Two Questions

Open with illustration of Family Advent discovery. What was the first question asked in the OT asked by God and the first question asked in the NT?

OT- Asked by God “Where are you?”

NT- Asked by the wise men “Where is He?”

We start the OT with “Where is man?” We start the NT with “Where is God?”

These are extremely important questions and they relate to Christmas because Christmas is all about God and man coming together. Christmas is about Emmanuel- God with us. This morning we’re going to consider two questions.

Where are You?

Adam & Eve had been given the amazing gift of God’s creation. Can you imagine how beautiful it must have been? They rebelled against God. They sinned. Look at 3:7:

Their eyes were opened (to sin)

They knew they were naked (felt shame for that) Person who doesn’t understand sin has no shame over nakedness. That’s why two year olds are perfectly comfortable in their birthday suits.

They started covering up.

Verse 8

They heard God walking in the garden.

God hadn’t removed Himself from creation.

They were familiar with the sound of God. (We can tell whose coming sometimes in our house just by the sound of their walk)

It was normal for God to come to them and fellowship.

How did that work? The Bible says God is invisible, doesn’t have flesh/bones, and is a Spirit.

Theophanies- appearances of God. These are not in God’s fullness, but are manifestations of Him. You see it a lot in Genesis.

He appears to Hagar in Gen 16

He appears to Abraham in Gen 17-18

He appears to Isaac in Gen 26

He appears to Jacob in Gen 28, 32, 35

Bethlehem was not the first time God appeared in human form. In fact when Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up in Isa. 6 John 12:41 tells us that he saw Jesus on that throne!

In the OT we have pre-incarnate appearances of Christ. Jesus spoke of a glory He had before the world was created. Christ is the eternal God and the first time He visited the earth was not the night Christ was born. It was Christ who walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day!

In times past Adam & Eve would have run to God but now they run from Him. They hide.

In verse 9 we have our question. Where are you?

v. 10 “I’m hiding!” “I’m afraid” “I’m naked”

v. 11 Here we have God’s second question “Who told you you were naked?”

He’d been naked! God wants Adam to do some soul searching. Reality is his own heart told him that. He felt dirty. He had awful thoughts going on in his mind. He felt shame.

Adam has what we all have. He has a sin nature and it immediately takes over once sin enters the human experience.

We see no repentance. We see blame. They blame the devil, Adam blames Eve, Adam blames God. Then we see judgment. Finally we see the first promise of the Christmas child in Gen 3:15. A child would be born who would crush the head of the Tempter.

What do we learn from that first question “Where are you?”

1. God is a seeking Father. God asks His question first. We seek him because He came seeking us.

I see the Good Shepherd coming to the Garden looking for His sheep!

I see that He desires grace rather than judgment. No lightning bolts, no loud thunderous voice. A gentle voice calling Adam and Eve to come back. Did you know that the only way to flee the wrath of God is to run toward Him? God is seeking Adam and Eve but they are not seeking Him.

I see a longing in God’s heart for reconciliation. He asks a compassionate question. No long lecture, no condemnation, he starts with a simple question “Where are you?” Not willing that any should perish, longsuffering.

2. Humanity is running.

We are in our sin. We like it. God gives us so much liberty but it isn’t enough. We want what God says we can’t have. We take it. We climb the fence, we ignore the no trespassing signs. We go where God says stay away.

We are hiding. Adam and Eve tried to make them some clothes to hide in. Then they thought they just wouldn’t show up where God was.

We cover our sin with good works, excuses, by denying that our actions are sinful. We don’t show up where god is. We figure if I stay away from Gods house, God’s people, God’s Word I’ll be ok.

We are clinging to earthly relationships. Adam and Eve figured they weren’t alone because they had each other. You can find company on this earth without God. But in the next world if you don’t have God you want have any company. Hell is full but nobody’s talking. Nobody’s hanging out. Nobody’s on a lunch date. Hell is a lonely place.

God shouts to a lost world “Where are you?” Hiding in our sin with our earthly relationships! God’s first question is still an important question. Where am I?

Am I at peace with God?

Am I safe in the arms of Jesus?

