A Fantastic Reality
Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the Christmas story from various angles. We looked at the importance of the virgin birth. Then we looked at the response of Mary when she was given the news that she would have a son – even though she was a virgin. We then looked at how a group of unlikely witnesses were present at the birth of Jesus. Those witnesses were the shepherds. Today I would like us to look at the Christmas story from an unlikely passage of scripture. It is found in the book of Philippians. Please follow along with me as I read:
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)
This doesn’t sound much like a Christmas story – but it is. It is the story of the plan and purpose of Christ coming to earth in the form of a baby.
What is so special about Christmas? Christmas is the centerpiece of our history. Even our calendar is dated from the reference point of Jesus Christ. God split history with the event of Christmas. Everything is either A.D. or B.C.
What is so special about Christmas? I think Philippians 2 answers it. We have here the greatest explanation in the Bible of who Jesus Christ is and what he came to do. This is the foundation of all that we believe. It is a fantastic reality! What is that reality – it is based on four things:
1. God came to EARTH
By this statement I don’t mean that God looked down from heaven and could see all the people of the earth hurrying and scurrying here and there. No – God actually set his foot on the earth.
When the allies landed on Normandy on D-Day – that was big news. But that is nothing compared to the news that God invaded earth. It was big news when man landed on the moon and walked there. But it's bigger news that God landed on the earth and he walked here too. You see – Jesus Christ is God Himself and it was God that came to earth. Look at what it says in Philippians again:
“He existed in the form of God……” Philippians 2:6 (NASB)
There are people who would say that Jesus was a great man – even a great prophet. There's only one problem with that – Jesus never claimed to be a great prophet or a great man. He claimed to be God.
How else can you explain the statements that he made when he said:
"He who hates Me - hates My Father also.” John 15:23
Or what about:
"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." John 14:7
Or:
"I and the Father are one." John 10:30
But here is a fantastic fact – Jesus didn't start at the stable. He's existed even before the dawn of creation. Theologians call it the pre-existence of Christ. The Bible says:
“He 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.”
Col 1:17
Jesus simply said it this way:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
John 8:58
God came to earth. But that’s not all:
2. God became FLESH AND BLOOD
If you were God and were going to come to earth – how would you do it? Would you become human? Would you become as a baby? That’s how God did it. Look at Philippians again:
“(He) emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7
The reality of Christmas was that Jesus Christ was a real man, flesh and blood, bones and hair. He was a real person. He was not a myth – he was not a fable – it’s more than a nice story. The reality is that God came to earth and God became human. In the gospel of John it says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God……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 1:1; 14
When God became flesh and blood – he became like us. How is Jesus like us? I think there are at least four ways:
(1) He was born like us.
He came into the world like billions of other babies. That must have blown the minds of the angels -- "What is God doing?" No flashy entrance to let the whole world know He's there. He just comes in the middle of the night in a stable in Bethlehem. Not born to rich parents. Not born in a palace. He was born in humble surroundings. He was 100% God and 100% man. He became as a common man yet he was God in human form. He was born like us.
Also:
(2) He grew like us.
The Bible says:
"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52
After he was born – he went through the normal growing process. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have gone to school with Jesus? You would know that He was a little bit different but would you believe that He was God? Very little is known of the childhood years of Jesus yet I don’t think that he boasted that he was special. From all outward appearances – he appeared as a typical young man.
(3) He was tempted like us.
Hebrews says
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (NASB)
Jesus experienced the same pressures that you and I do – the same temptations, desires, and drives. He experienced the same temptations to lie, to cheat, to steal. He had the same drives but He never gave into them. This is important because He can relate to you when you're struggling.
And:
(4) He suffered like us.
He felt pain, disappointment. He got tired, fatigued. He felt lonely at times. He grieved – He cried – He was human. At one time he said:
"My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." Matthew 26:38 (NASB)
He knew what it was like to feel pain. He can relate to your pain, problems, and pressures. He was God but He became a man. Jesus became what we are so we can become what He is. That is the reality of Christmas.
Next:
3. Jesus Came With A PURPOSE
What was that purpose? Let’s look at Philippians again:
“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 (NASB)
Jesus didn't stay in a crib in a manger. He went to a cross and voluntarily laid down His life for us. Why? I think there are two reasons:
To demonstrate God's love to us and to pay for our sins. Let’s look at each of these separately. Jesus died:
(1) To demonstrate God's love to us
The Bible says:
“But God has made clear his love to us, in that, when we were still sinners, Christ gave his life for us.” Romans 5:8 (BBE)
His motivation was love. If you want to know how much God loves you, look at the cross. A lot of people may give their life for their friends or family or children. But the Bible says that God gave His life for us when we were rejecting Him – when we were still sinners – before we even knew Him – before we were even born. He gave His life for us. That's love.
He not only demonstrated his love to us when he died but he also died:
(2) To pay for our sins
When you break a law you've got to pay a penalty. When you break man's laws you pay man's penalties. When you break God's laws you pay God's penalties. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death." But the gift of God is eternal life."
The Bible also tells us:
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB)
Somehow what He did 2000 years ago can make a difference in my life right now. I can be completely forgiven for everything I've ever done wrong or will ever do.
Jesus came to be the Savior of the world. Folks it’s a fact – Jesus gave up all the glory of Heaven. He became a human being. He was born as a little baby. He grew up with pains, pressures and temptations. He died on a cross in order that we can be forgiven. That's the reality.
But here is another reality:
4. Jesus Is LORD
Let’s look at Philippians one more time:
“God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)
Folks the cross is not the end of the story. He rose from the dead – he is seated at the right hand of the Father – and he will come to judge the living and the dead. That is a fact.
But here is another fact – before him “every knee will bow”. Folks I don’t care if you are Presbyterian or Pentecostal. I don’t care if your Baptist or Buddhist. I don’t care if your Anglican or Atheist. The scripture speaks plain. “EVERY KNEE WILL BOW”
Why? It’s simple – Jesus is Lord – and he shall return to judge the world. But look deeper into that verse – not only will every knee bow but: “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”
That is a fact.
He is Lord.
Someday everyone throughout history will be called on to acknowledge this fact. Every nationality, every age group, every male, every female, every religion will be called on to say "Jesus is Lord." All of the politicians will be there and they will say "Jesus is Lord." All of the rock stars will be there and they will say "Jesus is Lord." All of the scientists, professors, business men, homemakers, factory workers, farmers, everyone will say "Jesus is Lord." Everyone will admit it that “Jesus is Lord”.
The question is not, “Will you admit that Jesus is Lord?” The question is, “When will you admit that Jesus is Lord?”
You can either admit it now in love and honor and respect or you will admit it later. The Bible says:
"If you confess with your mouth, `JESUS IS LORD', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
The greatest need in the world today is the need to admit that: “JESUS IS LORD”.
What does it mean to admit that "Jesus is Lord"? It means to:
(a) Acknowledge that He really is God.
(b) Understand that He has everything under control.
(c) Commit all of my life to Him.
He calls the shots because – He is God – He is Lord. He has come to earth as a baby – He grew up to be a man. He died for me and rose for me. And if I trust in Him – He will take care of me. Trust in him and he will take care of you also – because Jesus is Lord.
I want to thank Rick Warren for the sermon starter ideas.
