God's Indescribable Gift – A Gift Worth Understanding Series

GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT – A Gift Worth Understanding

John 1:1-14

INTRODUCTION:

Video Clip: HIS NAME WILL BE (:59)

Jesus—A Gift Worth Understanding

Many people do not understand God’s gift.

• John 1:10-11 (NIV)

[10] He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Over the last few weeks we have taken a closer look at God’s indescribable gift. God’s gift is a gift worth giving; it is a gift worth waiting for, and it is a gift worth receiving. But do we UNDERSTAND GOD’S GIFT?

On this Christmas morning I want us to come to better understand God’s indescribable gift. These are basic but essential truths we need to know about the gift God has given to us. To help us remember God’s gift we will use the word GIFT as an acrostic:

G—God’s Son, Jesus;

I—Illumination, Light and Life;

F—Father God’s Forever Family;

T—Truth and Grace!

God’s Gift; G — God’s Son, Jesus

• John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father.

John’s gospel does not give all the details surrounding the birth of Jesus; Matthew and Luke give the account of the birth of Jesus, God’s Son.

• Luke 1:26-38 (MsgB)

[26] . . . God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth [27] to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. [28] Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

“Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.”

[29] She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. [30] But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: [31] You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

[32] He will be great, be called ’Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; [33] He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

[34] Mary said to the angel, "But how? I’ve never slept with a man."

[35] The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. [36] And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months’ pregnant! [37] Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

[38] And Mary said, “Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.”

Matthew picks up the story.

• Matthew 1:18-25 (MsgB)

[18] The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) [19] Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

[20] While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. [21] She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—’God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins." [22] This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term:

[23] Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").

[24] Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. [25] But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

But how can we know that the baby miraculously born to Mary and Joseph is really God’s Son, the Word made flesh? John introduces us to a man known as John the Baptist, this John came as a witness to God’s Son.

John the Baptist’s Testimony

• John 1:19-23 (MsgB)

[19] When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. [20] He didn’t evade the question. He told the plain truth: "I am not the Messiah."

[21] They pressed him, "Who, then? Elijah?"

"I am not."

"The Prophet?"

"No."

[22] Exasperated, they said, "Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself."