ELIZABETH AND MARY REJOICING – Luke 1:39-56

Bible sermon, Christmas message, conception of Jesus Christ, incarnation, Jesus Christ, Luke 1:39-56

INTRODUCTION:

The scene opens. Mary had just told the angel Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant . . . . May it be done to me as you have said” (NIV translation). She has agreed to be the mother of the Messiah, and the angel Gabriel has just left her to return to the presence of God in heaven. She is now alone, with her mind filled with thoughts and her heart filled with emotions. “What do I do now?” “Has the angel’s announcement already happened?” “Am I already pregnant?” “How will I know?” “Who can I share all these amazing occurrences with?”

That’s where we begin our study of Luke 1:39-56. The answers to those questions, and what happens next, are all found in this passage of Scripture.

I. THE JOY OF ELIZABETH (verses 39-45)

Once Mary is able to gain some control over her thoughts and emotions, she remembers the angel’s words about Elizabeth. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was barren is now in her sixth month.” From the response that follows, Mary may have thought, “Elizabeth is having a supernatural pregnancy also! We have that in common! She’s the only person I can talk to about these things that the angel told me. I can’t tell Joseph since I’m not sure it has happened yet or when it will happen. Her home will be a place of safety for me, and I can be of service to her.” Are you getting the picture of Mary’s dilemma?

Verse 39 says, “Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country to a city of Judah”. Mary probably grabbed a few necessities for the trip and may have left a note for her parents and for Joseph explaining that she had gone to Elizabeth to help her in the final trimester of her pregnancy. Then she took off “in haste” to avoid any conversations and questions from family, friends, and neighbors. The home of Zacharias and Elizabeth was 80 miles away, a journey of four to five days on foot. In her haste to get there, Mary may have arrived in four days or even less. She had plenty to think about along the way! But all the travelling is going to be worth the effort on her part. Her visit with Elizabeth and Zacharias is going to be beyond her highest expectations! The Spirit of God is going to do some amazing things!

As Mary reaches the hill country of Judah and the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth is in sight, she has been rehearsing in her mind what she is going to say to Elizabeth and how she is going to say it. There is probably some uneasiness about how this information is going to be received and the responses she might get. However, when she enters their house and greets Elizabeth, the Spirit of God takes it from there and performs a miracle to her amazement. Verse 41 says, “And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” I’m not sure that Mary observed those two things happening to Elizabeth, but she certainly heard the results. The Holy Spirit immediately informed Elizabeth that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah, and then the Spirit took control of her voice as she described what happened and why it happened. Verse 42 says, “And she (Elizabeth) cried out with a loud voice, and said, ‘Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’.” Her voice was ecstatic and loud. Notice that Elizabeth says “blessed among women”, not blessed above women. It is a place of unmerited privilege, not a place of veneration or worship. Her words were a confirmation to Mary that she was already pregnant. “But how could she have known that information?”, Mary wonders. “I haven’t told anyone that information and the news couldn’t have traveled that fast. God must have told her.”

The answer comes in Elizabeth’s next statement in verse 43: “And how is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth not only knows that Mary is pregnant, but also that she is pregnant with the Messiah. This is a second confirmation of the angel Gabriel words to her. In verse 44, Elizabeth describes to Mary what happened within her womb when she heard her voice. “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.”

You mothers know what it looks like and feels like when your baby has moved around in your womb, especially when you are close to term. Fathers and older brothers and sisters have watched wide-eyed. and with bursts of laughter, when the baby’s arm, elbow, or foot, protrudes in your belly. It’s an amazing sight to watch and enjoy!

What Elizabeth described to Mary went well beyond the usual occurrence. You might say that her experience was a miracle in itself. It makes you wonder what it must have felt like when it happened! I wonder whether the unborn John the Baptist was not only jumping for joy, but also assuming a position of worship before the Messiah in Mary’s womb. Just a thought.

Finally, Elizabeth says in verse 45: “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” The Holy Spirit had even given Elizabeth insight into Mary’s heart, and Mary’s faith in God’s promise. Because Elizabeth is saying these things under the control of the Spirit, this commendation of Mary comes not only from Elizabeth but also from God Himself.

II. THE JOY OF MARY (verses 46-56)

After hearing these words from Elizabeth, Mary’s heart is overflowing with praise and thanksgiving to God. She responds with one of the most beautiful and worshipful prayers or declarations of praise to God in the Scriptures. It is often called the Magnificat. The Latin Vulgate translation begins with the words “Magnificat anima mea Dominum” (“My soul magnifies the Lord”). The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible states: “Some of the greatest works of Christian art have been produced around the Magnificat themes. Artists, poets, and musicians have celebrated its theme of joy at the salvation now graciously offered to mankind through the gift of the Messiah.”

