A Happy Ho! Ho! Ho!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Sermon for 12/16/2002

Introduction:

A. Harry Connick, Jr, It Must’ve Been Ol’ Santa Claus, I think I saw ol’ Santa through my window Christmas Eve. My eyes were really droopy but I really do believe. It must’ve been ol’ Santa ‘cause I saw his big red hat, and I know my mom and dad can’t fly like that. Chorus: Santa Claus, Santa Claus. It must’ve been ol’ Santa Claus. Santa Claus, Santa Claus. Happy “Ho! Ho! Ho!” to you. Now the words Happy Ho! Ho! Ho! To you ring through my ears all the time.

B. In my family we always had Santa Claus. However, we would also have a gift under the tree for Jesus. It always confused me as a child.

C. How do we work that out? Went to a Christmas party for the Twins Club in Virginia and they had a Christian Santa.

WBTU:

A. What does Santa always say? Ho! Ho! Ho! Where did he get that?

B. It is an old English word. The word “ho” is used in two main ways in the English language. 1. To call or attract attention. 2. An expression of exclamation or of delight.

C. The little two letter word “ho” is used four times in the King James Version of the Bible. The New International Version translates it as “Come” (when you hear your wife, you need to come) but the KJV says, “Ho.” I like Ho! Better especially around Christmas.

D. In this special time of the year we call Christmas, as we honor the Lord Jesus in a very special way, let’s try to have a Happy Ho! Ho! Ho! To you.

Thesis: Let’s think about these three places in which “ho” is used in the Bible and we trust it will be a blessing as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

For instances:

I. The Ho of Salvation.

A. Ruth 4:1.

B. Give the background of Ruth.

C. The concept of the Kinsman Redeemer. “A brother in law or a close relative who bought back the land of an impoverished or deceased relative to carry on his name in Israel. If there was a widow from a deceased relative, the kinsman-redeemer would have to marry that widow and provide children for his brother in law or close relative so that his name would be carried on in Israel.”

D. Ruth is the Old Testament book of redemption.

E. Salvation involves the matter of redemption or the delivering by the paying of a price.

F. The nearest kinsman did not want to redeem the land of Naomi because it would mar his own inheritance.

G. Boaz “sacrifices” by purchasing Ruth as his wife and redeeming the land of Naomi.

H. Boaz is a type of Christ who came to purchase His church by the blood that was shed at Calvary. That means a purchase, a pardon, and a partaking of the holy things of God.

I. Ruth was helpless until Boaz stepped on the scene and purchased her.

J. We have a kinsman-redeemer and that redeemer is Jesus Christ. He bought us back from being poor, wretched, and miserable. We were like Ruth and Naomi and even worse. Much like Boaz, who had nothing really to gain financially, Jesus Christ gained a bride through his love, loyalty and sacrifice, the Church.

K. (Ezek 16:4 NIV) On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.(Ezek 16:5 NIV) No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.(Ezek 16:6 NIV) "’Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!"(Ezek 16:7 NIV) I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. (Ezek 16:8 NIV) "’Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.(Ezek 16:9 NIV) "’I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you.(Ezek 16:10 NIV) I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments.(Ezek 16:11 NIV) I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck,(Ezek 16:12 NIV) and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.(Ezek 16:13 NIV) So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.(Ezek 16:14 NIV) And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.