"THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!"
LUKE 2:1-20
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is an exciting time and little Sammy was excited. He was 15 years old and Christmas was still to him a time of wonder. He was a happy child despite his handicap. You see, Sammy was slightly retarded. He still went to school, though he was 2 years behind. And he did the things that most boys do; he played ball, road his bike, fished, climbed trees and other fun stuff.
And for the most part the kids were not too mean -- sometimes they laughed and called him "stupid Sammy" -- but Sammy just didn’t seem to hear them -- he just enjoyed life every part of it; to him life was full of wonder and amazement.
And Christmas was the most wonderful time of all.
It was Christmas Eve, and both the sky and the ground were white with snow. And it was 8 O’Clock, time to go to church for the annual Christmas Eve Celebration. Sammy could hardly wait. He was so excited wondering what present would be under the tree for him this year. Last year he got a telescope.
Every year on Christmas Eve after the service all the children would gather around the huge Christmas tree and each one was handed a present, with their name on it. And even though Sammy was a little old for this they still let him take part.
Sammy’s parents left early that night, because his mother was singing a solo, "Silent Night" and she wanted to practice.
They were the first to arrive at church. And when his dad opened the door; well you can guess where Sammy went; that’s right.. at the speed of light he went right to the Christmas tree and started to look for the present with his name of it.
After a few minutes, he began to worry because he couldn’t find it. Then his eyes caught hold of a big box -- the biggest present that was there. He slowly walked over to it -- lifted the card and there in great big letters was his name "Sammy." He couldn’t believe it, the biggest present was his, and his mind began thinking at the sped of light of all the many possibilities of what was inside; maybe it was a bike; a TV a horse, a tent; ... What was in it -- Sammy could barely stand it -- but he knew he had to wait.
Sammy really did enjoy the service, really, but he kind of thought that 3 days was just a little too long -- well, at least that is how long it seemed to him.
Finally it was over and all the children rushed to the huge tree.
Preacher Joe stared picking up presents and calling out names; Sarah, Bobby, Susan, Sammy was on the edge of his seat -- he was about to burst with anticipation.
The Preacher Joe walked over to the big box and said, "Well, let’s see whose name is on this one," but before he could read the name Sammy bolted beside him and said "It’s mine Preach Joe" "so it is," Joe replied.
Sammy took the box and gently took off the bow, His heart was racing like a jack hammer. His mom and dad stood beside him smiling -- enjoying their sons excitement.
Sammy removed all the paper and laid it beside the box -- And then he began to remove the lid -- In his mind all of the things he hoped to see flashed before his eyes in a second. Finally Sammy got the box open and he looked inside and he saw........
Nothing ---- He saw nothing -- someone had played a trick on stupid Sammy. When Sammy lifted his head, huge tears were streaming down his face.
Who would do something so cruel -- who would play such a mean trick on Sammy... The box was empty.
Everyday, all around the world, this same trick is being played. Though the names and exact situation are a little different -- the results are still the same.
Our world promises people great things; happiness, wealth, pleasure, relationships, fame, success, power. And it wraps them up in a great big box, with pretty paper and a beautiful bow.
And it hands us this box -- as a gift, we get excited; and we take off the bow -- we unwrap the box and we open it with great expectations.... And when we look inside, just like Sammy all we find is an empty box. No hope, no life, no joy, no happiness -- just huge tears of heart break streaming down our face. THAT’S THE KIND OF GIFTS THIS WORLD GIVES US... HAVE YOU EVER OPENED ONE OF HER BOXES? I THINK YOU HAVE AND IT’S NOT FUN IS IT?
LIFE AT TIMES CAN BE VERY BAD, UNCOMFORTABLE -- IT CAN BE FLAT OUT SCARY -- WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW HOLDS... PEOPLE HAVE MANY THING THAT CAUSE THEM FEAR...FEAR OF DEATH, SICKNESS, FAILURE, DEFEAT, REJECTION, OF BEING ALONE, OF CRIME, OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS...ETC, ETC.
2,000 YEARS AGO IN A JUDEAN FIELD AN ANGEL FROM GOD SAID TO
SEVERAL TERRIFIED SHEPHERDS... "DO NOT BE AFRAID. I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL PEOPLE. TODAY IN THE TOWN OF DAVID A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU; HE IS CHRIST THE LORD."
