Away From the Manger
Rev. Brian Bill
12/26/99
Now that Christmas is over, maybe people will start being nicer to each other again. About a week ago, I was at a store and a lady told me that I was ignorant. I almost agreed with her and then decided to ask her what she meant. She glared at me and said, “I’ve asked you to get out of the way 3 times now and you haven’t moved.” I apologized to her and mentioned that I didn’t hear her. As she barreled past me, I couldn’t resist giving her one parting comment. I put a smile on my face and said, “Merry Christmas!” She turned back and growled, “Yeah, Merry Christmas to you, too.”
A couple days ago I was in a parking lot and another woman shook her fist at me because I was driving too slow. I wanted to wish her a Happy New Year but thought better of it. So much for good will to all men!
Well, here we are in that time of the year between Christmas and New Year. We’re moving away from the manger and into the countdown to the year 2000 – and to the Wisconsin Badgers winning the Rose Bowl!
We’re all pretty much on overload right now as it relates to the holidays. We don’t know if we can take any more carols or Christmas cookies.
Before we let the last Christmas of the millennium just become a memory, I want us to focus on three signs as they relate to Jesus. They will help us better understand who He is and what He came to do.
The Cradle
The first sign is the cradle. Almost every American is aware of this one. Christmas is the birthday celebration of Jesus. Christmas is God’s present to us – it’s when He came to earth as Immanuel in order to communicate with us.
This reminds me of the story told about a farmer who decided to stay home from church on Christmas Eve while his wife and kids went to church. To him, the Christmas story was just a myth. As they left, he pulled out his newspaper, turned the TV on and settled in for a relaxing evening. As he glanced out the window, he noticed that it was beginning to snow so he threw another log on the fire. As he went back to his chair, he looked outside again and noticed a flock of birds flying around in the cold, windy, snowy night. As he looked more closely, he saw a couple birds fall and die because of the cold weather.
He grabbed his jacket and decided to run outside to see what he could do to help the birds. He opened up his barn and turned the heat on, hoping the birds would see the light and fly in. When that didn’t work, he grabbed a blanket and tried to chase them in. This only frightened them.
Suddenly, he realized that the only way to get them to come into his barn would be to somehow communicate with them. He wasn’t having any luck. He realized that the only way they would go into the barn is if another bird went first and showed them how to do it. It was then and there that the impact of this thought rocked him. This is what his wife had been trying to tell him for years. In order to bring a message to us, God needed to become one of us. The man jumped in his truck and drove off to church to be with his family. Finally, the impact of the Christmas cradle made sense to him.
There it is. That’s the Christmas story. As John 1:14 puts it: “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.”
This first sign was given to the shepherds by the angels in Luke 2:12: “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Notice that they were given one sign – that the newly born babe would be swaddled and lying in a manger. There may have been other newborns wrapped up tightly in Bethlehem that night – but only one was lying in a feeding trough. That was their sign.
And so, the shepherds are called to the cradle. For many years I thought of them as a bunch of sleepy guys hanging out in the hills of Bethlehem taking care of some run-down sheep.
Just recently, I’ve discovered that these men were probably not ordinary shepherds. It’s quite possible that they were levitical priests who were in charge of the sheep that were being prepared for sacrifice in the temple. These sheep would have been without spot or blemish and would be very valuable. Those in charge of these sheep had a big responsibility to make sure that nothing bad happened to them – they needed to be ready to be sacrificed in Jerusalem’s temple only 5 miles away.
Now, think with me about what takes place. The shepherds hurry off to see what has happened, more than likely leaving the sheep behind. When they find the one the angels were singing about, verse 17 says that they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. Verse 18 tells us that all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
I’ve often wondered what the shepherds told people. Was it just that the angels had appeared to them? Or did it go a little deeper than that? I think it did. Stay with me on this.
· The shepherds were in charge of sheep that were going to be sacrificed.
· They are sent to see the final sacrifice – the Lamb of God.
I wonder if they were able to put this together while they were running to the cradle? As religious men, they would have known that the sacrificial system was set up as a foretaste of God’s final sacrifice. Now that God’s Lamb had appeared, the need for daily bloody sacrifices in the Temple would soon be over. As they move away from the manger, they get a glimpse of what comes next.
But it all started in the cradle. This was God’s sign to the shepherds – and to us. This is like the Introduction to a book. It’s meant to be read first, but it alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Like a book, some people don’t even read the introduction -- if you don’t read it, you can’t really understand the rest. Likewise, you need to understand the Cradle before you can fully appreciate the next sign.
