Heading Toward Christmas - Thinking About Christ Series

INTRO.- Do you believe in Jesus? A better question is: Does the world believe in Jesus? And how much?

Heroes & Icons (Time magazine’s top 10)

Michelle Obama

Chesley B. Sullenberger

Richard Phillips

Seth Berkley

Michael Eavis

Leonard Abess

Hadizatou Mani

Rick Warren

Van Jones

Somaly Mam

I don’t know about you, but I know very few of these people. And, of course, I am sure you noticed that Christ was not mentioned in this top 10 list of heroes. Do you wonder why?

If you were to ask the average person on the street, “Who is the most influential person of all time?” I wonder what would they say or who they would name?

We would hope that some would say “Jesus Christ,” but in our day and time you might get all kinds of crazy answers. IN FACT, HERE ARE WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CHRIST.

ILL.- From Dallas, TX. - When the going gets tough, the weak get religion. Faith and religion are two VERY different things, and can NEVER be reconciled. Faith is good, and very much a PERSONAL thing, religion is the source of most misery, and very much a PUBLIC affair. The differences are obvious, except to the stupid and their keepers.

From Redmond, WA - I think Jesus might have been a good person in his time. Today he is a monument to the stupidity of Christians. BUT I BEG TO DIFFER!

From St. Louis, MO - The Truth is: There’s tons of evidence supporting Jesus Christ, the Bible, and creation. You can find links to Scientists and Historians who have written books and run museums about Scientific and historical evidence for Jesus, the Bible, and creation. Most people who say there isn’t any evidence are generally people who are uninformed or just haven’t researched it.

I agree. Of course, I admit that because I was raised in a Church that preached Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world it’s probably easier for me to believe than it is for someone who has never been taught anything about God, Christ and the Bible.

And it’s hard to convince some people the truth of all truths! And how can we convince others about the truth of Jesus Christ? Everything starts with a faith in the living God. If you can’t convince a person there is a living God who created the heavens and the earth, then it’s pretty hard to convince them that the message of the Bible about Jesus is true.

ILL.- Preacher Vance Havner said, “I came to Christ as a country boy. I did not understand all about the plan of salvation. One does not have to understand it, he has only to stand on it. I do not understand all about electricity but I do not intend sitting around in the dark until I do!” Me too!

PROP.- Let’s consider Christ since He is what Christmas is all about:

1- Who He is

2- What He did

3- What we owe Him

I. CHRIST - WHO HE IS

ILL.- A burglar broke into a home and was looking around. He heard a soft voice say, "Jesus is watching you." Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued his search. Again the voice said "Jesus is watching you.” He turned his flashlight around and saw a parrot in a cage.

He asked the parrot if he was the one talking and the parrot said, "yes." He asked the parrot what his name was and the parrot said, "Moses."

The burglar asked, "what kind of people would name a parrot Moses?" The parrot said, "the same kind of people who would name their pit bull Jesus.”

Who is Jesus? Well, we know He’s certainly not a pit bull. He was human and yet, God in the flesh.

ILL.- Maybe you heard recently about that woman who was named Jesus? Birmingham, AL - Court officials say a Birmingham woman who legally changed her name to Jesus Christ had a hard time filling the Savior’s shoes when she reported for jury duty.

Christ, formerly Dorothy Lola Killingworth, went to the courtroom where she was summoned to appear for jury selection. She was one of many potential jurors for a criminal case. During the process, the 59-year-old woman was said to be disruptive as she constantly asked questions instead of answered them. The judge had had enough and dismissed the woman from the courtroom. Other potential jurors were shocked when she insisted that her name indeed was Jesus Christ. Some burst into laughter as her name was called.

Why did that woman change her name to Jesus Christ? I have no idea, but if she was thinking in terms of being comparable to Christ then she was totally wrong! No human person can fill the shoes of the Lord Jesus Christ even though He appeared on earth in human form.