Mary’s words are similar to the words of Hannah in I Samuel 2:1-10, where Hannah praises and thanks God for giving her a son (Samuel). You might want to read that passage of Scripture and compare the two prayers.

This declaration of praise to God reveals much to us about Mary’s character, her knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, her concept of God, and her trust in Him. Let’s take a closer look at her words as she declares the greatness of God’s character, and His wonderful deeds. Before we study the individual verses of Mary’s declaration of praises, let’s look at all ten verses of the Magnificat so that you can see the whole prayer at once.

“My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble estate of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. And holy is His name.
And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm.
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed.
He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever”

That’s quite a statement, isn’t it? With just a few modifications we could turn that into our own declaration of praise to God. As we see, this young lady (Mary) must have spent a lot of time meditating on God’s Word.

Mary begins by expressing the source of her praise and joy. In verse 46 she refers to God as Lord, and in verse 47 she calls Him my Savior. She is echoing the words of Hannah in I Samuel 2, and the words of David in Psalm 35:9. Like everyone else, Mary had to acknowledge Him as Lord, repent of her sins, and receive His salvation.

In verses 48 and 49, Mary rejoices in what God has done for her personally. Though she is the least of His servants, God has blessed her with the undeserved privilege of being the mother of the Messiah, who is now in her womb, and every generation will acknowledge this blessing of God upon her. The focus of her attention is on God, and not on herself. He is the one who has done these things. As she says in verse 49: “For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” I am impressed by Mary’s humility and her willing surrender to God’s will, as well as her concept of God’s power and holiness.

In the next section of her song, Mary includes those who are in the same socio-economic condition as herself (poor, humble, and despised followers of Him). Quoting from Psalms 103, 98, and 118, she praises God for His faithful mercies as He scatters the proud, feeds the hungry, and sends the rich away empty-handed. Quoting from Job 5, Mary declares how God has exalted the humble and brought down rulers from their thrones. Mary knows the Word of God, and her praise and confidence in Him are based upon God’s faithfulness to keep His Word.

Lastly, Mary gives praise to God for the things He has done for His people Israel. In her prayer of praise she recalls to her mind Genesis 17:7 and 17:19, declaring God’s forever-promises to Abraham and his descendants: the land, the seed, and the blessing to all nations. Many other passages in the book of Genesis are included in these promises.

After Mary finishes her hymn of praise, the Gospel writer Luke writes these words: “And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home” (verse 56). “Three months” – so for three months Mary and Elizabeth were praising God together for what God was doing in their lives. Zacharias was praising God also. We just don’t have any word from him. He was speechless until after his son was born.

HAVE YOU FOUND REASONS TO REJOICE?

I think my favorite definition of worship is the one written by William Temple. He was an Anglican minister, an advocate for social reform, and served as an archbishop for many years. We have a William Temple House and a William Temple Thrift Store here in Portland, Oregon. He says: “To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God.” As I look at Mary’s prayer again, I find that she employed all of those characteristics of worship. Mary declares God’s holiness and quotes from God’s Word several times. She focuses on God’s character (His mercy, power, sovereignty, provision, and faithfulness). As she expresses these words you can tell that her heart is filled with love for Him, and she counts it a privilege to serve Him.

Beloved, do you find it hard at times, as I do, to express praise and worship to God? Do frustrations and distractions put you out-of-focus sometimes and rob you of joy and thankfulness to God? What has often helped to restore my focus on God and an attitude of worship and praise has been to read one or more of the Psalms and reflect upon the character of God and His concern for us. As a result of this study, I’m also adding the prayer of Mary and the prayer of Hannah to my list of Scripture passages to read in order to prepare my heart for worship. Many recording artists have recorded renditions of the psalms and other passages on YouTube. Esther Mui, for example sings beautifully many of the psalms as well as other worshipful passages of Scripture. You can read the lyrics as she sings and the photos are awesome. She is one of many artists who have placed their songs on YouTube for everyone to enjoy.

I hope that you have found reasons to rejoice and worship God. If not, let’s start finding resources today. I’ve given you a place to start. I hope you will carry your quest for an attitude of worship and praise beyond my suggestions, and give some suggestions to me as well.

