When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
What expectations do you have this Christmas?
Introduction
Getting into the real spirit of Christmas is sometimes a difficult thing for some because their expectations of Christmas have been so blended with the expectations of the world.
You know;
-It’s not about Jesus anymore but about Santa Claus.
- It’s not about sharing the Gospel any more but about giving expensive gifts and singing Christmas carols about Rudolph the red nose reindeer..
-It’s not about family anymore but about who has the most lights, the nicest Christmas tree, the latest and most colorful ornaments.
John said; “Go and ask Jesus, are you the one who was to come or should we expect another” John’s expectations of Jesus were obviously different than what Jesus really came to do.
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- He is probably wondering; why doesn’t Jesus get me out if He really is the Messiah?
- Why isn’t He coming to see me?
- So, he starts looking at Jesus through other people’s expectations!
Understand that;
Instead of appearing as a colorful military general, the Messiah had come as a humble Carpenter. His gentleness, lowliness, and humiliation were out of character with the prevailing image of the militant Messiah. Men who were guided by fleshly desires doubted His claim to kingship.
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1. And so; some do the same thing. Their expectations of Christmas are the same as the expectations of un-believers.
- Some end up compromising.
- Some end up celebrating like the un-believers.
- Spending lot’s of money and loosing their witness
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(IMAGINE WHAT THE DISCIPLES MUST HAVE THOUGHT AT THIS MOMENT,
- JOHN WAS THE ONE THAT DIRECTED THEM TO FOLLOW JESUS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
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- He said to them; “There goes the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
- “After me cometh one whose sandals I can’t feel.
- “I must decrease so that He may increase”
WHAT IS UP WITH JOHN?
-Notice the message that Jesus sends back;(verses 4-6)“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. (And He ads), “blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” (OUR TESTIMONY CAN HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON OTHERS)
-Some can be Christian all year long till it gets to the holidays. They break out the booze.
-In other words, Jesus is saying; I am still the same. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”
-Your expectations are what have changed because of the season.
(John was in jail, he was going through a dry season) IN OTHER WORDS;
-CHRISTMAS CAN BE A DRY SEASON IF WE ALLOW THE WORLDS INFLUENCE TO PENETRATE OUR MINDS.
- (SPENDING MONEY YOU DON’T HAVE, BUYING GIFTS YOU CAN’T AFFORD AND DON’T NEED.
-MANY TIMES THE CHURCH SUFFERS BECAUSE PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TITHE ON GIVING GIFTS TO OTHERS AND NOT HONORING THEIR COMMITMENT TO God))
Jesus is saying; the message is the same.
- I’m still the light of the world,
- I’m still the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
- I’m still the way the truth and the life.
- You are just letting the world change your perception.
It’s not about Santa Claus, it’s not about the snow, its not about the gifts, ITS ABOUT JESUS!
2. The believer’s expectations of John changed.
SO; as John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? (Than Jesus confirms who John is)Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
-This same crowd had flocked to the desert when John was preaching there. Why?
To see some weak, vacillating reed of a man, shaken by every passing wind of human opinion? Not
Had they gone out to see a well-dressed palace courtier, luxuriating in comfort? Certainly not! John was a simple man of God whose austere life was a rebuke to the enormous worldliness of the people.
Had they gone out to see a prophet? John was a prophet—in fact, the greatest of the prophets; he was greater because of his position as forerunner of the Messiah-King.
- Other men had prophesied the Coming of Christ, but John was the one chosen to announce His actual arrival. “John opened the way for Christ and then he got out of the way for Christ.”
What are your expectations this Christmas?
1. Is it a reed swayed by the wind, “reed shaken by the wind” was notoriously weak and undependable.
- Is your expectation an undependable fairytale about a fat man in the North Pole with a white long beard and funny looking red pajamas?
2. Is it about a man dressed in fine clothing? The world views Christmas as a time to show off all their riches (IN OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD CHRISTMAS IS VIEWED AS A RICH MAN’S HOLIDAY, NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD IT, THEY MISS THE GREATEST Gift OF ALL WHICH IS God’s gift, His son Jesus.
3. Are you going all out this Christmas to point others to Jesus like John did?
-Let others know what Christmas is really all about
-Give the greatest gift of all.
-Are you celebrating a holiday like everyone else or the birth a savior?
-A prophecy fulfilled
(Turn your Bibles to
*Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
*Isaiah 7:14. ”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
*Isaiah 9:6-7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
