THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY - The Manger and the Cross
Colossians 1:15-23 (p. 821) December 18, 2016
Introduction:
“The son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
The word for firstborn here doesn’t mean Jesus was a created being as some cults would assert…it’s an adjective…not a noun…and it describes the order of inheritance. The firstborn son in Jewish culture received a double portion of the estate…like we talked about last week…creation was made by Jesus, the Word of God…and Jesus’ inheritance is all creation. A creation He would die on a cross to redeem. “Making peace through His shed blood on the cross.”
The real Christmas story is found in this truth by an anonymous poet:
“A baby born in Bethlehem
His hands, soft and gently curled
But held within their dimpled grasp,
The hope of the entire world.”
The Real Christmas Story is a story of hope, peace, joy and above all…love.
The Creator of all things…visible and invisible in heaven and on earth…The one who has authority over every throne, every power, every ruler and every authority…because it is created by Him, sustained by Him, and held together by Him…He was before all these things. Here’s biblical truth: Jesus is in control!!!
The Word of Creation became one of us “Immanuel,” so He could redeem us. God put His feet in our shoes so He could walk as an example for us to follow…all the way to a cross…and victoriously raised from an empty grave!
“He is the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.”
This is the story of Christmas. Christmas isn’t the celebration of one day. It’s not about crazy and hectic shopping and gift giving…The real story of Christmas is found in God’s plan to save us…to redeem us…to restore us…by becoming one of us.
This is what the angel means in Luke 2 when he tells the shepherds “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” (v.10-11)
God’s message to all of us:
I. HOLD ON I’VE GOT A PLAN!
Can you imagine being a 16 year old pregnant Jewish girl. You’re not married yet. You’re engaged to a carpenter…and you’ve just been informed:
“Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you…don’t be afraid, you’re going to have a child, a baby boy. He will be called the Son of the Most High. God will give Him the throne of David…He’ll reign over the house of Jacob forever…His Kingdom will never end.”
But there’s a problem and Mary knows it…It shows in her first question: “How can this be…I’m a virgin?”
The angel answers “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…so the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Mary’s response is remarkable: “I’m the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as the Lord has said.”
Have you ever thought about this truth…Mary had to experience the initial rejection of her fiancé. She was nearly divorced…She became an immigrant in her teens…and one day she would witness her firstborn’s gruesome execution.
If you’ve ever wondered if God really was a good God with a good plan…think of Mary.
Have you ever realized that Mary was probably only in her mid 40’s when she stood at the foot of the cross. She watched her oldest child be rejected, arrested, beaten, tortured and displayed out for the world to see…nailed to a cross.
How is this good news that will bring great joy to all people?
As she speaks his name from the foot of the cross “Yeshua…Jesus,” she remembers who gave Him that name which means “Savior.” But also she must think…“Oh how can this be true now?”
Terry Ocasey writes: “From upon the cross her Jesus, deserted by his brothers, who mocked His messianic pretensions speaks to her as His best friend stands at her side… “Mom, John will take care of you now…John, take care of Mom!”
From the manger to the cross God had a plan…He was working in ways no one could have imagined.
He is making a way where there seemed to be no way.
None of us have been at the same place Mary stood, but everyone of us have been asked “to hold on and trust God’s plan.”
Our text records it this way “If you continue in your faith, established and firm and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”
The question is “will we trust God’s supremacy?” Will we believe He is in control…Will we keep the faith, even when we are heartbroken, disappointed and anxious?
I firmly believe that our God turns the tears of right into joy in the morning.
Faith is holding on…and trusting God is working for your good and to accomplish His plan…Romans 8:28 reminds us “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose.”
The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied - "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened." And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you.”
Hold on…trust God today, because He is the only one who knows your tomorrows.
REREAD COLOSSIANS 1:16-18 (p. 821)
Jesus is before all things…He is the authority over everything, invisible and visible…every power, every throne, every ruler…He holds it all together…so hold on!!! Trust Him…He is supreme…even when it comes to death!
It is really what our Christian life is all about… “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Each of us will have times of testing…Each of us will wonder… “How can God bring good from this? How can God work this out to accomplish His plan?”
He’s God!!! He’s working!!! He’s good…and He is for us, not against us.
Let me end with this truth…
III. CHRISTMAS IS A STORY OF RECONCILIATION AND LIFE
Jesus is the head of the body, the church…He is the beginning and the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.
He is God in the flesh so through Him all things could be reconciled.
How does Jesus reconcile everything in heaven and on earth? How does Jesus redeem His broken, sinful creation that is at war with God in their souls…
“By making peace through His blood shed on a cross.”
The infant that Mary laid in a wooden manger was destined to be nailed to a wooden Roman cross!
This is The Real Christmas Story…God became flesh so He could die in our place.
The moment Jesus breathed His last and said, “It is finished” the war with sin for every single person was won.
And three days later when He rose from the dead…our greatest enemy, death, was defeated.
He stands in authority…King of Kings and Lord of Lords…and offers victory and peace to all.
“Once we were alienated from God and we were enemies in our minds because of our evil behavior.” (v. 21)
This is true for all mankind…all of us as sinners fought with God for control because we wanted to live selfishly. Many millions still do. Many will until their last breath. We’d rather live our own way in darkness…instead of surrendering and making peace with God through Christ and walking into the light. I know you’re familiar with this great verse: “For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
But listen to the 5 verses that follow it:
JOHN 3:17-21 (p. 741)
Jesus is still the creator of life and light…he can penetrate the darkest soul. The most rebellious warrior can know peace. And the treaty that makes it happen is signed in His blood, shed on a cross.
