Hope is Here

Introduction (5m)

The Wedding Entrance

Nervous smile. Glances between bridegroom and best man. Nervous. Dry mouth. Moment nearly here. Band begins to play. As music crescendoes to climax, doors flung open and ...

Video: Wedding Entrance | 1:00

Missed the moment! But get the picture.

That’s What John’s Prologue is Like

John Gospel - beginning different to Matthew, Mark, Luke.

Serves up God’s big picture. Big picture of Christmas.

John goes from In the beginning to the Word became human. From big story of creation to big story of God coming in flesh in person of Jesus.

Our reading crescendoes to the truth that Hope is Here! = Story of Christmas.

Like Gail’s entrance into our wedding, it should take our breath away.

Christmas = Hope is Here!

That’s the Christmas Gift I want you to go away with this evening.

Explanation (5m)

The Gift of God’s Revelation

John 1:1 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John calls Son of God, who was with God in the beginning, the Word. Did so to convey to his first audience that the Word - whom he later reveals to be the person we know as JC - reveals God’s mind to us.

First Gift of Xmas is that God has always sought to reveal himself to human beings

Jesus Christ - God in the flesh - has always sought to communicate with us. Someone: “In the beginning was the Communication”.

Jesus Christ wants to communicate with you in love.

God has always loved you

He loves you today. He will love you on Christmas Day. He will always love you.

The Gift of God’s Incarnation

Second Gift of Xmas outlined in John’s prologue is this: God is not hidden from us. Not inaccessible. Not available only to mystics, scholars, priests. He is revealed to all. He communicates to everyone about himself. We can know God fully.

John 1:14 NLT

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

General John Gowans

God is hidden no more, he has spoken his mind;

Wrapped the gift of his love in the stuff of mankind.

Now his nature is known.

God is love undefiled.

And his love is revealed in the face of a child.

Jesus - God’s primary way of communicating with us - the Word as John calls him - became human

God’s Son - God in human form - made his home among us.

God himself, taking on the clothing of humanity

Embracing our human condition, walking in it as we do, speaking to us through it. Experienced joy, laughter, fun, noise, quiet, difficult circumstances, pain, death, just as we do.

John 1:18 NLT

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

Xmas delivers the reality of God to the world.

Application (5m)

Heady, big picture stuff that ought to amaze us however many times we have heard Xmas story

And all God asks us to do is to receive the Xmas gift he is giving us. How? John: simple really - receive him and believe in him. If you believe that Jesus, the cosmic Creator who became one of us, took our sin and wrong on himself and paid for them, is resurrected and alive at the Father’s right hand in heaven, then you can receive his Xmas gift.

No more, no less

Nothing to join. No joining fee. Nothing to sign. No terms and conditions. No uniform to wear. Simply believe.

One of the best things about Christmas is that children are often the centre of attention

None of our own - but nephews, nieces, godchildren, children of friends - enjoy making a fuss of them. Spent Xmas Eves helping build all sorts of toys to help FC out, watched excitement and wonder as they open gifts and enjoy special food, drink, decorations, spending time with family/friends.

John tells us you are the centre of God’s attention on Christmas Day

John 1:12 NLT

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Believe him. Accept him. Become a child of God. Isn’t that amazing?

Old man

1 John 3:1 NLT

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

God wants to lavish his children with gifts

His joy, goodwill, kindness, love and hope.

Hope is here. Do you believe it? Will you accept it?

Next Steps

Video - O Holy Night

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night, when Christ was born! (J.S. Dwight)

Video: O Holy Night | 5:00

On chair/nearby - gift box and chocolate. Invite you to open/eat as picture of the gift of hope Christ wants you to receive this Christmas.