Still The Greatest Story Ever Told
Luke 2:8-14
I am so thankful that this year we celebrate our 11th Christmas together. I must confess that I encounter a certain struggle around this time each year. The struggle that I speak of is preaching the Christmas story without it seeming like I am preaching the exact same message I preached last year. But the reality is, I do preach the same message year after year. It may be a different outline, and it may come from different texts, but the story never changes. And that is perfectly fine because it is the greatest story ever told.
At our house, there are certain Christmas songs that we love to hear. If we are honest, it just isn't Christmas until we hear them. In most cases will listen to these songs multiple times each season. There are certain Christmas decorations that we have been putting out for decades, but they are special to us and ever never get tired of seeing them. We have certain Christmas movies that we watch each year. Though we can quote them word for word, they never get old.
In the same way, the Christmas story as recorded in Luke chapter 2 never gets old. This passage describes the events surrounding the birth of our Savior. However, the events that are described in this passage are only the beginning of the greatest story ever told. I would like to take a comprehensive look at the life of Jesus and preach around the fact that "The Greatest Story Ever Told Never Gets Old"
- Let us begin this great story by examining:
I. JESUS AND HIS ARRIVAL
For hundreds of years it had been prophesied that a Messiah would come. It was foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem... though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
It was prophesied that He would be born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Christ's birth in Bethlehem was prophesied 700 years before it happened, but Jesus existed long before His birth.
Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". God knew that we would need a Savior before He ever created this world. In due time, there in Bethlehem, a virgin gave birth to the sinless Son of God.
Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Before this Child was born, the Angel of the Lord instructed Joseph that the Child would be called Jesus - Matthew 1:21 "...thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." On that first Christmas day, God's Son was born in Bethlehem, just as the prophets and Angels had declared..
- As we consider the greatest story ever told, let us also consider:
II. JESUS AND HIS NAMES
- Obviously we know that:
A. HE IS JESUS - This name speaks of his humanity. Jesus means “Jehovah Is Savior” . This was our Savior’s name while He was here on earth. The angel told Mary in - Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Scripture tells us that the name of Jesus is a saving name. (Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.) There is no greater name in history than the name of God's Son... Jesus.
- He is Jesus and:
B. HE IS CHRIST - The name Christ means “Anointed One". This name identifies Jesus as the Messiah. He is the Promised One! He is the One spoken of by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea and the other prophets. He is the one who came to save the world from their sins!
- He is Jesus, He is Christ and:
C. HE IS LORD - This title speaks of His position. Lord means "One who is supreme in authority". Many people like the idea of Jesus as Savior but they do not want Him as Lord! They want to be saved from Hell but want to live their lives their way... that is not how it works! Jesus is Lord and to have a relationship with Him you must surrender to His Lordship!
- I am also glad to report that:
D. HE IS SAVIOR - Jesus is the only One who could deliver us from our sins. It was prophesied that He would "save his people from their sins", and that is exactly what He did! If Jesus is your Savior you have been forgiven of ALL your sins, you are rescued from Hell, you are a child of God, you have a personal relationship with God, you are a joint heir with Jesus and you have the promise of eternal life and a home in Heaven. This is all possible because Jesus is Savior!
- Scripture also tells us that:
E. HE IS IMMANUEL - Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The name Immanuel means "God with us". We couldn't get to God, so God came down to us! There are many more names and titles of Jesus that we could examine if we had the time. Isaiah 9:6 tells us that He is "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God and the Prince of Peace". There is something special about the many names of our Savior. Peter said concerning the name of Jesus " Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) The greatest story that tells of the blessed Savior never gets old!
- Now that we have seen Jesus' Arrival and His Names, let's go a little further and examine:
III. JESUS AND HIS PERSONALITY - Jesus is, always has been and always will be God!
A. JESUS IS GOD - Jesus left the glories of Heaven, and took on a robe of human flesh. When He did, He never ceased to be God. He may have laid aside some of His divine attributes but He was still 100% God.
- But, when He came to earth:
B. JESUS WAS MAN - Though He was fully God, Jesus was also a real man. He was a sinless man who came to show us the Father. Jesus was a man of love. His selfless sacrifice is the greatest picture of love this world has ever seen! He described His love in (John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.) It is impossible to fully understand who Jesus is and all that He has done. But I would like to look into why He did it.
- Let's examine:
IV. JESUS AND HIS MISSION - There were several reasons that Jesus came to earth.
A. HE CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST - Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
We were all born into this world as lost sinners. Because of this, Jesus came to this earth for you. He came to deliver you from your sin and the awful penalty of it.
- We also find that:
B. HE CAME TO GLORIFY THE FATHER - (John 17:1 Jesus said... "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee" )All that Jesus did, brought honor and glory to the Father in Heaven.
- It is also true that:
C. HE CAME TO BE THE SACRIFICE FOR SIN - Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The only substance powerful enough to wash our sins away was the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28)
- Another amazing fact about Jesus is that:
D. HE CAME TO CONQUER DEATH - Jesus is risen from the dead. By His resurrection, Christ conquered sin and death and is alive forevermore. Today we celebrate Christmas...but ultimately we are able to worship because there is an empty tomb. We have hope because Jesus conquered death. Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
- This leads us to the fact that:
E. HE CAME TO SECURE ETERNAL LIFE - Because Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost... Because He became the sacrifice for our sins... Because He was successful in conquering death we have the hope of eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
It is God's desire that you are born again. He wants you to receive forgiveness of your sins, eternal life and a home in Heaven. This is possible for you because Jesus fulfilled His mission.
I don't know what you are going to get this Christmas. But I do know that the greatest gift of all time is available to you. Jesus is offering you salvation from your sins, eternal life and a home in Heaven. This is a free gift, Jesus paid the price in full at Calvary, and all you have to do is accept it. I encourage you to accept this gift today. Without at doubt the story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told!
The Gaither Vocal band sings a song that proclaims this truth. It says:
A woman and an angel, a promise and a song
A word to grand for any mind to hold
A tax law and a journey, a stable and some straw
These tell the greatest story ever told
Oh sing glory in the highest, he is come our great messiah
Come bow before this awesome mystery
Mighty God and PRECIOUS baby, here a lowly manger holds
And it's still the greatest story ever told
(Source:https://genius.com/Gaither-vocal-band-still-the-greatest-story-ever-told-lyrics)
Friends, the story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told and this story never gets old!
