WE NEED A LITTLE GOOD NEWS TODAY
LUKE 1:26-35 – JOHN 3:4-8
OUR WORLD HAS CHANGED MUCH OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. CHRISTMAS WAS AN EXCITING TIME OF YEAR FOR YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE. IT WAS THE ONLY HOLIDAY THAT WE CELEBRATE AS A SEASON. AS CHILDREN WE WOULD GET DRESSED UP AND MEMORIZE OUR PARTS FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT. I REMEMBER GOING DOWNTOWN TO ONE OF THE STORES EACH YEAR AND SITTING ON SANTA’S KNEE AND HE WOULD WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING WE WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS. I THOUGHT IT UNUSUAL THAT HE WOULD USE A BILL BOOK TO WRITE DOWN WHAT WE WANTED. I GUESS IT WAS PROPHETIC FOR LATER YEARS.
EACH YEAR MOM WOULD COOK DONUTS, AND MOLASSES AND OATMEAL COOKIES, BIG ONES WITH A RAISON IN THE MIDDLE. PUMPKIN, LEMON, AND BUTTERSCOTCH PIE, AND IF MY BROTHER GOT A DEER DURING HUNTING SEASON MINCEMEAT WOULD BE ON THE CUPBOARD. SHE WOULD WRAP THE GIFTS AND NANCY MY SISTER WOULD DECORATE THE TREE. LATE AT NIGHT I WOULD BE BY MYSELF AND TURN ON THE CHRISTAS LIGHTS AND HAVE A GLASS OF PEPSI.
WE’D OPEN OUR GIFTS THE NEXT DAY. IT WASN’T WHAT WE HAD TOLD SANTA, BUT IT DIDN’T MATTER. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH WHAT HE BROUGHT THAT OUR LIST DIDN’T MATTER AT ALL. DAD WOULD OPEN HIS GIFTS AND REMARK THAT HE HAD SHIRTS JUST LIKE THE ONES WE HAD WRAPEED FOR HIM. WE CONVINCED HIM THAT THE ONES WE HAD TAKEN OUT OF HIS DRAWER AND REWRAPPED FOR HIM WERE NEW. TO THIS DAY I REALLY THINK WE FOOLED HIM.
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. EACH ONE IS SPECIAL TO ME, AND NOW THAT I CELEBRATE THEM WITH LESLIE ITS ALL I WANT.
I NOTICED NOW THAT THEY START PUTTING CHRISTMAS STUFF OUT IN STORES SOMETIMES BEFORE HALOWEEN. THAT’S ALL RIGHT WITH ME. THEY START PLAYING CHRISTMAS MUSIC EARLY IN NOVEMBER, AND I DON’T MIND THAT. I NOTICED THAT THEY STARTED WITH CHRISTMAS MOVIES ON TELEVISION BACK IN OCTOBER. I HAVE RECORDED SEVERAL AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING THEM AT NIGHT. THE CHEEZIER THE BETTER. IT’S PART OF THE CHRISTMAS TRADITION.
WHEN WE WERE HOME LAST YEAR THEY WERE TELLING OF HOW THEY TRIED TO INTRODUCE MY NEPHEW TO ELF ON THE SHELF. HE’S AN ELF WHO KEEPS TRACK OF HOW YOU BEHAVE AND INFORMS SANTA CLAUS.
WELL THEY PUT IT ON A SHELF AND TOLD CONNOR WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE WAS THERE FOR. CONNOR REPLIED “I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT HIM”. HIS PARENTS SAID “YOU’D BETTER BE CAREFUL. HE CAN CALL SANTA.” CONNOR REPLIED, “NO HE CAN’T HE’S NOT REAL.”
WELL THEY TRIED IT AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY PUT A BROKEN CELL PHONE BESIDE HIM. AGAIN THEY TOLD CONNOR TO BE CAREFUL AND CONNOR REPLIED, “I’M NOT WORRIED FOR TWO REASONS, FIRST: HE’S NOT REAL, AND SECOND: HE CAN’T CALL SANTA CLAUS ON THAT CELL PHONE BECAUSE IT’S BROKEN AND DOESN’T WORK.”