THE BIRTH OF JESUS IS GOOD NEWS -- IT IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT THERE IS A MUCH GREATER GIFT GIVER THAN THIS WORLD --
"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HE ONE AND ONLY SON..."
"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE
HIS ONE AND ONLY SON"
BECAUSE GOD LOVES US SO MUCH...
BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME SO MUCH...
BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH...
HE GAVE US THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL.....
HE GAVE HIMSELF...
HE GAVE JESUS....
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS GIVEN US THE ULTIMATE PRESENT --
THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL
AND THIS GIFT FROM GOD IS PRECIOUS, AND BECAUSE OF THIS GIFT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE AFRAID -- THE MESSAGE THE ANGELS BROUGHT TO THE SHEPHERDS WAS NOT JUST FOR THEM, BUT IT WAS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. FOR YOU AND FOR ME... AND LIKE A DIAMOND -- THIS GIFT, IS A MULTI FACETED GIFT... YOU SEE, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO OUR GIFT THEN WHAT HAPPENED THAT GLORIOUS NIGHT NEARLY 2,000 YEARS AGO. AND TODAY I WANT US TO TALK ABOUT, THREE SPARKLING FACETS OF THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL.
I. THE FIRST FACET IS THE CRADLE AND IN THE CRADLE WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS LIFE
LUKE 2:1-20
What familiar words these are. And though each year we read these same words; they never lose their beauty or their power.
Just think about it... God the son, willingly, because he loved us, stepped down from his heavenly throne and put on human flesh.
He didn’t come with a trumpet blast and great fanfare.
But rather he came as a small baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager - a feeding trough for animals..
Though He was and is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS -- there were no Royal attendants meeting his needs. Only the loving hands of his mother and the strong, calloused hands of Joseph. They were just common people.
And in that manger -- lay the Savior of the world; Jesus the Christ.
But he did not stay a baby long -- He grew, He took His first steps, said His first Words -- He ran -- He skipped His first stone -- He helped His dad in the carpenters shop -- He laughed -- he cried -- He fell down -- He got up -- He loved -- And He cared...
He grew to be a man -- And the world for 2,000 years has never been the same.
In the cradle we encounter the presence of God’s love -- AND we are given the gift of the life of Jesus, and what a precious gift His life is...
. NEVER DID ANYONE SPEAK SUCH WORDS ("BEAUTIFUL WORDS, WONDERFUL WORDS, WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE...")
. AND NEVER HAD ANYONE PERFORMED SUCH WONDERS
. JESUS LIFE IS AN EXAMPLE TO EACH OF US:
HE SHOWS US HOW:
TO LIVE -- TO HAVE REAL JOY -- TO WORSHIP -- TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD -- TO LOVE THE UNLOVELY -- TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE HELPLESS -- TO GIVE JOY TO THE HOPELESS -- TO STAND UP TO GOD’S ENEMIES -- TO LOVE THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US -- TO STAND UP AGAINST SIN, AND WIN
. HIS WORDS ENCOURAGE, CONVICT, CHALLENGE AND COMFORT US... THEY GET RIGHT TO THE HEART -- THEY TOUCH US WHERE WE LIVE -- THEY GIVE US PEACE..
OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN IMMEASURABLY BLESSED BY THE LIFE JESUS LIVED WHEN HE WALKED THIS EARTH...
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW GOD MUST OF FELT AS HE LOOKED AT BABY JESUS IN THE MANGER?
Many out there have experienced or will experience in the future -- sending their little boy or girl to school by themselves for the first time.. Having to take that child who you love up to the front door of that building, and leaving them there is hard to do.
You love them, you want to be with them. But they are growing up and you know things will never be the same after this day. They will learn new things, meet new people, have new role models. And though are schools have bad points for the most part we know that we are sending them somewhere that’s good for them --
they will be learning and expanding their mind -- and the world will be opening up to them in a new way. But even though we know it is best for them -- it is still hard for us to turn and walk away -- and let that little hand go...
Imagine how God felt -- when he looked down into that manger. He loved Jesus. He had always been with Jesus. But because he loves us, he had to let Jesus go -- He had to,let Jesus be on His own.
And God knew the world that he was sending His son into, was not going to be kind at all, to the one that he loved...
