“Christmas Surprise”
INTRODUCTION: Christmas is full of surprises! Gifts are tightly wrapped in multi-colored paper, so you don’t know what’s inside until you open them (UNLESS, you peeked!).
We get “surprise gifts” …
o Like that tie that you’ll never wear.
o Like the underwear you got as a child … when you wanted a pony! (ILL: - My Sister’s bike!)
o Like the Christmas card from that person you thought you’d lost track of.
The FIRST Christmas was full of surprises, as well. Since God doesn’t do things the same way we would (Thank God!), He often SURPRISES us.
The FIRST Christmas brought some SURPRISES to:
ELIZABETH – She never expected to have a baby in her old age. John the Baptist came as a complete SURPRISE. John’s message of REPENTANCE also came as a SURPRISE to the world. His mission was to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus, the Messiah.
The FIRST Christmas brought some SURPRISES to:
MARY – Mary had witnessed the SURPRISE of her cousin Elisabeth … THEN … she had a SURPRISE of her own! She was chosen to be the mother of God’s Son. Jesus was “The heavenly son of an earthly mother … the earthly Son of a Heavenly Father.”
The FIRST Christmas brought some SURPRISES to:
JOSEPH – Since Joseph knew he wasn’t the father of Mary’s child, her pregnancy came as a big surprise to him! It started out as a TRAGEDY. BUT … when Joseph understood God’s plan, he accepted his part in God’s planning of the first Christmas.
The FIRST Christmas brought some SURPRISES to:
JEWS – They weren’t expecting their Messiah to be born like this … to lowly parents … in a stable. They were looking for a KING. BUT … there was no crown … no palace … no royalty … no riches.
o An “illegitimate child” … their King?
o A carpenter’s son … their King?
o A self-taught preacher … their Messiah?
o A friend of sinners … their Messiah?
o Dying on a cross as a criminal … between 2 thieves … their King?
They had OTHER PLANS as how God should give them their King … to overthrow the Roman oppression.
The FIRST Christmas brought some SURPRISES to:
SHEPHERDS – They were just keeping their flocks by night. It was a night like any other night. THEN … an angel came, and they were “sore afraid” (a “wet your pants” afraid!). They didn’t expect to be the first witnesses to the newborn Son of God.
The FIRST Christmas brought some SURPRISES to:
BETHLEHEM – This sleepy little town was only 5 miles from the Capital City of Jerusalem. Surely the “King of the Jews” would be born in Jerusalem! Bethlehem was about to go down in history! They never thought that for centuries to come, people would sing “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”.
Christmas is full of surprises! Jesus would surprise YOU … if He came TODAY, instead of 2000 years ago.
o Jesus had a COMMON NAME … “Jesus” … like Henry, Fred, or BOB, today.
o Jesus came from a SMALL TOWN … Bethlehem … like BELL, today.
o Jesus had a COMMON OCCUPATION … carpenter … like a BRICK-LAYER, today.
o Jesus wore REGULAR CLOTHES … a robe … like blue jeans, flannel shirt, John Deere Cap, today.
Bob … the brick-layer … from Bell.
Let’s imagine if Jesus came back here today.
There’s a RUMOR going around … about Bob, the brick-layer, from Bell:
o He’s a preacher … but he’s never been to Bible College, or Seminary.
o He preached last week in Bell football stadium … and fed the whole crowd with 2 pizzas & 5 chicken wings.
o Rumor is, he healed Gov. Jeb Bush’s son of cancer.
o Rumor is, he went to Ayers Nursing Home, and raised an elderly resident from the dead.
o He spends lots of time with AIDS patients, prostitutes & homosexuals, and the homeless.
Some people think Bob, the brick-layer, from Bell … is a mighty man of God. Some people think he is a fake … a con-artist … the “joke of the year”.
THEN … one day, Bob, the brick-layer from Bell, comes to church here, at Priscilla Baptist Church, TONIGHT, when we’re having the Lord’s Supper. He sits on the back pew (if there’s room!). With each song, he moves closer to the front. THEN … finally, he comes up on the platform.
Bob, the brick-layer, from Bell … says: “You’re singing about me!” “This is MY BODY you’re talking about! This is MY BLOOD you’re celebrating!”
Bob … the brick-layer … from Bell!
NOW … do you see how it was so hard for the Jews to accept Jesus as their Messiah? Would YOU be willing to follow Bob, the brick-layer, from Bell? OR … would you be in the crowd, yelling “Crucify Him!, Crucify Him!”?
Well, we know that Jesus has already come. AND, He came as a SURPRISE to everyone who encountered Him. He wasn’t what anyone expected. He didn’t come they way they thought He would come. He didn’t act like they thought He should act. He SURPRISED everyone!
CONCLUSION:
Christmas is full of SURPRISES. Someday, Jesus is COMING BACK … don’t let Him catch you by SURPRISE! The world WASN’T READY for Him the first time … BE READY when He returns!
When you close your eyes in death, don’t be in for a SURPRISE, when you open your eyes … AND … it isn’t Heaven! Jesus came 2000 year ago, as a babe in a manger, to be the KING of your heart, the SAVIOR of your soul. He came to rule and reign in your life … and to bring you everlasting life … with Him … in Heaven.
The best Christmas gift you can give Him, is to trust Him to save you … to repent of your sins … to give your life to Him. AND … making Jesus a part of your life … will be the best thing you have ever done. Make Jesus the central part of your Christmas this year!
STAND – PRAY
HYMN - #417 – “I Gave My Life For Thee”