CHRISTMAS IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF MIRACLES AND HAPPINESS, OF DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREES AND BRIGHT COLORED LIGHTS, AND OF OF BOWS AND WRAPPING PAPER. IT’S THE TIME OF THE WONDERFUL AROMA OF CHRISTMAS COOKING, AND HOT CHOCOLATE WITH WHIPPED TOPPING, PUMPKIN PIE, AND CANDY CANES. IT’S THE ONE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE BAD THINGS SEEM TO TAKE A LESS IMPORTANT FOCUS.
WHILE THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS CENTERED AROUND THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, IT IS NOT WRONG TO HAVE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS THAT INVOLVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS, DECORATIONS, EVEN SANTA CLAUS HAS AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS. THERE IS A COMMERCIAL ELEMENT VERY PRESENT IN CHRISTMAS, BUT IT IS ONLY THERE IF YOU LET IT BE THERE. ARGUABLY MOST OF US PUT MORE EFFORT AND EXPENSE INTO THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS THAN ANY OTHER HOLIDAY, RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE.
I DO NOT FEAR THE COMMERCIAL ELEMENT OF CHRISTMAS, BUT WHAT I DO FEAR IS SOMETHING THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREVELENT IN OUR WORLD TODAY, AND THAT IS A NEGATIVE AND PESSIMISTIC ATTITUDE THAT HAS INVADED BOTH THE CHRISTIAN AND SECULAR WORLD.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS DESPERATE FOR SOME GOOD NEWS. THE FRAGILE ECONOMIC SITUATION, THE SITUATION IN PARIS, THE WAY IT HAS EFFECTED THE REFUGEE SITUATION, AND THE FEAR THAT SURROUNDS THE POSSIBILITY OF TERRORISM, IS THE LATEST OF AN EVER-INCREASING TIDE OF NEGATIVITY THAT IS OVERWEALMING THE WORLD.
A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE HAS ALMOST BECOME A WAY OF LIFE FOR US NOW. WE WATCH WHITE CHRISTMAS ON CHRISTMAS EVE EACH YEAR AND I REMEMBER BING CROSBY TELLING ROSEMARY CLOONY, AFTER THE GIRLS TRICKED CROSBY AND DANNY KAY TO COME AND HEAR THEM SING, “EVERYBODY’S GOT AN ANGLE, YOU PLAYED ONE AND IT WORKED.”
I WAS THINKING, AS WE COLLECTED FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD, THAT I WAS THINKING OF OPTIONS, SHOULD THE CHURCH BE BROKEN INTO JUST TO GET THE SHIPPING MONEY FROM THE BOXES. PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE CONTAINERS USED FOR THE POPPY CAMPAIGNS, IT’S NOT A STRETCH TO THINK THAT PEOPLE WOULD STEAL FROM CHILDREN.
OUR WORLD HAS GROWN TO BE PESSIMISTIC, CYNICAL, AND VERY NEGATIVE. PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED WATCHING THE NEWS BECAUSE SO MUCH OF IT IS BAD NEWS. IF SOMEONE WERE TO ASK TO SPEAK WITH YOU FOR A FEW MOMENTS HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE ME BE THINKING “WHAT DID I DO WRONG NOW?”
WITH THE WORLD BECOMING SO TECHNOLOGICAL WE CAN SEE NEWS IN WHAT IS CALLED “REAL TIME” OR AS IT HAPPENS. WE GET THE NEWS FAST, BUT WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL WHAT WE SEE. WE SEE THE FULL VIOLENCE, IN SOME CASES MURDER AS IT HAPPENED.
IT IS NOT MY INTENT TO DEPRESS OR DISCOURAGE YOU, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO STAY HERE. I DO WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WORLD SEES SO MUCH THAT IS WRONG, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS WITH PEOPLE TODAY. THE BLESSING FOR US IS THAT WE HAVE THE GREATEST GOOD NEWS OF ALL TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD.
WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHILE LIVING IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, TO PRESENT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST. JESUS SAID, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTEST IN THE DARKNESS AND SO THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.
PEOPLE LOVE A LOVE STORY, AND WHAT A LOVE STORY CHRISTMAS IS. GOD LOVED THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD SO MUCH, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE FORM OF A HUMAN, TO SAVE US, AND DID SO AT CHRISTMAS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF MARY’S PREGNANCY. I DON’T MEAN TO MAKE LITTLE OF THE FACTS, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE SHE WAS DOING HER DAILY ROUTINE WHEN THE ANGELIC APPEARANCE OCCURRED.
LUKE 1:35: THE ANGEL ANSWERED, “THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME ON 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.