Now, I don’t know for sure, but probably as God looked down at that precious baby in the manger-- He shed a tear, perhaps many..
IN THE CRADLE WE ARE GIVEN THE GIFT OF JESUS LIFE.
II. THE NEXT FACET OF THIS GIFT IS THE CROSS AND IN THE CROSS, WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS’ DEATH.
God’s love for us wasn’t cheap, it wasn’t easy, it had a tremendous cost.
A. THE DEATH OF JESUS
It was early friday morning. he had been up all night. He was tired/weak. the last 12 hours had been hours of intense suffering.
They hit him in the face with their fists...
They spit on him
They made fun of Him
They pushed Him around/threw Him to then ground
They ripped off His clothes and tied him to scouring post...
Whipped His back raw
Put a purple robe on His back...and ripped it off when the blood had dried to it..
And now they are leading Him through the streets of Jerusalem... Up and down nearly every street -- the streets are lined with thousands of people -- most are screaming at Him -- mocking him -- But some are rather quiet they know Jesus -- He had healed their leprosy, cured their blindness, made their lame legs walk again -- and as Jesus passes by, they looked away -- fearing the pain that looking into his eyes would bring... He was weak, the cross was heavy, and the streets were steep and rocky -- the blood was pouring off his body into the sand... Eventually someone had to carry the cross for him.... And when they arrived on the hill just out side the city gate -- the nailed him to the cross..
JOHN 19:18-30
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?
HE WAS INNOCENT -- HE DID NOTHING WRONG -- HE NEVER HURT ANYONE -- HE HEALED AND HELPED MANY.
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE....?
I’VE SEEN A PAINTING OF JESUS AS A BABY BEING HELD BY A PAIR OF STRONG HANDS... AND IN THE BACKGROUND IS A CROSS... AND THE CAPTION READS BORN 2 DIE
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE, BECAUSE HE WAS BORN TO DIE...
JOHN 3:16,17
JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE THE WORLD.....
AND ONLY THROUGH HIS DEATH -- A SINLESS MAN
A LAMB W/O BLEMISH, COULD the sin of mankind BE REMOVED...
AND AS JESUS’ BLOOD FLOWED -- HE WASHED AWAY OUR SINS..
IN THE CROSS WE SEE THE PRICE OF GOD’S LOVE AND WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS DEATH.. THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS...
GOD’S LOVE HAS PROVIDED A WAY FOR EVERY ONE TO BE FORGIVEN... TO HAVE A DEBT PAID THAT THEY COULD NEVER PAY THEMSELVES... ROMANS 6:23 READS; "FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH -- BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IS CHRIST JESUS.."
AND IN HIS WORD GOD TELLS US HOW EACH OF US CAN HAVE OUR SINS WASHED AWAY... WHICH IS WHY JESUS CAME TO THAT MANGER AND LATER HUNG ON THAT CROSS.. AND IF WE:
. BELIEVE IN CHRIST AND WHO HE IS
. REPENT OF OUR SIN -- "AFTER UNDERSTANDING" A CHANGE OF WILL...
. CONFESS AND DECLARE HIM AS LORD
. BE IMMERSED INTO HIS NAME PUTTING ON CHRIST AND HAVING OUR SINS WASHED AWAY...
IN THE CROSS WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS DEATH -- WHICH GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE...
III. AND THE FINAL FACET WE SEE SPARKLING THROUGH THE EYES OF TIME, IS THE CROWN, AND IN THE CROWN WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION..
JESUS WAS BORN IN A CRADLE -- BUT HE DID NOT REMAIN A BABY
AND JESUS DIED ON A CROSS FOR OUR SINS AND WAS BURIED -- BUT HE DID NOT REMAIN IN THE GROUND.
MATTHEW 28:1-10
BUT JESUS DID NOT STAY IN THE GROUND
HE AROSE! HE AROSE!! HALLELUJAH CHRIST AROSE!!
AND PAUL IN TALKING ABOUT HOW IN BAPTISM WE CONTACT THE DEATH OF CHRIST WRITES IN ROMANS 6:5,
"IF WE HAVE BEEN UNITED WITH HIM IN HIS DEATH, WE WILL CERTAINLY ALSO BE UNITED WITH HIM IN HIS RESURRECTION..."
