The Commitment Of Jesus

INTRO.- A few Christmas riddles.

- What do elves learn in school? The "elphabet"!

- Why was Santa’s little helper depressed? He had low "elfesteem"!

- What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Frosted flakes!

- What kind of candle burns longer, a red one or a green one? Neither, candles always burn shorter!

The battle has been raging this Christmas over what to call this season: Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas!

Brothers and sisters, this should not phase or affect Christians at all. We must realize that the world will always be in opposition to Christ and Christianity. The world can call it whatever they want, but we know that Christmas is Christmas and represents to us the coming of the Savior to the world. We say, “Merry Christmas” and praise God for Jesus!

ILL.- As one preacher said, “You really can’t take Christ out of Christmas. To take Christ out of Christmas is like trying to take heat out of fire, or wet out of water, or oxygen out of air, or notes out of music. You just can’t take Christ out of Christmas.”

ILL.- A young woman went into a bookstore and was looking through the Christmas cards. Suddenly, she threw a Christmas card to the floor and stomped angrily out of the store, saying, “Imagine bringing religion into Christmas!”

Two women were looking at a department store window displaying Christmas gifts and in the center was a picture of Jesus. One said to the other, “I suppose those religious fanatics are going to try to cram Christianity into Christmas and spoil our fun.”

Brother and sisters, we must go right on living the faith regardless of what others think and do or don’t do! We must be the salt of the earth and let our light shine for Jesus!

JESUS

- He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.

- Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.

- Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest.

- Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King.

- Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons.

- Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears.

- Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.

- Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.

- Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.

If there ever was someone who was committed to a cause, it was Jesus. He never faltered. He never failed. He never fainted in his mission to earth.

PROP.- Let’s consider the commitment of Jesus to three groups of people.

1- His commitment to His Father

2- His commitment to the world

3- His commitment to the church

I. JESUS’ COMMITMENT TO HIS FATHER

John 8:29 “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."

John 10:17-18 “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

These verses smack with commitment or perhaps blast us with the commitment of Jesus. The word obedience is clear.

ILL.- Holiday traveling can be a hassle. We cram the car trunk full of luggage and what-have-you stuff. And if you have kids, it’s even more stuff, toys, etc. And why do we do it? BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE OUR LOVED ONES!

And it’s such a long trip to Virginia to see my grandkids. Don’t know how often I’ll go see them. But I’ll buy the plane ticket, race to the airport, sit and wait, stand in line, eat an expensive snack at the airport, and be humiliated when they search me because my metal hip will make the metal detector go off. And I’ll do it all for those grandkids and their mom and dad.

Did we ever stop to think how that Jesus also had quite a trip as well? I’m talking about from heaven to earth. Between him and us there was quite a distance. But He couldn’t stand it. He just had to make the trip. He had to come and see us and do what He could for us.

It should be obvious to us that Jesus’ commitment to His father was that of obedience. He obeyed His heavenly Father. Jesus did the will of the Father.

Phil. 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”