God's Gifts to us: Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars – animals, plants, water
Life – flesh and blood, breath and memories
Family – Spouse, children, grandchildren
Every moment of our lives, joy and sorrow, gives us meaning and proves that we are alive!
The Greatest Gift:
"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, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
Wonderful Counselor
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Mighty God
Colossians 1: 15-16 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him
Everlasting Father
Romans 8: 16-17 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory
Prince of Peace
Philippians 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Came in the Fullness of God's Love:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
God became a flesh -- the mystery
"Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16
Why Did Jesus Come as a Baby?
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Hebrews 5:7-9
Jesus was always perfect, always complete. But through his birth and life he experienced the frail, sinful life of man.
The baby grew up!
Ask the Angels Luke 2:11
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Ask John the Baptist John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world
Ask the demons! Mark 5:7
7 The man spoke with a loud voice and said, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
Ask Paul Philippians 3: 8
8 Even more than that, I think of everything as worth nothing. It is so much better to know Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for Him. And I think of these things as worth nothing so that I can have Christ.
Ask the Roman Centurion Matthew 27: 57
The captain of the soldiers and those with him who were watching Jesus, saw all the things that were happening. They saw the earth shake and they were very much afraid. They said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.”
Celebrate the baby, celebrate the sacrifice:
The trials and tribulations for Jesus started right away, and never ended
Herod tried to kill him when he was a baby.
Then he grew up and:
Nazareth (hometown) drove him away
He was homeless, hungry, weary, tempted
He was hated, accused, denied and betrayed
He was crowned with thorns, beaten, spat upon, and crucified
And yet…
JOY!
Matthew 28: 8-9
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Greetings = Chairete – Χαίρω Be Full of Joy!
The Resurrection was the completion of the angels’ greeting
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders." Isaiah 9:6
The child is born (man)
The Son is given (God)
The perfect gift, Jesus, wrapped in the wrapping paper of flesh.
“God’s love must be wonderful beyond comprehension. God could quite justly have abandoned us to our fate. He could have left us alone to reap the fruit of our wrongdoing and to perish in our sins. It is what we deserved. But he did not. Because he loved us, he came after us in Christ. He pursued us even to the desolate anguish of the cross, where he bore our sin, guilt, judgment, and death… It is more than love. Its proper name is ‘grace,’ which is love to the undeserving. God himself in his Son has borne the penalty for our law-breaking”. -
John Stott, The Cross of Christ
Life – flesh and blood, breath and memories
Family – Spouse, children, grandchildren
Every moment of our lives, joy and sorrow, gives us meaning and proves that we are alive!
The Greatest Gift:
"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, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
Wonderful Counselor
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Mighty God
Colossians 1: 15-16 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him
Everlasting Father
Romans 8: 16-17 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory
Prince of Peace
Philippians 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Came in the Fullness of God's Love:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
God became a flesh -- the mystery
"Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16
Why Did Jesus Come as a Baby?
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Hebrews 5:7-9
Jesus was always perfect, always complete. But through his birth and life he experienced the frail, sinful life of man.
The baby grew up!
Ask the Angels Luke 2:11
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Ask John the Baptist John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world
Ask the demons! Mark 5:7
7 The man spoke with a loud voice and said, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
Ask Paul Philippians 3: 8
8 Even more than that, I think of everything as worth nothing. It is so much better to know Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for Him. And I think of these things as worth nothing so that I can have Christ.
Ask the Roman Centurion Matthew 27: 57
The captain of the soldiers and those with him who were watching Jesus, saw all the things that were happening. They saw the earth shake and they were very much afraid. They said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.”
Celebrate the baby, celebrate the sacrifice:
The trials and tribulations for Jesus started right away, and never ended
Herod tried to kill him when he was a baby.
Then he grew up and:
Nazareth (hometown) drove him away
He was homeless, hungry, weary, tempted
He was hated, accused, denied and betrayed
He was crowned with thorns, beaten, spat upon, and crucified
And yet…
JOY!
Matthew 28: 8-9
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Greetings = Chairete – Χαίρω Be Full of Joy!
The Resurrection was the completion of the angels’ greeting
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders." Isaiah 9:6
The child is born (man)
The Son is given (God)
The perfect gift, Jesus, wrapped in the wrapping paper of flesh.
“God’s love must be wonderful beyond comprehension. God could quite justly have abandoned us to our fate. He could have left us alone to reap the fruit of our wrongdoing and to perish in our sins. It is what we deserved. But he did not. Because he loved us, he came after us in Christ. He pursued us even to the desolate anguish of the cross, where he bore our sin, guilt, judgment, and death… It is more than love. Its proper name is ‘grace,’ which is love to the undeserving. God himself in his Son has borne the penalty for our law-breaking”. -
John Stott, The Cross of Christ
RSS Feed
