Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening: One of the most precious aspects of Children and the Christmas season is the sense of “wonder” with which Children approach Christmas.

There is a palpable joy, expectation, and inquisitiveness that our children exude during the course of the Christmas season.

Beyond, that Children get excited about Christmas in a way that leads them to talk about Christmas incessantly.

Their wonder which leads to joy, expectation, and proclamation.

They experiences the joys of the season as they participate in decorating the home, driving around town to see Christmas lights, celebrating together in classroom parties.

Many of our children take great delight in the giving and receiving of gifts.

They experience the expectation of Christmas as they participate in holiday traditions, advent calendars, counting down the days until Christmas break begins.

They express their wonder in the constant barrage of questions that come with Christmas such as, “how many days is it until Christmas?”

“Do you think I’ll receive this gift I desire at Christmas?” Add into that the expressions of joy are children express as they open gifts on Christmas.

All of these things, though not necessarily always tied directly to the biblical account of Christmas, have value in the life of our children as we point them to the real and true wonder of Christ’s incarnation.

Description of Wonder: Wonder is described in dictionaries as being “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.”

Children more readily embrace and experience that joyful wonder of Christmas and in those expressions of wonder we learn valuable lessons.

Illustration: About a week ago our family piled into our car and drove around town looking at Christmas lights… as we were driving a little, precious voice from the back asked, “If Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, what kind of presents did Jesus receive on his birthday.”

This began, as it often does with Benjamin, a long series of questions.

As we were talking and answering his many questions I realized that what Benjamin was questioning was really his expression of wonder and amazement at things that he didn’t quite understand.

In fact, I realized at that moment that his questions were really a good summary of what my message is about.

So I am going to use 3 of Benjamin’s questions this morning to help us grasp the appropriate wonder with which we ought to celebrate Christmas.

Proposition: A child’s wonder at Christmas reminds us of the inexplicably glorious incarnation of Christ.

This glorious incarnation likewise ought to lead us to expressions of joy, expectation, and proclomation.

The Wonder of the Creator Entering His Creation

Question: One of the little questions that were asked from the back seat of our car was, “If God created everything, did he create Jesus?

Who created Jesus?”

In this little question is a profound reality that Bible introduces us to in a handful of places.

The Disciples’ Experience: This is a question that Jesus’ disciples wrestled with and experienced up close and personal.

You may remember the account of Jesus calming the storm.

We see this explained in Mark 4:36-41 and Luke 8:22-25.

Therein we learn of an account where Jesus and his disciples were travelling across the Sea of Galilee.

In the midst of that journey, Jesus fell asleep, and during his sleep a massive storm arose that imperiled the lives of everyone on board.

Amazingly, Jesus remains asleep until he is awoken by one of the disciples who questions why Jesus shows so little concern for their approaching demise.

Jesus awakens, rebukes the wind and waves, and a sudden and immediate calm descends on the sea.

In response the Bible declares that “they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Herein, the disciples recognized, or at least began to consider, that this man in the boat with them, had power and authority over creation… pointing to the reality that he was in fact the creator.

The Gospel of John: The Gospel writers, especially the Gospel of John, specifically addresses this question of “who created Jesus?” in John 1.

John 1:2-3 reveals that Jesus has eternally existed in relationship with the Father.

That Jesus is, himself, God.

In that it is further revealed that all created things were created by Jesus.

John 1:9-10 furthers John’s description of Jesus by explaining that Jesus “was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him.”

The Letters of Paul: This is a question that Paul likewise answered and reflected upon in his letters in Colossians 1:16-17 and in 1 Corinthians 8:6.

Colossians 1:16-17 reveal, once again, that Jesus is the creator of all things when it says, “all things were created through him.”

Beyond that, Paul adds that all things were created “for him.”

1 Corinthians 8:6 reiterates this refrain when it says, “Jesus Christ, through whom are all thigns and through whom we exist.”

The Wonder and Marvel: One of the most marvelous truths that we celebrate at the Christmas season is the reality that our creator has entered his creation to redeem his creation.

God, in the first coming of Jesus Christ, has initiated his redemption of his creation by entering into that creation.

Romans 8:18-23 reveals the tremendous hope that is then present in the life of the believer as we consider a God who is doing the work of redeeming His creation through having entered his creation.

Application:

Rejoicing in the wonder and glory of the creator entering his creation.

Anticipating the completion of God’s redemption of his creation.

Proclaiming the Gospel of the saving work of the creator in creation.

The Wonder of a Resurrected Savior

Question: One of the other little questions that was asked from the back seat of our car was, “Jesus isn’t dead, right?

Then, how old is Jesus?

Is he a billion years old?”

The Disciples’ Experience: Again we find that this question points to an amazing experience that the disciples had.

We find this in Luke 24:8-12.

Luke 24:1 introduces us to the women going to the tomb where Jesus was laid and finding the tomb empty.

There angels appear to them and announced his resurrection.

Luke 24:9-11 tells us that these women went back to the other disciples to report what they had seen, but they were not believed.

Finally, in Luke 24:12, Peter runs to the tomb, stoops into look and discovers the tomb to be empty.

Again, Luke records this response in Luke 24:12, it says that “he went home marveling at what had happened.”

The Letters of Paul: Again this is a question that Paul likewise answered and reflected upon in his letters in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 states the Gospel of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection for sins in a concise way.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 then responds to a skepticism about the reality of the resurrection.

Immediately after introducing and discussing that topic of the skepticism of the resurrection, the apostle Paul answers it in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

Application:

Rejoicing in the wonder and glory of a Savior who has risen from the dead.

Anticipating the resurrection of our bodies, and thereby fulfilling our responsibilities as believers in hope and expectation of our resurrection.

Proclaiming the Gospel of the resurrection of the dead.

The Wonder of the Incarnation of the Son of God

Question: One of the other little questions that was asked from the back seat of our car was, “You can’t see God, but could I see Jesus?

So, If I see Jesus, I see God?”

And this is the one that was so profound, and really moved me emotionally as I was thinking through what my son was reflecting upon.

The Shepherd’s Experience: Again we find that this question points to an amazing experience that the first witnesses to Jesus’ life witnessed.

Luke 2:11-12, 18-20 reveals the truths told to the shepherds that Jesus was “the Christ” while also being “the Lord.”

They subsequently shared what they saw and heard to others and again the Scripture reports that people wondered and marvelled at what was relayed to them.

The Gospel of John: Again, the Gospel of John, in its introduction helps to address this simple question raised by my son.

John 1:17-18 first clearly explains that no one has seen God.

Yet, he goes on to say, That Jesus has made him known.

The Epistles: Again, the Epistles also repeat this teaching on Jesus perfectly revealing the unseeable God.

Hebrews 1:3 makes this plane saying that Jesus is, “The exact imprint of his nature.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 declares that Jesus is “image of God.”

Colossians 1:15 likewise says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

Application:

Rejoicing in the wonder and glory of having come to know God through the revelation of His son.

Anticipating the day when we will see him.

As John declares in 1 John 3:2-3 and then calls us to purify ourselves.

Proclaiming the Gospel of the incarnation of God.