1.3.3 12.19.2021 The Dragon in the Manger Revelation 12

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Entice: John's gospel famously, does not have a "birth narrative." When we look at everything John wrote, however, we find that there is a Christmas story after all. Let me read it for you.

Revelation 12:1–17 ESV

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Not exactly what we expect for a Christmas story. Most of us like our Christmas's to be quaint and homey. We like to think of Christmas as something which is celebrated globally, but we, of course, do it best right here locally.

Engage: In the Apocalypse nativity story John reminds us of the cosmic dimensions of the coming of Christ.

It can be difficult during this season which is both holy and lowly to remember the grand dimensions of Incarnation and the continual wrath of the dragon who had plagued humanity since Eden.

In our typical manger scene (creche for the fancy) you have Jesus and "his folks." You have shepherds, wisemen, and barnyard critters. All is calm, all is bright on that special, Silent Night. Revelation 12 reminds us that we should also have a dragon in our manger scenes.

Expand: John saw the incarnation as a part of the larger drama stretching back beyond creation, winding from Eden to Golgotha, the Garden tomb, and ultimately consummation. We need that larger perspective.

Excite: So, get yourself a dragon to complete your manger scene. We need a dragon to remind us of where we came from, a serpent to remind us of our fallen state, a snake to remind us why Jesus came to us as God incarnate. That serpent, that dangerous dragon should remind us of the nature of the conflict.

We may take a holiday break

but Satan is still, 2000 years after his defeat,

furious.

Our own experience reinforces what the Bible Teaches.

Explore: God's best work brings out the Worst in Satan.

Explain: The dragon is defeated the Kingdom is come...Joy to the world because...

Body of Sermon:

The Christ conquers.

Revelation 12:10 ESV

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Salvation

Power

Kingdom

Authority

The Cross is sufficient.

Revelation 12:11 ESV

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

What does this have to do with His crucifixion and our atonement?

EVERYTHING

The fury of the dragon is the result of the failure of the cross to stop God’s plan.

The “throwing down” of Satan…His crushing defeat, His eternal exile was accomplished on the cross.

The Conflict is over

Though the combat continues.

Revelation 12:13–17 (ESV)

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.

16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Satan’s continued combat against the Risen Christ is waged against us, the offspring of the woman. John uses this language in writing to at least one congregation he supervised.

2 John 1–5 ESV

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

And the tools of deception, distraction, and destruction are the same whether described symbolically or real.

2 John 7 ESV

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Shut Down:

For many people Christmas is the ultimate season of pretending. Some charades cannot be mentioned in public but you all know the large-scale pretend I'm speaking of. Many people will spend the whole Christmas season pretending that relationships are not as damaged as they appear. Others will pretend that they are not as depressed as they appear. Still others will pretend that they can give more because they have more money than they do.

We are used to

pretending during Christmas and

paying the bill for that pretense later.

This is a dragon strategy of denial. He has fought for 21 centuries to convince as many people as possible that he did not really lose the battle of cross and tomb.

The conflict really is over.

The cross really is enough to save everyone who believes.

Christ really conquered.

It is beyond time for us to give up the serpent strategies of self-deception and to believe in Jesus the victor. God did His best work in Jesus. The dragon may breath his fire.

The blood of the Lamb quenches the thirst of the flames of hell.

This is God's Word for us this Christmas Season...