The Miracle of the Manger: Do you believe?

Congregational Prayer -

Positions of leadership,

A man sent his friend a cryptic Christmas card. It said: A B C D E F G H I J … K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. The recipient puzzled over it for weeks, finally gave up and wrote asking for an explanation. In July he received the explanation on a postcard: "No L."

Noel - Merry Christmas!

Today we’re going to zero in now on the full subject of the Christmas celebration. We’re going to look at not only who this celebration is about…but what it’s about. Because we not only celebrate the birth…we celebrate the opportunity it brought to us. Which means…and this is where we find the incredibly massive importance of this birth....this birth leads us to a decision we need to make. Maybe even a series of decisions.

Many of you have made some decisions with respect to this baby born in Bethlehem. Some of you might not have considered all of the implications. So today…we’ll be zeroing in on some of these implications.

The last few weeks we’ve been looking at the timing of this birth and God’s timing in our lives. We’ve looked at how God communicated to us through this birth…that Jesus was the message of God. Last week we looked at God’s method for saving us…not quite how we would have probably done it…but if God is perfect…then his method will be perfect for us. His ways are higher than ours…and so sometimes we look at life and ask God…why??? We look at this miracle birth and ask…why like this?

Today, the manger. The miracle of the manger.

The passage we’ll be looking at will this morning…so you can bookmark it ahead of time will be from John chapter 1.

In many of the movies about the person of Santa Clause, we’ve referenced Miracle on 34th Street the last few weeks....but many of them have in them scenes where a person who might be skeptical…comes to a point of making a decision based on the evidence they’ve seen or heard. A point of decision.

I think we love these stories about Santa because they draw us in. Is there something to believe in. We live in a very skeptical culture don’t we. And rightly so on many parts…if you’re like me you probably get quite a few phone calls each day or week from unknown numbers. I let them go because I know the probability is high that there is either a computer on the other end or a telemarketer…or at worst a scammer.

We’re skeptical about products a many other things in life. That’s why stores like walmart or amazon have the rating system…to help skeptical people purchase with more trust.

Little Susan in the Miracle on 34th Street was a very skeptical girl. She had a growing lists of reasons she didn’t believe in Santa. But slowly, through the movie, her questions…her skepticism…is answered with evidence. And there are different times when Susan and Kris Kringle’s paths cross…conversations happen. Can you image being Kris Kringle for a second…knowing you’re the real deal…but here’s someone, who you will continue to serve and love and bring presents too…but that person doesn’t believe you are who you say your are.

Our passage for the day....is John 1:1-5; 9-14

John 1:1–5 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:9–14 CSB

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Truth Claims

Could he be who he claims to be?

All of these movies and shows bring to light a decision needing to be made. Truth claims are made…and decisions follow.

Susan and others are asking important questions. And here’s where they can go with their assumptions or evidence. And in one of the movies you see these options play out.

Either Santa is real, or he’s a well intended, nice man with a white beard…but not Santa, or he’s kinda crazy to think all the things he does about himself.

Ok so let’s consider the things we’ve talked about the last few weeks. The timing. Humble-ordinary parents. Little town. Virgin birth. Angels announcing to Mary and Joseph....then the birth announcement…an army of angelic beings…shepherds. All of this seemingly fulfilling words spoken hundreds of years ago. Those seem like things from a great story line…not necessarily a historical account.

And now…just briefly…look at some of the things that Jesus then adds to this list. The bread of heaven…never hunger again. The living water…never thirst again. Authority to forgive sins. He prophesied his own death and his resurrection from the dead. He said he would be going back to heaven to be with God. He claimed to be God…one with God. Authority over everything and everyone on earth…and everything in Heaven. He claimed to be the only way to God. He claimed that he would come back again and recreate everything as well as judge all people. Beyond that his actions were claims to have rule over nature and the body itself…through healings and other miracles.

Now…today…we have many who would say they love His teachings. That he was a moral teacher. Many groups and other religions even quote Him and claim him as a member of their holiest people. Islam claims he was a prophet. In Hinduism he is seen as a holy man…one even sent by God as a living message.

Some in Buddhism see Jesus as a great man in history.

Some who hold no religion might say they respect him as a person and as one who would try to better humanity.

So how do you view Jesus?

What do you make of his radical claims? His truth claims? Who do you think He really is?

Some would say the things I just spoke of…others would discount him as nothing important.

Some of you have heard of C.S. Lewis. He’s a well known author and a Christian apologist. (Apologist is a fancy term for someone who can …with well designed arguments…defend the truth of our faith.) He came to the conclusion that Jesus had to be one of three things. And I tend to agree with him.

He could not have been just a good teacher…a moral teacher. He was moral and ethical…we know that. But his other claims…if not true…would then cause us to think he’s a liar. Son of God. One with God. Creator of the universe. If he’s not those things but he claims to be then he’s deceiving a great many people. He’s a pathological liar. Even crazy....insane at best…if he believes his own lies.