WHEN WE ARE IMMERSED INTO CHRIST WE ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST NOT ONLY IN HIS DEATH BUT AND WE ARE UNITED WITH HIS LIFE -- AND WE WILL THEREFORE NOT DIE -- BUT RATHER LIVE FOREVER IN HEAVEN...
When John was about 4 years old HE got a candy stuck in his throat at school, he began to choke and struggle for breath, and his teacher popped it out, warning him about being careful with candy because you could die if it got caught. And John said to her, "BUT IF I DIED I WOULDN’T STAY DEAD -- DOGS AND CATS STAY DEAD, BUT I WOULDN’T, BECAUSE JESUS WOULD MAKE ME ALIVE AGAIN..."
YES, JESUS WILL MAKE HIS PEOPLE ALIVE GAIN..
JESUS’ HALF BROTHER JAMES IN HIS BOOK, SAYS
"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO PERSEVERES UNDER TRAIL, BECAUSE WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST, HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM..."
PETER THAT GREAT FISHERMAN WRITES IN I PETER 5:4;
"AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT WILL NEVER FADE AWAY.."
PAUL SAYS IN I CORINTH 9:24FF;
"DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT IN A RACE ALL THE RUNNERS RUN, BUT ONLY ONE GETS THE PRIZE? (THAT’S HOW IT IS IN THIS WORLD) RUN IN SUCH A WAY AS TO GET THE PRIZE. EVERYONE WHO COMPETES IN THE GAMES GOES INTO STRICT TRAINING.. THEY DO IT TO GET A CROWN THAT WILL NOT LAST, BUT WE DO IT TO GET A CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER...."
JESUS SAID IN REV 2:10;
DO NOT BE AFRAID OF WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUFFER. I TELL YOU, THE DEVIL WILL PUT SOME OF YOU IN PRISON TO TEST YOU, AND YOU WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION FOR 10 DAYS... BE FAITHFUL EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH AND WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE..."
YES THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT TIMES IN THIS LIFE -- WE WILL SUFFER -- JESUS SAID FOR TENS DAYS ( A SHORT BUT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME).
BUT BECAUSE OF THE GIFT OF JESUS RESURRECTION, WE WILL NOT DIE -- WE WILL, RISE ONE DAY TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR -- WE WILL SHED THIS MORTAL BODY AND LEAVE BEHIND THIS SINFUL/PAINFUL WORLD -- AND WE WILL BE CHANGED IN AN INSTANCE -- IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE AT THE FINAL TRUMPET CALL OF GOD.. NO MORE SORROW/PAIN/HEARTACHE, NO ONE WILL HURT, NO ONE WILL EVER BE ALONE, NO MORE FEAR/WORRY/DISAPPOINTMENT , ALL WILL EQUAL AND ALL WILL BE FREE -AND WE WILL FINALLY LIVE, IN THAT PERFECT WORLD WE HAVE ALWAYS LONGED FOR. AND JESUS WILL COME AND WE WILL FALL AT HIS FEET AND WE WILL BE HOME...
YES WE WILL SUFFER FOR 10 DAYS, BUT BECAUSE OF GOD’S GREATEST GIFT..WHEN WE HAVE BEEN THERE 10,000 YEARS, BRIGHT SHINING AS THE SON WE’VE NO LESS DAYS TO SING GOD’S PRAISE THAN WHEN WE FIST BEGUN..."
IN THE CROWN WE ARE GIVEN THE GIFT OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION AND THE PROMISE OF OUR OWN RESURRECTION...ETERNAL LIFE!
THE WORLD HANDS US A LOT OF BOXES.
AND THEY LOOK NICE, ALL WRAPPED UP WITH PRETTY BOWS/PAPAER.
THEY PROMISE US A LOT.
AND WE TAKE THEM, MANY TIMES WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION, HOPING THAT WE HAVE FINALLY FOUND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
BUT WHEN WE OPEN THEM, THEY ARE EMPTY, WORTHLESS, USELESS, AND HOPELESS...
GOD HAS GIVEN US A GIFT THE GREWTEST GIFT OF ALL -- JESUS HIS ONE AND ONLY SON...
