December 24
2017
Advent 2017 Week 4- The Cost of Christmas: The Promise
And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold,an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:8-14
It is Christmas Eve!
It is here!
We are on the very cusp of what we have waited for
For many days now!
And what exactly is it we have been waiting for?
And what exactly is it we have been waiting for?
Gifts and friends and family and food?
Yes, all those things…..
But is there something more?
When the gifts are opened
The food is eaten
And family and friends go home
Does the sparkle of Christmas have to fade?
I have great news for you this night, my friends
There is more to Christmas
A great and wonderful Gift!
A Promise!
We have, these last few weeks been talking about the cost of Christmas. I think we can all agree that when we understand the cost, we then understand the true value of a gift.
We have talked about the cost of Christmas to Elizabeth and Zacharias (the preparation), Mary and Joseph (the process) , and the Wise Men (the price).
But tonight, in the quietness and stillness of this Christmas Eve, let me tell you about my Jesus. The Babe, born on this night, born to the Virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger.
Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. God who lowered Himself, took on human flesh and entered this world as a baby. Jesus who came to this earth for the express purpose of going to the Cross, giving up His life, our Saviour and Redeemer, that we may have eternal relationship and life with the Father. Jesus, sent by the Father because He loved us so much!
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
My Jesus is so much more than a Babe, born on that starry night. My Jesus came to fulfill a promise, a promise given by the prophet in the Old Testament.
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
And His birth was not the end of the story. It was just the beginning!
My Jesus walked this earth
My Jesus walked this earth
Taught His disciples
Healed the sick
Forgave sinners
And taught us all about love and relationship with the Father.
And then
My Jesus gave His very life on Calvary.
For me, for you
For all who call on His Name.
So on this evening
As I sit and look at the pretty crescent moon
And look for the brightest star I can find
I celebrate
Not only the Babe born and placed in the manger
But I also look ahead to the One
My Saviour and Redeemer
Who brought me life
Who has taught me to live abundantly
To love unreservedly
To walk with the Father
The very Promise of this Advent Season
The One who fills the void inside
And ensures that the sparkle of Christmas
Lasts year round!
Do you know this Promise?
He is waiting for you, even now!
Don’t let another Christmas come and go
Without truly getting to know Him
And receiving the true gift of Christmas
A gift not without cost!
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 8-10
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10