"Is Jesus The True Messiah?”

In Jesus Holy Name December 12, 2021

Text: Luke 7: 21,18,19 Redeemer

“Is Jesus the True Messiah?”

Is Jesus the True Messiah? It is a fair question that John had to ask. With Christmas is just around the corner, people should be asking a similar question: “Is Christmas about a baby named Jesus?” If so, “What is the true meaning of Christmas?”

Christmas cartoon specials can be found on any TV channel. Each of these specials will suggest an option for the true meaning of Christmas. One might be family; another will promote the true meaning of Christmas as giving; and yet another will declare the real meaning of Christmas is having a good heart.

Night after night viewers will be provided a host of programs celebrating the arrival and struggles of Santa, Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch, Jack Frost, and a whole host of other characters who have become part of our culture's Christmas celebration. There is even a new Christmas song that debuted this year. “Santa Has A Dirty Job.” Created by Mike Rowe and musician John Rich.

These are fun cartoons and a creative new Christmas song…but what is the true meaning of Jesus…That was John’s question. Are you the Messiah?

Charles Schulz wanted A Charlie Brown Christmas to have the religious meaning that was central to his own experience of Christmas. Schulz wanted it to include snowy scenes that recalled his native Midwest. His main goal for a Peanuts-based Christmas special was to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

A Charlie Brown Christmas was first aired on CBS on December 9, 1965.

The Peanut cartoon had scenes of snow and ice-skating. The music background was a combination of jazz with traditional Christmas carols. Schulz was adamant about Linus' reading of the Bible, despite the producers concern that religion was a controversial topic, especially on television.

Of all the Christmas specials only Charlie Brown's Christmas special will tell the true meaning of Christmas from the lips of Linus, "Unto you is born in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord."

Linus was absolutely right. Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus, the sinless Son of God. The birth of the world's Savior is what Christmas really recalls - the coming of Jesus to offer Himself as the ransom to save us. "Unto you is born a Savior," With the birth of Jesus, the angel’s message to Joseph became reality. “He will save God’s people from their sins.”

(Sermon ideas from Rev. Ken Klaus Dec. 7, 2008)

Before the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and Joseph he visited Zechariah, serving as a priest in Jerusalem. He and his wife Elizabeth had not been able to have children and were now in their old age. God had other plans and their life changed. When Elizabeth gave birth to their infant son, John, there was excitement in their lives and house. When they looked at their miracle baby John, what did they think would happen to their little lad?

If ever parents had reason to dream gloriously great dreams about their child, it had to be this couple. After all, John's name had been picked in heaven. His birth was a biological miracle foretold by an angel. God promised their boy would not only bring joy and gladness into their lives, but he would also be filled with the Holy Spirit and many would be blessed because of him (see Luke 1:13).

Do you think for a moment they ever imagined their boy would end up living in the wilderness; that his clothing would consist of a camel hair suit accessorized with a leather belt? Did they ever suppose his diet would be made up of locusts and wild honey, or that his days would be spent doing baptisms in the Jordan River? Could the family of a respected temple priest ever think their boy would call respectable people like Pharisees and Sadducees a "generation of vipers"?

And even if Zechariah and Elizabeth could have imagined all of these things, they certainly would never have guessed their little boy was going to be thrown into the dungeon of the black fortress of Herod Antipas. Things seldom turn out the way we dream.

John the Baptist was no shy wallflower. He preached repentance from sin. He baptized. He lived what he preached. He called people out. He called leaders out for bad behavior. And that was a problem for Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee. John was rather outspoken and didn’t mince words when he condemned Herod’s divorce from his first wife and then married his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias.

(from “the High Calling” Choosing the Greater of Two Evils)

The Gospel of Luke honestly records the doubts of John the Baptist concerning Jesus. John had clearly proclaimed Jesus as the coming Messiah and had witnessed the miraculous events of Jesus' baptism (see Matt. 3:1-17), but he began to wonder whether Jesus was truly the Messiah. No doubt John, like the disciples of Jesus were expecting a kingly figure who would purify Israel and deliver the nation from its Roman bondage. Jesus didn't fit this bill.