C. S. Lewis

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [that is, Christ]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse…. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

Decision Time -

As you watch these movies you’ll recognize one thing happening all throughout different scenes and plot twists. Characters are brought to the point of belief or disbelief. They see something they can’t explain…they hear something they can’t explain…they experience something they can’t explain....and then they squint their eyes, scratch their chin, shake their head. Wonder a bit....Why? Because what they “knew” to be true…is being challenged.

What if Jesus is real? What if the child born in the manger 2000 years ago really was the son of God? What if what He said about himself is all true?

Think about this…what are the implications?

What if this child in Bethlehem really is the miracle of the manger? What if this Jesus really is who He claims to be? If He is, then you and I have a decision to make. It is a matter of eternal significance for each one of us. What we decide about this child born in Bethlehem not only determines our eternal destiny, it also determines our earthly direction as well. We cannot accept His claims without also recognizing that He has staked His claim on our lives. If He is who He says He is, then all of His promises are true. He really can wipe away a painful past and take away our burden of guilt and regret. He can give us a whole new reason to live and fill us with the fullness of His love, His life, His grace. It means it's all true.

Keller - Worldview

Bible worldview - goodness…how can I be good. I can’t…(bad news) therefore we need Jesus…he was born for us died for us lives for us…forgiveness because we can’t be good…good news.

Today’s worldview - life isn’t about being good. its about being free.

Jesus came because we needed Him. We can’t be near God without Him.

And here’s where this leads…will freedom to be anything we want to be lead to a satisfied, fulfilled life the way God designed us to live. No...

Will living a life, walking and living as we were created to be bring a fulfilled…full life…as Jesus talked about? Yes…but we know we can’t get there on our own.

We needed the good news…great news....of the birth…Immanuel. God With Us. God here to forgive us. God beating death for us. That’s the miracle of the manger.

So here’s the question: Do you believe?

There’s a region near Galilee that is called Caesarea Philippi…this city and region has a great history behind it…I encourage you to look it up. But it is the places where one of Jesus most famous conversations with his disciples take place.

I want to give you the backdrop here because this is really so cool.

In this city…which is in the foothills of Mount Hermon…highest peaks in Israel…source of the Jordan River…is this town called Caesarea Philippi. In that day…this place was very well known. Mount Hermon was known as the mountain …specifically in Greek, Roman, and other faiths at that time…it was known as the place where the (g)ods would descend to earth.

This place specifically…Caesarea Philippi…was a place where there was a small mountain…with a cave…with a spring…it was a center of worship for many religions…specifically Pan. Baal was worshipped here at one point as well.

There are Roman temples of worship near this cave. The cave itself is known as the entrance to the underworld...

It is here that this conversation between he and his disciples take place. And in my head I can imaging that in the backdrop…the disciple’s view…is this spot…temples in the background, people worshiping other (g)ods… And here’s how Matthew records this account.

Matt. 16:13–16

Matthew 16:13–16 CSB

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Here in the midst of believes galore about what is true and what isn’t. Temples to Caesar and Temples to other gods. A city where many are following their own version of truth…sounds a lot like the world today doesn’t it. Right there in the middle of all of this, Jesus looks at His disciples and asks…”who do you think I really am? “

When my daughters were little I would always tell them around Christmas that this is Jesus' birthday and he only received 3 things so do not be disappointed in what lies under the tree. When it came time for worship on Christmas morning, I asked the children what they thought Jesus would think of Santa and all the hype. Would he ask Santa a question? My youngest daughter replied, "I think Jesus would ask how come I only got three things and none of them were toys?"

Honesty from the mouth of a child right? I think in this Christmas season we can look at who this Baby in the Manger really is. He’s not just a gift giver is He?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is who we worship…who we celebrate…who we make a decision for or against.

This really is an important birth isn’t it?

The miracle of the manger is that God became flesh and lived among us. He came not so He could send us to eternal punishment but to set us free. Why?

John 1:12

John 1:12 CSB

12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

God came to us and said, I want you back.

If you need to make a decision today about who Jesus really is…not just who He is to you…but who he really is …I encourage you to do that today. If you need to make that decision…again…maybe you’ve pulled back from real belief....that real belief that changes your life…the way you live and see each day…if you need to remake that decision and come back to Christ I encourage you to do that as well.

Remember …you make the decision and then have the willing heart and He begins to change you…help you…guide you...

Cards in pews....make a note with your name, fold it up and put it in the offering plate and they’ll pull those out and give them to me later on.

The miracle of the manger.

Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 (CSB)

6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us...

John 1:14

John 1:14 (CSB)

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Prayer,

Dear God, I do believe the miracle of the manger. I do believe that this child born in Bethlehem is exactly who He claimed to be. He is God in the flesh, the Lord of life, and Savior for all who call upon Him in faith. I have known about you but I want to know you in a way that is real and personal. I want to follow you and experience this miracle of Christmas in my own life. Forgive me of my sin, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Let me know the joy of walking with you throughout my journey on earth and spending forever with you in heaven. Use me to extend your kingdom here on earth until that day when you return or you call me home. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.