Don’t Miss the Real Meaning of Christmas
John 1:1-13
Intro:
1. ILL: “While the World Sleeps”.
2. What are things - which if left out - would lessen the real meaning of Christmas?
I. v1-5 - The Word Made Known in the Cradle
A. v1-2 - What was the Word?
1. Word (λόγος) = the verbal expression of a thought.
a. We get our word “logical” from this word.
b. Related words in the original language are translated “speak”, “defend in court”, “give an account”, “reason” & “question”.
2. When God created - He spoke & things happened!
a. The Word was expressed & the heavens came into being - the land appeared - the oceans gathered - vegetation grew - rivers flowed - winds blew - fish swam - animals roamed - birds flew - flowers bloomed.
b. The Word, then, was what created everything that exists.
B. v14 - Then - this Word became flesh!
1. What did He provide?
a. v4a - Life - abundant & eternal.
b. v4b - Light - guidance, direction & purpose for that life!
c. ILL: The darkness at New Cave at Carlsbad.
2. v5 - But like Adam of old who rebelled against God by eating the forbidden fruit - some of you would rather ignore the light - grope around in the darkness & do things your own way by using the Trial & Error Method!
3. So - unless you see the cradle overshadowing the commercial - you’ll miss out on the real meaning of Christmas!
II. v6-8 - The Witness Made Known in the Cross
A. John’s witness was in his message.
1. v29 - Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
2. Remember - the real Christmas tree is the tree on which Lord Jesus hung & died!
a. Act 5:30 - The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
b. Act 10:39 - We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree.
B. John’s witness was in his baptism.
1. It witnesses 2 things:
a. It portrays the gospel message of our Lord’s death, burial & resurrection. I Cor 15:1-4 - Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand . . . For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day. . .
b. It portrays what’s happening in your heart - your death to your old life - the burial of the old corpse - & the resurrection of your life into a brand new life! Rom 6:1-5 - Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
2. It is within this response (to the cross) of baptism that you can ceremonially come in contact with the blood of Christ.
3. So - unless you see the cross overshadowing the cradle - you’ll miss out on the real meaning of Christmas!
III. v9-13 - The Welcome Made Known in Conversion
A. Since God chose to invade human history in the way He did - everyone of us are forced to make a choice.
1. Here is the choice:
a. Surrender to the Lord’s authority over you.
b. Do nothing!
2. v12-13 - If you decide to make a commitment to the Lord you will find direction to an otherwise purposeless life - light in the darkness!
3. v9-11 - If you decide to do nothing you automatically choose to remain in darkness with it’s results - lack of direction & eventual eternal death!
B. v13 - Birth means total conversion.
1. You are to become a new creature. II Cor 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2. Becoming a new creature means forsaking your old lifestyle. Rom 6:6 - For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
C. v12 - Faith implies total commitment.
1. Faith is more than just believing stuff.
a. The demons believe the facts & they shudder! (Jam 2:19)
b. ILL: The Demon Possessed Man (Matt 8:28-32)
2. Faith involves:
a. The total surrender of your life to the control & direction of God.
b. Trusting God to work out everything in your life to your good & His glory (Rom 8:28).
3. So - unless you see conversion to the Lord overshadowing the cross - you will miss out on the real meaning of Christmas!
ILL: A Rescuer Rejected! God left heaven to become a man. That man died on a cross so you could have eternal life with Him. When you turn your back on Him how do you think He feels? Surrender your life to this loving God & you’ll experience the real meaning of Christmas!
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