THE CONCEPTION OF MARY WAS A MIRACLE. CHRIST WASN’T BORN BY NATURAL MEANS WITH TWO PARENTS, HE WAS BORN OF THE SPIRIT.
WITH THE BIRTH OF JESUS CAME THE METHOD THAT ALL OF US WOULD BEGIN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK. WE WERE TO BE BORN AGAIN SPIRITUALLY JUST AS JESUS WAS BORN SPIRITUALLY.
THE ANGELS WORDS TO MARY, SHOULD SERVE AS COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO US AS WE BEGIN OUR SPIRITUAL WALK WITH THE LORD. CONSIDER WHAT THE ANGEL SAID TO MARY:
1. YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD.
LUKE 1:28: THE ANGEL WENT TO HER AND SAID, “GREETINGS, YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED! THE LORD IS WITH YOU.”
WAS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT MARY THAT GOD WOULD CHOOSE HER?. YES THERE WAS. MARY FULFILLED MANY OF THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH. BUT AS FOR MARY HERSELF THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY ABOUT HER THAT WOULD MAKE HER BE CHOSEN.
YOU AND I ARE IN THAT SAME SITUATION. GOD HAS FAVORED US WITH THE GIFT OF SALVATION. HE HAS CONVICTED US OF OUR NEED FOR SALVATION, AND PROVIDED THE SACRIFICE FOR US TO RENEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
WAS THERE ANY NEED FOR HIM TO CHOOSE TO SAVE US? NO THERE WASN’T. GOD’S WORLD WOULD GO ON QUITE WELL WITHOUT US. IF HE HAD NOT MADE THE CHOICE TO SAVE US, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR CALVARY.
WHY DID THE ANGEL COME TO MARY AND WHY DID MARY SAY “YES”? BECAUSE OF A LOVE RELATIONSHIP THAT HUMANITY HAD WITH GOD. MARY LOVED HIM AND WANTED TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIM. GOD IN TURN LOVED US, AND WANTED TO TAKE ON HUMAN FORM SO THAT HE COULD BE A SACRIFICE IN OUR PLACE ON CALVARY. THE WHOLE CHRISTMAS-EASTER STORY IS ROOTED IN LOVE.
2. MARY’S SON WILL BE THE MESSIAH.
LUKE 1:32-33:
HE WILL BE GREAT AND WILL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH. THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID, 33 AND HE WILL REIGN OVER JACOB’S DESCENDANTS FOREVER; HIS KINGDOM WILL NEVER END.”
WHAT MOTHER DOESN’T LIKE TO HEAR THAT HER SON IS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS? THE ANGEL THOUGH GOES FURTHER THAN THIS IN THAT HE TELLS MARY THAT JESUS’ REIGN WILL NEVER END. IT IS HERE THAT HE IS TELLING HER THAT THE BABY SHE WILL BE CARRYING IS THE MESSIAH, THE CHOSEN ONE.
THE QUESTION CAN BE ASKED CHOSEN FOR WHAT? JESUS WAS CHOSEN TO DO MANY THINGS. HE WAS TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR CHRISTIANS IN THIS WORLD. WE ARE TO LOVE PEOPLE THE WAY HE LOVED PEOPLE. WE ARE TO EMBRACE TRUTH THE WAY HE EMBRACED TRUTH.
THE KINGDOM JESUS WILL ESTABLISH WILL NEVER END.
THE HOPE THAT WE CELEBRATE AT CHRISTMAS IS AN EVERLASTING HOPE. THIS IS THE HOPE THAT DEFIES THE NEGATIVISM OF THE WORLD. PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CAN SING THE SONGS OF CHRISTMAS AND TALK ABOUT THE CHRISTCHILD ALL THEY WANT BUT UNTIL THEY BELIEVE HE CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND PUT THEIR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIM AS PERSONAL SAVIOR, THE ETERNAL HOPE THEY SEEK WILL ELUDE THEM.
LUKE CHAPTER ONE SPEAKS OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE CHRIST CHILD. JUST AS CHIST NEEDED TO BE BORN INTO OUR WORLD, WE NEED TO BE BORN INTO HIS. WE NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN.
