Purpose: To show how Christ's first coming gives us hope.
Aim: I want the listener to embrace and rejoice in the hope Christ brings.
INTRODUCTION: For centuries many Christian churches have celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas as the Season of Advent. Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The first Sunday is the Advent of Hope, the second is the Advent of Peace, the third is the Advent of Joy, and the last Sunday is the Advent of Love. So, today we will focus on how the advent or arrival Jesus Christ brings hope.
Chuck Swindoll explains the importance of hope this way: "(Hope) is something as important to us as water is to a fish, as vital as electricity is to a light bulb, as essential as air is to a jumbo jet. Hope is basic to life....Without that needed spark of hope, we are doomed to a dark, grim existence. How often the word 'hopeless' appears in suicide notes. And even if it isn't actually written, we can read it between the lines. Take away our hope, and our world is reduced to something between depression and despair....hope is more than wishful thinking.
"Hope is a vital necessity of life--a gift that God wants to give to you. (Biblical hope) is a voice crying in the wilderness...a word of enthusiasm for life in the midst of any difficult situation you are in....If you want to smile through your tears, if you want to rejoice through times of suffering, just keep reminding yourself that what you're going through isn't the end of the story...it's simply the rough journey that leads to the right destination...Solid, stable, sure hope. Hope to press on. Hope to endure. Hope to stay focused. Hope to see new dreams fulfilled" [1]
The beautiful Christmas story about the birth of Jesus Christ took place over 2,000 years ago. But, that is not where the story really begins.
Many years before Christ was born several prophets of God predicted that hope would come into the world through a coming Messiah (the God appointed deliverer). The Christmas story includes shepherds, and choruses of angels, and wise men, a miraculous star, and the birth of boy by a woman who had never slept with a man, but the Christmas story is much more than those things.
The Christmas story may be familiar to us, but how did the ancient prophets envision what the story of the coming Messiah would look like? To understand that we have to back up and look at the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
The world can only offer wishful thinking. Only Christ offers a hope that has substance.
► I. The Christmas Story Includes the Hope of a Messenger
In modern baseball there is a special relief pitcher who is called "the set up man." His role usually involves only pitching in the 8th inning so that the premier relief pitcher can come in and win the game in the 9th inning.
What we learn in the Christmas story is that John the Baptist is God's "set up man" so that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, could come and clearly proclaim God's message.
► A. John's life was predicted by prophets
It was 460 years before John the Baptist was born that the prophet Malachi predicted exactly what John the Baptist would do: Malachi 4:5--6 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." (NAU)
Even before Malachi wrote his book the prophet Isaiah declared: Isaiah 40:3 A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. (NAU)
For hundreds of years those prophesies remained unfulfilled. Generation after generation passed and all the while the Jews were eagerly waiting to see these predictions come true.
► B. John's birth was announced by Gabriel
Then God decided to act. In Luke Chapter one God sent the arch angel Gabriel to a priest named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth and promised to answer their prayer for a son, even though they were both old at the time, and they were to call his name John which means "Jehovah is gracious."
Luke 1:13--17 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (NAU)
► C. John's message prepared the people to hear Jesus
► 1. John preached repentance
Luke 3:2--14 ... the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 'EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.' " So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,'[i.e. don't think you're sins are forgiven because you were born a Jew] for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then what shall we do?" And he would answer and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise."[i.e. don't be selfish] And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."[i.e. don't be greedy] Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."[i.e. don't steal, lie, or complain] (NAU)
John was blunt and confrontational. Later he confronted Herod's open sin and Herod arrested him and later had him put to death.
► 2. John announced the coming of Christ
Luke 3:15--17 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals;[i.e. the Christ was walking among them] He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn;[Jesus has the right to judge people and heaven ("His barn") belongs to Him] but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NAU)
Later John made it clear that Jesus was the promised Messiah. John 1:19--36 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said." Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. "It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! "This is He on behalf of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' [even though John was six months older than Jesus] "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (NAU)
► II. The Christmas Story Includes the Hope of a Coming King
► A. The prophets saw the Messiah as a King
Isaiah 9:6--7 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. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (NAU)
Psalm 89:3--4 "I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed [NOT "seeds"] forever And build up your throne to all generations."Selah. (NAU)
Micah 4:7 "I will make the lame a remnant And the outcasts a strong nation, And the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on and forever. (NAU)
► B. Jesus was announced as a King
Luke 1:30--33 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." (NAU)
Thirty three years later we learn that Jesus was rejected as a King. When Jesus was arrested and brought before Pilot, they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:15 NAU)
That did not prevent Jesus from becoming King because He is coming back again, this time as an undisputed King. Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. (NAU)
► III. The Christmas Story Includes the Hope of a God-Man
Mary was confused. How could she give birth to a King, let alone any baby, without sleeping with a man?
The answer is that God was doing the impossible. Luke 1:34--38 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. "For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (NAU)
► A. The prophets saw the Messiah as a God-Man
Isaiah 7:13--14 Then he said, "Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (NAU)
► B. Jesus was declared to be the God-Man
After Mary learned that she would have a miracle birth, she left town for three months to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was already six months pregnant with John the Baptist. When she arrived back in Nazareth her pregnancy was beginning to show. This is when her fiancée, Joseph, found out that she was pregnant.
Matthew 1:18--25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. (NAU)
► IV. The Christmas Story Includes the Hope of Forgiveness
► A. The prophets pictured the Messiah as a Savior
Isaiah 53:10--11 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. (NAU)
► B. Jesus was called a Savior
The angel told Joseph that May Matthew 1:21 "... will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (NAU)
Remember that John the Baptist said: John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (NAU)
► V. The Christmas Story Includes a Hope that is Indestructible
About two years after the birth of Jesus Christ wise men from the east, probably modern day Iraq, were directed of God to come and worship Christ. They traveled to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, seeking information about where this new King of the Jews lived. When, Herod, the Roman ruler of that area heard about the important foreign guests, he asked them to tell him when they found the Christ. Herod pretended that he wanted to worship Him as well, but he really just wanted to kill him.
After the wise men found Jesus and worshiped Him, an angel of God warned them not to tell Herod where Jesus was. They slipped out of town. When Herod found this out he became angry and order the slaughter of every male child in Bethlehem that was two years old and younger.
► A. The Old Testament predicted opposition to the Messiah
Psalm 2:2--3 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!" (NAU)
Jeremiah 31:15 Thus says the LORD, "A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more." (NAU)
► B. Rulers tried to kill Jesus
Matthew 2:16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. (NAU)
Herod failed, of course, because no one could kill the One who said He is ... "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 NAU)
► VI. The Christmas Story Includes a Hope that Deserves Worship
► A. The prophets said that the Messiah would be worshiped
Psalm 72:10--15 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. 11 And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save. 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight; 15 So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; And let them pray for him continually; Let them bless him all day long. (NAU)
Isaiah 60:5--6 "Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6 "A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD. (NAU)
► B. Jesus was worshiped
Matthew 2:9--11 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (NAU)
Jesus was worshiped at the beginning of His earthly life, and He was worshiped toward the end of His time here on earth. Two of Christ's followers, women, went to Christ's tomb Matthew 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: The atheist Jean-Paul Sartre declared shortly before death that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would tried to convince himself by saying...
"I know I shall die in hope."
Then in profound sadness, he would add...
"But hope needs a foundation."
Do you have a hope in Christ that carries you through
"Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called "the rejoicing of hope" (Hebrews 3:6)." William Gurnall [2]
[1]
[2]I.D.E. Thomas, The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, electronic ed., 143 (Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation, 1996).