An illustration I just read caused me to realize that we will know when we are truly worshipping and praising God in our hearts because we will feel the nearness of His presence and experience the joy of His presence. Here is the illustration: After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today — but I wish you had been there!”

May you experience the nearness of God’s presence and the joy of His presence today as you take time to praise and worship Him.

NINE MONTHS BEFORE CHRISTMAS – Luke 1:26-38

Christmas, Christmas message, conception of Jesus Christ, Jesus' conception

Why have I entitled this message, “Nine Months Before Christmas”? If you’re a mother, you would have no difficulty understanding what I mean. Every year at this time, we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. But there is another amazing miracle that is often overlooked during this season. If you believe that life begins at conception, as I do and as the Bible teaches, then the Lord Jesus Christ became a human person at the moment of His conception in the womb of Mary. I personally think that this is an even more amazing miracle than His birth. Since I already have at least two messages on this site that focus on the birth of Christ, and since this sermon’s title is often overlooked during the Christmas season, let’s study the sequence of events and the miracle that occurred at His conception.

I. THE SETTING (verses 26-27)

The story begins in Luke chapter 1. Verses 26 and 27 say: “Now in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke states that it is the “sixth month”. He means the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. He’s marking time from the last appearance of the Angel Gabriel, and the miracle of pregnancy that was promised to the aged priest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. They were going to be the parents of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah.

In verse 27 we are introduced to Mary, a virgin girl, probably in her early to mid-teen years, and she was engaged to a man named Joseph. They were both from Nazareth so they were probably very poor. This town, and the Jews in it, were despised by the Jews in Judea because Nazareth was a small, poor, out-of-the-way town in the region of Galilee where there were more gentiles than Jews.

Mary was “espoused” (betrothed, engaged) to Joseph. Among the Jews at that period of time, the marriage vows were said at the betrothal, and it required a divorce to end the relationship. It was the custom for there to be an interval of usually a year before she could take up residence in her husband’s house and the physical union could be consummated. It must have been near the end of that espousal period. I have more details about the marriage custom in my sermon on John 2:1-11.

II. THE GREETING (verses 28-29)

Everything seems to be going according to plan for Mary and Joseph, and then something unexpected happens. God sent the angel Gabriel on another mission, this time to Mary. Gabriel’s name means “the strength of God”, and he is often seen delivering messages of kindness and blessing. His appearance to Mary is recorded only in Luke’s gospel.

There seems to be a fascination with angels, especially at Christmas time. Recent surveys have shown that anywhere between 55-70% of Americans believe in the existence of angels and their activity in our world today. There have been several major motion pictures about angels, as well as movies having angels in them. The classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is shown every Christmas season, and the angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), shows George (James Stewart) what life would have been like if he had never been born. If you’ve never seen this movie, please put it on your “must see” list this year. You will really enjoy it!

The Bible says that angels are “innumerable” (Psalm 68:17). There are too many of them to count. Yet only two angels are named in the Bible: Gabriel and Michael. It’s interesting to note also that both Zacharias and Mary recognized that it was an angel who was visiting them. I’ve often wondered whether the faces of angels shone because of being in the presence of God and seeing Him face-to-face. We will know someday! Let’s see what the angel Gabriel has to say to Mary. Luke 1:28 says, “And coming in, he said to her, ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you’.” Many of the homes in that day had a small or large courtyard just outside the living area. Apparently, Gabriel entered that courtyard, and then greeted Mary as soon as she saw him. Gabriel greets Mary joyfully and respectfully, telling her that God has chosen her for a special privilege. He’s not putting Mary on a pedestal above other women He is letting her know that God has given her a unique role in His plan of salvation. It is an unmerited favor from God. She didn’t earn the right, nor did she deserve it, but as we shall see, she did not gloat over it but humbly accepted it. Stephen is also called “full of grace” in Acts 6:8.

In verse 29 we see Mary’s initial response to his greeting: “But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.” I can imagine that many thoughts and questions were going through her mind, such as “What an unusual greeting”. “Why would he be saying those words to me?” “I’m supposed to return his greeting; what words should I say?”

III. THE ANNOUNCEMENT (verse 30-33)

The angel Gabriel seems to understand her fears and concerns because he tells her: “Do not be afraid”, calling her by name. Then he declares to her the announcement that was given to him by God.

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

After that description, I don’t think there was any doubt in Mary’s mind that this child he speaks of is going to be the Messiah. The phrase the “Son of Most High” is a Messianic title, and His lineage and everlasting reign eliminate all other possible contenders. (Psalm 89:36,37; Isaiah 9:6-7).