Transition to Offering. The Cradle reminds us of God’s gift. As we continue in worship now, we respond to that gift with our own gifts – our tithes and offerings. As the men prepare to take our morning offering, let’s pray.
Offertory.
Worship Songs: The Cross
The Cross
We come now to sign #2: The Cross. This is the main body of the story. The baby in the manger grew up to become a man -- the God-Man. He was born to die. The baby Jesus asleep on the hay became the bloody sacrifice on the Cross.
Several weeks ago someone from church made us a manger scene and put it out in our front yard. Let me show you what it looks like.
Included with this gift was a spotlight so that Joseph and Mary and the cradle can be seen at night. After I plugged in the light, I went inside. A couple hours later I had to run an errand and when I came back home I drove slowly in front of our house to see what this scene looked like from the road. I hit the brakes and tears filled up in my eyes.
Let me show you what I saw. Do you see it? The little lamb in front is casting a shadow on the cradle. Wow. That’s it. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb, giving his life for us when He died on the Cross. The cradle points to the cross. The mission of the cross is hidden in the message of the cradle. Or, as someone has said, “Christ’s birth brought God to man; Christ’s death brings man to God.”
The Bible records the final words that Jesus uttered from the cross. Just before He dies, He cries out in John 19:30, “It is finished!”
What is finished? What does this mean? The term Jesus used was a common phrase from the world of finance and banking. When someone would borrow some money and then pay it back, the banker would use this term to declare that the debt had been paid off. Literally, it means, “Paid in Full.” The payment had been made.
When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for us. Jesus took our moral liabilities and stamped “Paid in Full” across the ledger sheet of our life. Our sin debt has been forgiven. Because of our moral failures and patterns of sin, every one of us deserves to be sentenced for our cosmic crimes against a holy God. Someone needs to pay the price for our sin. The Bible makes it clear that either we pay it -- or someone else needs to.
The story is told of a Tibetan ruler who once declared that anyone caught stealing would have his hand chopped off with an ax. As violators were discovered, they were brought to the king, where one of his guards would chop off their hand. One day the guards brought an old woman before him. He turned to her and said, “You have been found guilty as charged, and the penalty is the loss of your hand. I cannot change the verdict even though you are my mother -- but I’m willing to pay the price for you.”
The king then laid his hand on the chopping block and had it severed from his arm. His only choice was to substitute himself for the one he loved. The woman was guilty and the penalty had to be paid. Had he let her go without payment he no longer would have been a just king.
Friends, that’s precisely what happened on the cross. You see, each one of us have violated God’s standards. Because He is a just God, a penalty has to be paid. God sent His son Jesus to be that payment for each one of us. Jesus died on the cross as our substitute. He paid the price with His life and God the Father accepted His death as full payment for all of our sins.
We have been acquitted -- our debt has been paid in full. The Bible says that Jesus shouted loudly right before He died. It was like a victory shout. The sacrifice had been made. His final cry from the cross was not a cry of despair but a cry of completion, of fulfillment -- this is why He had come to earth. It’s now over. If His hands were not nailed to the cross, He would have thrust a triumphant fist into the air. He then took His last breath.
Jesus came to redeem us. Like the Sign of the Cradle, the Sign of the Cross is simple, yet extremely profound. I’m glad it’s simple, so people like me can understand it.
This is the story that contains thousands upon thousands of chapters. Each chapter is written when someone comes to saving faith in Christ. The ink is still wet in some of your chapters – in fact, some of you may still be in process of coming to faith in Christ. In a very real sense, we are all in process as we strive to be more like Christ and live under His direction and Kingship.
Transition to Worship Songs. We’re going to transition now to the third sign by singing about Jesus as our King.
The Crown
We come now to the third sign: The Crown. If the Cradle is the Introduction; and the Cross is the body of the book; then the Crown is the conclusion, or the climax to the story.
Have you ever wondered why the Christian calendar does not have a time of the year to celebrate the Second Coming of Christ? We celebrate Christ’s first coming at Christmas; His Death and Resurrection at Easter; but we have no set time of the year to focus on the fact that He is coming again. I’m not going to go into much detail on this one – though I will in another sermon sometime.
If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to the conclusion of God’s Word, the Book of Revelation, chapter 19. By the way, I hope you can come back to PBC on New Year’s Eve as we conclude our Bible Reading Marathon. During the last 15 minutes, at 11:45, we’ll read the final chapters of Revelation in unison. I get chills when I think about it.
