers, the wonder of Christmas will astonish us. Then, as we become movers, our needs for comfort and forgiveness will be met. And, as we take our role as messengers seriously, we’ll be in position to introduce others to the Christ of Christmas -- so that they in turn can find what they have been waiting for.

Friends, in a nutshell, Christmas is a marvelous, moving, message! How can we not find what we’ve been looking for? And, how can we keep quiet about it? Once you have the Son, you have everything.