As a Jewess, should Mary have known that the Messiah was going to come by virgin birth? Yes. Was it her fault that she didn’t know this? No. This information given by the Angel Gabriel should not have come as a surprise to the nation of Israel. There are at least two passages of Scripture in the Old Testament that point to the virgin birth of the Messiah. The first is Genesis 3:15. After the serpent tempted Adam and Eve, and they sinned, God said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.” This verse is speaking of the Messiah. God says “her seed”. A woman doesn’t have a seed. She has eggs. The man has the seed. If this mother of the Messiah is going to have a seed apart from man, then she will remain a virgin, right? If the seed doesn’t come from man, then it has to come from God. Isaiah 7:14 confirms this. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name “Immanuel.” The Scribes and teachers of the Law ignored, overlooked, and failed to teach about the suffering Messiah because they were looking for the conquering Messiah.

IV. THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER (verses 34-37)

Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s announcement is not the same as the response of her relative Zacharias. When he was told by the angel that his elderly wife Elizabeth would have a son even though she was past child-bearing years. he questioned whether this could happen and asked for a sign to verify it. As a result, the angel Gabriel told Zacharias that he would not be able to speak until the child was born. Mary, however, believed that God could do what the angel said. She didn’t ask for a sign as proof that what he is saying is true. She is just curious as to the “process” by which it would be done since she was a virgin. So she asks the question: “How can this be since I am a virgin?”

The angel Gabriel goes on to answer her question and provide more information in verse 35. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.” Notice that all three members of the Trinity are mentioned in his answer (the Most High, the Holy Spirit, and the Son of God). This was to be a combined effort, and each Person of the Trinity had a specific role.

So, just how did this all come about? Obviously, this was going to be no ordinary conception! Firstly, Gabriel says, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you”. (Gabriel is answering her question with words that she would understand – words from the Old Testament Scriptures). When she heard those words from Gabriel, she was reminded of Old Testament stories she heard from her parents and learned in the synagogue about how the Spirit of God “came upon” Joshua (Num. 27:18), David (I Sam. 1612-18), Saul (I Sam. 10:10), Bezalel (Ex. 31::2-5), and others. In each case the Spirit came upon them to empower them and enable them to accomplish the work that God had called them to do. This would have directed her thoughts toward the power, the provision, and the faithfulness of God. As she did this, her worries would begin to fade away.

Secondly, he says, “The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” The word translated “overshadow” means “to cover”. Any Jew during that time would associate that word with the tabernacle in the wilderness during the forty years of wandering in the desert. Exodus 40:34, 35, and 38 describe God’s “overshadowing” of His tabernacle after it had been erected. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. . . . For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

The cloud over the tabernacle was a symbol of God’s glory and His continual presence with His people. To an Israelite it was comforting to think that God was hovering over them like an eagle over its nest, with wings outspread, keeping an eye on them and protecting them. The cloud also depicted the holiness of God, and therefore His worthiness to be worshipped. The angel Gabriel was telling Mary that her womb would be the tabernacle of the Son of God for nine months. He was directing her thoughts toward the holiness of God and the continual presence of God over her (and in her).

V. THE SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT (verses 36-37)

The angel Gabriel’s second announcement is one of joy and encouragement to Mary. She learns that her relative Elizabeth is pregnant and in her sixth month of pregnancy. Elizabeth was old enough to be Mary’s grandmother or even great-grandmother! What a pleasant surprise that must have been to hear that news about Elizabeth, and to hear the words that followed! In verse 37, the angel Gabriel ends his announcement with these words: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” It’s a reminder of the prophet Jeremiah’s words of praise to God in Jeremiah 29:17, “Ah, Lord God! Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”

VI. THE ACCEPTANCE (verse 38)

Verse 38 tells us Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement: “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” The Message puts it this way: “Yes, I see it all now; I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” Then the angel left. As a humble servant of God, Mary accepted her calling from God immediately, in spite of the suffering, misunderstandings, and adjustments that might lie ahead for her. She joins the ranks of other virtuous women such as Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, and others who chose to obey God and desired to be used by God in spite of the consequences to themselves.

