All I Want/Need For Christmas Is…?
In our final week of Advent we have finally come to the first coming of JESUS in the birth of JESUS. Today, we are not going to look at the traditional story of JESUS coming as a babe in a manger because there was no room at the inn for HIM. I believe Christmas is so much more than just a babe and we get gifts from family and friends. Christmas is a time that we must reflect of JESUS and JESUS alone. Last week I asked you if you were prepared for Christmas and today I have titled this sermon all I want for Christmas is…? I mentioned last week that being prepared for Christmas was not having you gifts bought, wrapped and under the tree or even being ready to receive your friends and family but rather being prepared for Christmas is having a pure and repentant heart.
I understand that there are many needs people have: places to stay, to be delivered from drugs, alcohol, abuse, and money problems. People have martial problems that are taking them to their graves. We are depressed, deserted and dying. We have health problems that are not getting any better. There are so many things in this world that is bringing us down and we ask for jewelry, money, new clothes or time with our families. We are more concerned with our lives here on earth that we have lost the perspective on life.
In the world today we cannot display the nativity scene, say merry Christmas or mention the reason for the season. In a world that has forgotten JESUS we look more to the world to give us what we want than to JESUS to give us what we need. Look with me today and the book of John chapter one verses one thru eighteen and see if what you want/need for Christmas is in these verses.
We could read the beginning of Matthew’s gospel or Luke’s gospel to find the origin of Christmas but I do not think that they give us what we need for Christmas. In verses one thru four five we see that want I want/need for Christmas is life and light.
The Gift of Life and Light (1-5)
In verse one we see the term word, which is really the Greek term for logos, which is another name for JESUS. The English term word is defined as an action and is not a good definition for logos. It would be better defined as the word of the LORD. John, here takes us back to Genesis one verse one with the creation story. When GOD created the world HE spoke it into existence. This is how we can better understand this term word. Also if you will turn with me to the book of Psalms 107:20 and Isaiah 7:3 we see the word of the LORD. The first part of verse one would be better understood as in the beginning was the spoken, action, word of GOD, and, the spoken word was with GOD, being a separate entity, but also the spoken, action, and the word was GOD. This is John’s way of explaining the deity of JESUS.
If we go down a couple of verses we see that nothing was created without the word, JESUS. You and I or anyone else would not be here today if it were not for JESUS. JESUS created everything and everyone. If it were not for JESUS we would not have houses, clothes, mothers, fathers, loved ones or any other material possessions you have. HE created things, positively and HE is absolutely the creator of everything. The world will tell you that there are no absolutes and that we just came into existence. Let me ask you a question: if your house was built without a purpose would you live in it? Lets see there are doors that do not lead you to any room that has a purpose, windows that do not allow you to see the outside, a roof that does not protect you from the elements. There are studs in the walls that do not have nails that hold the sheetrock, and the electrical outlets do not have power they are only there for the looks. There is a building on the campus of Ohio State University that was built without a purpose, the builder had no plans for it, and he just started building it. There were steel beams that were not attached to anything, stairwells that did not lead to a room or place. Does your life seem to be like this building or the house I just described?
In the next verse, verse four, we see the creator of life, JESUS. JESUS is life and HE created it for a purpose. Life was created to be enjoyed and fulfilling. Life was created to be one that was not depressed or captive to sin. Life was created not to have a ending to it. Life is to be lived for eternity. Unlike the world what the world says we are created with a purpose. You are here not because you woke up this morning and stumbled here by accident. You are not like the dog that goes around doing what ever you feel or desire. There are no accidents in GOD’S book. There is no uh oh’s in GOD’S vocabulary. JESUS was made flesh to give you and I life. JESUS became flesh to show us how to live life the way it should be lived. HE lived to show us that we no longer needed to be held captive to sin, death and hell. If JESUS did not come to earth in flesh in blood we would not be living we just would be breathing and some of us here today are doing just that, breathing. Some of you here are just surviving and not living. I am here to tell you that if you are waiting on your next life to live you may not want to live there either. This is your only chance to live life. You may want to know how to get this gift of life, let us look at the next verse.
When the word, GOD’S word became a flesh and blood human HE not only brought life but also HE gave light. Today you may realize you living in darkness, not knowing what you are doing or where you are going. You may not know how to live. You may realize you do not enjoy this thing we call life. Maybe it is because you do not have it. JESUS came to bring life by becoming life and when HE did so HE became light in a dark world. If we turn off the lights and cover the windows this room will become darkened but then we may light a candle and the candle will bring light to your eyes. You then will be able to see in front of you. You will no longer trip and fall or fumble around. In the book of Genesis we see what the writer here is trying to say, darkness was on the face of the deep until GOD called light into being. When JESUS became flesh HE also became the light so that you and I may see where we are going. HE gives us light so that we may know that where we are and where we are headed. He became light so that we may see what we are up against. HE became light so that we may know the way to defeat our enemies. We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against powers that we cannot see and principalities that we cannot compare with. We cannot over come our sinfulness by ourselves; this is why JESUS became flesh. This is why we have Christmas.
What do you want/need for Christmas? Do you have life? Are you living life to the fullest? Do you see where you are headed and are your looking forward to where it is leading you? What do you need for Christmas? Do you need life? Do you need light in your darkened world?
The Gift of God (14-18)
Yes JESUS was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn. Yes we celebrate the birth of a baby on Christmas. Yes this baby was the Messiah. Yes this baby is the king of the Jews.
What good is a baby if the baby does not grow up? Why is this baby any more special than another? This baby was the very being of GOD. This baby was the manifestation of GOD HIMSELF. Moses asked to see GOD face to face but GOD replied that if anyone sees MY face he would surely die. Why is this child the gift of GOD? All throughout the Old Testament we see that GOD was among HIS people: in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, in a tabernacle and by way of a sanctuary. But the time as come to see the FATHER, the time as come to know the FATHER and the time has come to experience the FATHER. The time has come to see HIS image and to experience HIS character. Now is the time to know how to have life and to have it more abundantly. Now is the time to know how wonderful life can be. Now is the time to be counseled by the one who knows all. Now is the time to receive what no one deserves. This is the gift that teaches us how to…The gift of GOD teaches us how to overcome death. This gift of GOD gives us what we do not deserve. The gift of GOD gives us life like we never known. The gift of GOD gives us love that we have not know or seen. The gift of GOD shows us the truth about life and death. The gift of GOD teaches us truth. The gift of GOD gives us purpose to live. The gift of GOD gives us reason to live. The gift of GOD has given us GOD. This gift gives us live in a dying world, love in a hateful world, grace when the world gives us what we deserve and it gives us peace in a depressing world.
This gift of GOD gives us what we cannot see is a materialistic world. Today I ask you again what do you want/need for Christmas? Do you need a new tie, socks, rings, car or money? Do you need love from a family member? Do you need sympathy from your loved ones? Do you want something that will come and go? Do you want something that you will never use? Do you want something that will one day have no use? Do you think you need something of material use? May I tell you what you need and what you want for Christmas? You want and need JESUS. You need the love only HE gives. You need the truth only known by HIM. You do not only need these things you want them. You have searched high and low for them and have come back empty handed. You have married to find them, worked to earn them and some have even sold their souls to gain them. Come now and receive this gift that you are longing for. Do not let your pride get in the way. I can see the expressions on your faces and they tell a story of hurt and longing. Do not let your pride get in the way. Do not let what others think allow you to miss out on the gift you need. Do not let the world dictate your receiving. Do not let your spouse dictate whether or not you getting this gift of GOD.
You know you need this gift of GOD and you know this gift is what you want for Christmas, so come and get it.