NICODEMUS WAS A RELIGIOUS LEADER OF THE TIME WHO SAUGHT THE ETERNAL HOPE AND PEACE THAT ONLY A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD COULD BRING. HE SAUGHT OUT JESUS, JUST AS WE MUST SEEK HIM, TO HAVE THE QUESTIONS OF ETERNITY ANSWERED.
JESUS AND NICODEMUS DID HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. THEY WERE BOTH BORN AS A RESULT OF ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS WAS BORN IN A PHYSICAL STATE AND NICODEMUS WAS BORN-AGAIN SPIRITUALLY AS A RESULT OF THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
LETS CONSIDER BIRTH THROUGH THE SPIRIT FROM THREE POINTS OF VIEW.
POINT ONE: IT’S NECESSITY:
THE NECESSITY OF SPIRITUAL REBIRTH IS MADE PLAIN BY JESUS IN JOHN 3:3.
JOHN 3:3: JESUS REPLIED, “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, NO ONE CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS THEY ARE BORN AGAIN.
LATER IN THE BOOK JESUS WOULD SAY:
JOHN 14:6: JESUS ANSWERED, “I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET TO GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE AND THAT IS THROUGH JESUS.
YOU AND I WE ARE ALL SINNERS AND WE ARE ALL DEVOID OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. IN ORDER TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THIS CHRISTMAS, A SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM IS A NECESSITY.
POINT TWO: IT’S CHARACTER:WHAT IS THIS NEW SPIRITUALBIRTH? WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH IMPLANTS A SPIRITUAL NATURE. JUST AS WE RECEIVE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS THROUGH OUR PHYSICAL BIRTH, SO TOO DO WE RECEIVE SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS THROUGH OUR SPIRITUAL REBIRTH.
JOHN 3:6: FLESH GIVES BIRTH TO FLESH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRIT.
LIFE IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE BEHIND IT. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE OF THE RULING NATURE WITHIN OUR LIVES. AS PEOPLE BORN AGAIN BY THE GRACE OF GOD WHERE SHOULD OUR AFFECTIONS AND DESIRES BE SET.
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4:
SINCE, THEN, YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. 2 SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON EARTHLY THINGS. 3 FOR YOU DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. 4 WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS YOUR LIFE, APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
POINT THREE: THE IMPRESSIVE INSTRUCTIONS
JESUS INTRODUCED NICODEMUS TO SPIRITUAL LIFE BY USING A VERY BASIC BUT VERY IMPRESSIVE METAPHOR, THAT OF BIRTH. NICODEMUS UNDERSTOOD ABOUT BIRTH, BUT NOT HOW IT RELATERD TO SPIRITUAL REBIRTH.
JOHN 3:5: JESUS ANSWERED, “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, NO ONE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS THEY ARE BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE CONTROVERSY OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN OF THE WATER, SUFFICE IT TO SAY TODAY THAT IT IS VITAL THAT WE HAVE THIS NEW BIRTH.
WHEN JESUS SPOKE TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IN JOHN 4:14 NO ONE TOOK THE WATER IN THIS PASSAGE TO BE LITERAL.
JOHN 4:14: JESUS ANSWERED, “EVERYONE WHO DRINKS THIS WATER WILL BE THIRSTY AGAIN, 14 BUT WHOEVER DRINKS THE WATER I GIVE THEM WILL NEVER THIRST. INDEED, THE WATER I GIVE THEM WILL BECOME IN THEM A SPRING OF WATER WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE.”
THE WATER USED THERE IS A SYMBOL OF THE LIFE THAT JESUS OFFERED. HE USES IT AGAIN IN JOHN 7:37
JOHN 7:37: ON THE LAST AND GREATEST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL, JESUS STOOD AND SAID IN A LOUD VOICE, “LET ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME TO ME AND DRINK
THIS PASSAGE NOT ONLY SPEAKS OF THE NEED, BUT THE FREEDOM TO RECEIVE THE SALVATION OFFERED BY JESUS. ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY CAN COME AND DRINK.
CONCLUSION:
THIS WORLD IS A DARK WORLD. INTO A WORLD OF DARKNESS A LIGHT HAS SHONE:
ISAIAH 9:6: THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; ON THOSE LIVING IN THE LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS A LIGHT HAS DAWNED.
THIS LIGHT IS OURS TO SHINE IN A DARK WORLD THIS CHRISTMAS.
DO YOU HAVE THIS LIGHT IN YOUR HEART TODAY. YOU CAN, AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE WORLD AND SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY.