AND AS WE REFLECT ON THE MANY FACETS OF THIS PRECIOUS GIFT
WE SEE:
THE CRADLE AND WE ARE REMINDED OF THE GIFT OF JESUS’ LIFE;
AND WE ARE SHONE HOW TO LIVE WE ARE SHOWN HOW TO WALK -- AND LIVE A LIFE THAT IS TRULY LIFE..
THE CROSS AND WE ARE REMINDED OF THE GIFT OF JESUS DEATH
AND WE ARE SHONE HOW WE CAN RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FROM ALL OF OUR SIN...
THE CROWN AND WE ARE REMINDED OF THE GIFT OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION
AND WE ARE COMFORTED BY THE TRUTH THAT WE TOO WILL RISE AND BE WITH HIM FOREVER IN A PERFECT WORLD..
AS A PARENT I FIND IT EXCITING TO GIVE PRESENTS TO MY KIDS. IT IS JUST SO MUCH FUN TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THEY WILL LOVE AND ENJOY... AND IT IS REAL HARD SOME TIMES, FOR ME TO WAIT TO GIVE THEM THEIR PRESENTS..
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL, IF ON CHRISTMAS DAY YOU WOKE UP YOUR KIDS AND THEY DIDN’T WANT THEIR PRESENTS, I MEAN THEY WON’T EVEN OPEN THEM... "NO DAD I DON’T FEEL LIKE GETTING ANY PRESENTS TODAY.."
YOU KNOW THEY WILL LOVE THEM -- AND ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE FOR THEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO EVEN OPEN THE BOX? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
AND HOW WOULD YOU FEEL; IF THEY OPENED IT UP, SAID THANKS, BUT IMMEDIATELY PUT YOU GIFT TO THEM IN THE BACK OF THEIR CLOSET... AND THEIR IT STAYED, COLLECTING DUST NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN..
MAYBE YOU ARE HERE TODAY, AND YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS PUT THE GIFT OF GOD’S SON, IN THE CLOSET... YOU OPENED THE BOX MANY YEARS AGO.. BUT REALLY HAVEN’T HAD MUCH TO DO WITH IT SINCE. CHRISTIANS DO NOT FORGET ABOUT THE GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU...DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED -- DO NOT PUSH THIS GIFT ASIDE (THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL) JUST TO SCRAMBLE AROUND TO OPEN UP OTHER BOXES, BOXES FROM THE WORLD THAT HAVE NO REAL ANSWERS...IF YOU HAVE PUSHED GOD’S GIFT ASIDE, CHANCES ARE YOUR LIFE IS NOT GOING TOO WELL -- WHY DON’T YOU ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY -- BEFORE YOU OPEN ANY OTHER GIFT -GO TO YOUR SPIRITUAL CLOSET -- FIND THE BOX GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AND RENEW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.. IT IS A GIFT GOD KNOWS YOU NEED AND WILL ENJOY AND HE HAS BE WAITING FOR QUIT AWHILE FOR YOU TO REALLY USE IT..
OR MAYBE YOU ARE HERE AND HAVE NEVER EVEN OPENED THE GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. (YOUR TO BUSY OPENING THE EMPTY BOXES THE WORLD IS HANDING YOU). GOD HAS GIVEN YOU HIS SON (THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL).. AND FOR MANY YEARS HE HAS WAITED FOR YOU TO OPEN THE BOX. TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. GOD YOU FATHER KNOWS THAT THIS GIFT, IS JUST WHAT YOU NEED... HE KNOWS THAT YOU WILL LOVE AND ENJOY THIS GIFT FOR YEARS TO COME... THAT IT WILL GIVE YOU LIFE THAT IS TRULY LIFE..
NON CHRISTIANS
WHEN SAMMY OPENED UP THE EMPTY BOX HE WAS HANDICAPPED, HE DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER, SOMEONE PLAYED A TRICK ON HIM.
TRUE OUR WORLD DOES PLAY TRICKS ON PEOPLE -- BUT IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY, YOU KNOW BETTER.
WHICH BOX WILL YOU OPEN THIS CHRISTMAS
AN EMPTY BOX THAT THE WORLD HANDS YOU
OR WILL YOU OPEN GOD’S GIFT -- THROUGH FAITH, REPENTANCE AND RECEIVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL...
JOY TO THE WORLD! THE LORD HAS COME LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM (HAVE YOU PREPARED HIM ROOM) AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING, AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING... AND HEAVEN AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING...