In Chapter 19, we come to the first appearance of the word, “Hallelujah” in the book of Revelation. Even more amazing, this is the first appearance of “Hallelujah” in the entire New Testament. The Book of Psalms is filled with this phrase but its remarkable that no one in the New Testament sings this word of praise until right before Christ returns.
Listen to this thundering crescendo in 19:1: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…”
In verses 11-16 we come to the great climax of all history. This is the once far-off divine event toward which all human events since the beginning of time have moved – the unveiling of Jesus in power and great glory. It is the most prophesied event in the entire Bible. Three different times in Revelation, at the end of each of the series of judgments – the opening of the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, and the 7 bowls of wrath – we are brought to the very edge of this climactic event. Now we come to the event itself.
This is what Paul calls the “the splendor of His coming” in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, or literally in the Greek, “the outshining of his presence.” After Jesus comes for His church like a thief in the night, the end of the 7-year tribulation is now at hand.
Let’s read verses 11-12: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns…”
The King of Christmas will judge in perfect justice. Jesus will make all the wrongs right. He is the faithful and true witness who will judge all nations, and all people. No one will be able to stand before Him with any excuse. Jesus, who knows all, will judge everyone. There will be nothing we can hide from Him.
Eyes like blazing fire speaks of full discernment and penetrating knowledge. Many crowns refers to the full authority of Jesus. Jesus is both omniscient – all knowing; and omnipotent – all-powerful. He knows everything and can accomplish everything because there is no one who is more powerful than He is.
Verses 15-16 paint a picture that we seldom have of Jesus. He is more than just the sweet baby sleeping on the hay: “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Are you ready to meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords today? The Babe in Bethlehem became the Christ of the Cross-who is both King and Judge. Are you ready?
‘Twas The Night Before Jesus Came
Twas the night before Jesus Came, and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
The Bible was laid on the shelf without care,
In hope that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with Baby on her lap
Was watching the late show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment this must be the Day!
The light of his face made me cover my head.
It was Jesus! Returning just like He’d said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name.
When He said, “It’s not here,” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His father above.
With those who were ready, He rose without a sound
While all the rest were standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late.
I had waited too long, and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight,
“If only I had been ready tonight!”
Are you ready today? Do you know Christ? Have you received Him into your life? If you have, are you living for Him or for yourself?
1 John 2:28 says this: “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
Some years ago C. K. Lee, a Christian leader from China, visited the United States. One Sunday he spoke in a church in California. At the conclusion of the message, a young college student asked this question, “Why should we export Christianity to China when you have Confucianism in your country?” He didn’t need to think long before he gave three different answers.
“First of all, Confucius was a teacher and Christ is a Savior. China needs a Savior more than she needs a teacher.
In the second place, Confucius is dead and Christ is alive. China needs a living Savior.
In the third place, Confucius is some day going to stand before Christ to be judged by Him. China needs to know Christ as Savior before she meets Him as Judge.” (Story taken from “Triumphs of Faith,” recorded in “The Most Amazing Man in History.”)
His answer really had to do with the Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown.
Friend, do you know Christ as your Savior? Don’t leave Him in the cradle, only to think about him on Christmas. Some day, you’re going to meet the Conquering Christ of Christmas as your Judge – and the only way you’ll be able to face Him is if you have appropriated His work on the Cross.
Conclusion
When Jesus came as a baby, He was placed in a cradle and had to be carried...
When Jesus died as our sin substitute, the Lamb of God carried our sins to the cross…
When Jesus returns as the Conquering Christ, He will be wearing a Crown and will carry you with Him – if your name is in the Book of Life.
Prayer: Set-up “Crown in Cradle” song.
Crown in the Cradle Song: Dave Spangler
Wrap-up
· Put Crown in Cradle, move Cradle under Cross.
Yesterday, when we were at my wife’s parents for Christmas, my mother-in-law read these words:
A Cross within the wooden manger,
A thorn within each piece of straw
A traitor in each kneeling stranger
A tomb within the cattle stall
Swaddling clothes, a linen shroud
And as the star was brightly shining – the shadow of a cross fell on the earth.
· Hold up Clock to show the importance of “commitment”.
My daughters received a “countdown clock” from Radio Shack – our lives are on a countdown as well.
I was in a car accident several years ago, early in the morning – there was a clock in my back seat that stopped working at the exact time of the accident – our lives are going to end one day.
· Present the Gospel and give an invitation.
Christmas present – have to open it before it’s yours…