Am I seated with Christ in heavenly places?

Am I on the role of the Lambs book of Life?

Am I on a journey through this world and to heaven’s gate?

Am I in Christ or am I in trouble?

Where are you- the first and a very important question to ask ourselves this Christmas.

Where is He?

Here’s our most important question. It’s no coincidence that wise men ask it. Look at Matthew 2:2 “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?”

These men were rich. They were powerful. They were from the East, probably the Babylon area. They were Gentiles. God had spoken to them and given them a sign. They traveled at least 800 miles looking for the Messiah. No one could tell them where He was, not many were looking. God led them straight to a home where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were. They lavished gifts upon the family and worshipped the child (2:11).

One of the great proofs of Christ’s divinity is the fact that Christ receives worship. Moses wouldn’t do that. Abraham wouldn’t do that. David wouldn’t do that. To worship anyone other than God is idolatry. This baby is God. Where is God? He’s in that home. He’s a baby. God became man. Why?

To die for humanity. To stand in our place as a representative for the human race and take upon Himself the punishment we deserved. Just as we are made sinners by our first representative Adam, we are made righteous by the One the Bible calls the second Adam.

Jesus said If you have seen me you have seen the Father. The bible says He is the very image of God. The song writer said “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see born incarnate Deity!” God veiled Himself so that humanity could look upon Him.

Illust. of sunrise. The sun is always brilliant, a ball of fire, never dim. But at sunrise we can look right into the sun and see its glory. As it rises it gets more difficult to behold. By noon you can’t look at the sun very long. It was that way with Jesus. When He was born He appeared as a baby, Now the sun has risen in His full strength and we couldn’t bear to look at Him in all of His glory, But someday we will be able to!

So God asks the question “Where are you?” and His motive is salvation. The wise men ask the question “Where is He?” and their motive is worship. Motive is important. Why are we asking “Where is He?”

Forgiveness- Christ is for the sinner! The guilty sinner!

Righteousness- When I was a kid I hated getting clothes for Christmas, but this is a robe I want!

Worship- I don’t just want His benefits I want Him, everyday! That’s worship. Christ is the most valuable, most important thing in your life.

Where is He? That’s the question the seeking sinner asks. We have heard that He is looking for us! We have heard that He is come seeking to save!

We don’t hear the voice of God calling out from the garden but we hear the voice of God calling out through the gospel- Where are You?

Making our way out of the trees!

Tearing off our fig leaves!

Getting rid of our excuses!

Blaming no one but ourselves!

We’ve heard Him call “Where are you?” and “We are calling back Where is He?”

Where is He? He’s in the manger. In a feeding trough because we hunger for righteousness. IN a stable because that’s where they keep the lambs!

Where is He? He’s on the streets. He’s with the lepers, prostitutes, sinners. He’s opening blinded eyes. He’s raising the dead.

Where is He? He’s in the temple. He said the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him to preach the good news to the poor, to set those in bondage free, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord!

Where is He? He’s in the garden. He‘s anticipating the cross. He’s sweating drops of blood. He’s committing Himself to the will of the Father.

Where is He? He’s on trial. The guiltless is taking our guilt upon Himself. He’s holding back the armies of heaven so he can be punished for us.

Where is He? He’s on the cross. They have mocked Him, beaten Him, tortured Him. Nails in his hands and feet, crown of thorns on his side. He suffers to breathe. He dies. They pierce Him with a spear and the blood flows like water!

Where is He? He’s in the grave. His body lay there cold and still, wrapped in grave clothes.

Where is He? He’s alive. He has risen. Pilate couldn’t stop Him, the Romans could not guard Him, the grave couldn’t hold Him! He’s preaching to hundreds at a time. He says “See My hands, see My side!”

Where is He? He is in the heavens at the right hand of the Father. His job is finished. He has a name above every name.

Where are you this morning? Are you in unbelief? Are you in sin? Are you hiding? Are you clinging to your own works? Are you clinging to earthly relationships?

Where is He? Are you looking for Him? Do you desire forgiveness and fellowship with God? You find it in Christ!

The One Thing- Is Christ in my life?

That’s where He should be.