Christ At Christmas - The Greatest Gift Of All
Our text for today consists of one verse – it is found in John chapter one and verse fourteen. Please follow along with me as I read:
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NASV)
Up to this point in John chapter one – he has been describing the glory of God. John has told us that God has always existed. He said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (verses 1-2) John also told us that God is the creator of all things when he said, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (verse 3) John then tells us that our reason for existence and our purpose for living can only be found in God Himself when he said, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men." (verse 4) Then he shocks us by saying:
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NASV)
That which is eternal – ever lasting – has become human. That which is all powerful and all mighty has taken on flesh and bone. That which is infinite has become vulnerable. He who was above all human frailty – became fragile. He who was the creator of all flesh – became flesh Himself and dwelt among men. This is what we as Christians call: “The Incarnation”. God becomes flesh – He takes on human form and lives among humans. Not as one would put on a costume or a set of clothes. He actually becomes human – completely – totally human. The Bible says, “The Word BECAME flesh”. God becomes as human as you or I – yet with no faults – no defects – no sin. He becomes human – to save humans. The one we are talking about of course is Jesus Christ.
Every year at Christmas time – Christians celebrate the birth of Christ – God becoming flesh – the incarnation of Christ – the human birth of the son of God. Isaiah spoke of this event when he said:
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NASV)
(NOTE: I have a series of four sermons on sermon central from Isaiah 9:6 that I preached for Christmas 2007.)
Isaiah had already told us in chapter seven verse fourteen:
“Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NASV)
The name “Immanuel” in the Hebrew actually means: “God is with us” or “with us is God.” The Word became flesh and dwelt among us – he lived with us. He grew up as a human child grows up. He was born as a baby – grew up to be a child – then He became a man. He talked with people. He walked with people – He sat with them – He ate with them – He laughed with them – He cried with them. God became flesh and bone and dwelt among us – among the human race.
Why is the teaching of Christ becoming human – so important to us who are Christians? There are a number of reasons – but today I want us to focus in on two main reasons that the incarnation – Christ becoming “flesh” – is so important to us. Let’s look at the first reason:
I. The Birth Of Jesus Shows God’s LOVE For Us
As I have already stated – Jesus is God in the flesh. His nature is divine – His nature is Godly – His nature is holy. Christ has always existed – because God has always existed – but what we celebrate at Christmas is Christ becoming flesh. I know what some of you are thinking – “Pastor Tom, how can you say that Christ has always existed?” I can say that because that is what the Bible clearly teaches. Look at John chapter one and verse one with me:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2(NASV)
Go ahead and circle the word “He”. Who is the “He” that this verse is talking about? The “He” that this verse is talking about is none other than Jesus. He was in the beginning with God. He pre-existed before his birth with God the Father - before His birth as a Human.
Do you want further proof? Let me ask you a question? Who created the heavens and the earth? God did – didn’t He? Sure He did – that is what Genesis chapter one verse one tells. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” But what does John tell us? Let’s look at what John chapter one verse three says:
“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:3 (NASV)
Go ahead and circle the word “Him” this time. Who is the “Him” that the Bible is talking about? The “Him” is no other than Jesus. It is Jesus who created all things. Paul writing to the Colossians says this about Jesus:
“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17 (NASV)
Christ is God in the flesh – born of a young virgin girl named Mary. It is at this time of the year we who are Christians celebrate this fact. The God of the universe became flesh. He who created all things became flesh and blood. God became human to save humans. He is God – He is holy – He is mighty – yet He became like us – to save us.
Before Jesus ever came to earth, He existed with the Father. The Father’s home is heaven for the Bible declares:
“The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth.” Psalm 33:13-14 (NASV)
Can you imagine living in heaven and giving that up – and choosing to live on the earth? Yet that is what God in Christ did. He loved us so much that He gave up His throne in heaven to become flesh and dwell among humans. Look at what Philippians tells us:
“(Jesus) emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7
Why would Jesus give up the glory of sitting in heaven to come to earth? The reason is – because He loves us. There is really no other explanation. God coming as a child – being born in the flesh – shows God’s love for us. When the Bible says, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” – we should realize it is an act of love for you and for me. All of you should know John 3:16 – do you remember this verse? Let me quote it for you:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NASV)
God gave up His son and sent Him from heaven to earth because He loved the world – Jesus gave up His throne in heaven because He loves us. The birth of Jesus shows God’s love for us. Our second point is:
II. The Birth Of Jesus Shows God’s PURPOSE For Us
What is God’s purpose for your life – it is that you will have a changed relationship with God. Your purpose in life is to become a part of God’s family. Look at what John tells us in verse twelve of chapter one:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NASV)
God wants you to have a healthy - strong relationship with Him. Do you know what happens when you receive Christ as your Savior? When you receive Jesus as your Savior – relationships change. You become a child of God – you become a part of the family of God. Jesus becomes your Savior – God becomes your Father – the church becomes your family – and other Christians become your brothers and sisters in Christ.
It is amazing when you think about the reason that Christ came into the world – He came into the world to make you a part of His family. He became human – to save humans. We accept Him as God in the flesh – so that we become Godly. This has always been God’s plan and His purpose for sending Jesus to the earth. Look at what Ephesians chapter one verse five says out of the Good News translation:
“God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children---this was his pleasure and purpose.” Ephesians 1:5 (GN)
The English Standard Version says it this way:
“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)
The Message Bible says it this way:
“Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)” Ephesians 1:5 (MSG)
God has always planned for you to become a part of His family. How do you do you become a part of the family of God? Let’s look at verse twelve again:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NASV)
I want you to go ahead and circle two words in the verse – I want to you to circle “received” and also circle the word “believe”. In order to become a part of God’s family – according to the Bible – you need to do two things. You need to:
RECEIVE and BELIEVE
Folks – when you receive Him and when you believe in Him – He will come into your heart – He will come into your life. He wants you to have a changed relationship with the Father. He wants you to become a part of God’s family. Remember what I said earlier – when you receive Jesus as you Savior – relationships change. Jesus becomes your Savior. God becomes your Father. The church becomes your family. Others Christians become your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Will you receive Him today? Will you believe in Him today? Today you can make a difference - today you can change the rest of your life. Today is your opportunity to make a life changing decision for God.
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12 (NASV)
Today are you going to be one of those who receive Him – are you going to be among those who believe in Him. He is God’s gift to you for Christmas.
I heard another preacher tell a story about a time when he was growing up and he went to visit a cousin in another town. He was young and he was small – but he loved to play baseball. He had played baseball since he was three or four - so his baseball skills were quite advanced for his age. Yet when they started picking the teams - he was overlooked. As the children were dividing in to teams the older and stronger kids were being picked. He stood there ase one after another the children around him were chosen. The younger and smaller kids were the last to be chosen. He even said that a girl was chosen before him. At the age that he was – that was real humiliation to him. Everyone at that age knew that boys were better than girls.
But as he stood there he realized he had a huge disadvantage among that group. No one knew who he was. No one knew his skills. No one knew his abilities. No one was picking him.
Some people reject Christ – because they just don’t know who He is. He is the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end. He is the Savior. He is the eternal God who came so that you could have life and have more abundantly. He is the Word made flesh. Will you receive Him today? Will you believe in Him today? Will you put your faith in Him today and trust He with your future for tomorrow?