VI. THE LESSONS

Thomas a Kempis, a Catholic priest in the 1400s who wrote the book, The Imitation of Christ, had these words to say about obedience: “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience.” Are there things you know God wants you to do or complete, and you haven’t done them? Are there people you know God wants you to visit or contact; are there relationships God wants you to mend and you’ve been putting it off? You’re probably familiar with the saying, “Better late than never, but better never late.” Let’s turn that around for the things we need to catch up on with God, and then turn it back. “Better never late, but better late than never.”

Finally, is our devotion to God motived by love? Do we spend time daily in fellowship with Him in His Word and in prayer before we begin our other activities on our schedule for the day? Remember that the Lord Jesus spent nine months pretty much incapacitated in Mary’s womb out of love for us so that He might identify with us as our High Priest in heaven today. Is it asking too much this Christmas season for us to spend some time in fellowship with Him in His Word and in prayer as we begin our day? If we do so, He’ll be in our thoughts and a source of joy throughout our day. We might enjoy the time with Him so much that we’ll want to do so “in season and out of season”! After all, we are always in His thoughts and in His mind, “in season and out of season”!

CONSTRUCTION SITE:

Welcome! I call this particular construction project: “Putting up the decorations for the Christmas season”. I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for what the Lord Jesus realized and experienced when He chose to become a human being like us in all things except sin (Hebrews 2:17). As I think of what Jesus experienced from the moment of conception, my heart is filled with awe and wonder. I hope this has been your experience also. May this Christmas season be filled with a fresh and ever-deepening love for our Savior as a result of examining more closely what’s recorded in His Word.

P.S. I’ve decided to end this message at verse 38. There are too many joy-filled words spoken by Elizabeth and Mary to “skim over”. Rather than being an “extra room”, they deserve a site of their own! See you in the next construction site!

THE WORD BECAME FLESH – John 1:14

Bible sermon, Incarnation of Jesus Christ, Jesus' birth, tabernacles, Uncategorized

I. HE BECAME FLESH

John chapter 1, verse 14, is one of the most amazing and awe-inspiring verses in the Bible. It reveals a mystery that we can’t comprehend with our finite minds. The apostle John has been saying that the “Logos”, the “Word”, used by the Greeks to describe the force that created the universe and holds it together, is actually the Creator-God. Now he is saying, in verse 14, that this Creator-God “became flesh”. The verb is in the aorist tense, signifying an action that took place at a point in time. By “becoming flesh” the Word became something that He previously was not. He not only assumed a human body, but took on the whole nature of man: body, soul, and spirit. He took on our limitations. Romans 8:3 says that He took on “the likeness of sinful flesh”, but “He knew no sin” (II Corinthians 5:21). Martin Luther said of Jesus, “He sunk Himself into human flesh”. That’s a long way to sink!

In his book entitled “Miracles”, British author C.S. Lewis uses several illustrations to try to depict the incarnation of Jesus Christ. His illustration of the diver is somewhat similar to the previous statement made by Martin Luther.

“Or one may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanished, rushing downward through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the death-like region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to color and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping precious thing that he went down to recover. He and it are both colored now that they have come up into the light; down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too.”

As we consider the incarnation, let’s be reminded that Jesus Christ was not a created being. He is the Creator, but He chose to become part of His creation at a specific place and time in human history. His essence, divine nature, and oneness with the Father and the Holy Spirit did not change. We cannot understand how this can be, but we can accept it by faith.

One of the early church fathers, Augustine of Hippo, expressed his amazement. He said that in his pre-Christian days he had read and studied the great pagan philosophers and had read many things, but he had never read that the word became flesh. To the Greeks that was impossible and ridiculous.

II. HE DWELT AMONG US

Here in verse 14, John describes Christ’s incarnation in three words, in contrast to the 2500 words used by the Gospel writer Luke. He “dwelt among us”. The Greek word translated “dwell” is “eskenosen”, which means “to pitch a tent”. He “tabernacled among us” is another way to put it. The tabernacle in the Old Testament was made of plain white linen. The glory of the tabernacle was hidden inside. There was no beauty in its outward appearance. So too, the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ was a hidden glory. When He came to pitch his tent among us, He did not lay aside His deity, but He did veil His glory.

The tabernacle in the Old Testament was only a temporary dwelling place. It was used while the people of Israel were journeying in the wilderness and until the temple of Solomon was built (Exodus 24:8; 40:34-35; I Kings 8:10-12). It’s interesting to note that the people of Israel used the tabernacle in the wilderness for a little less than 35 years, the approximate lifetime of the Lord Jesus on this earth.

III. WE BEHELD HIS GLORY

Years ago an old pioneer journeyed westward across the Great Plains of North America until he came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the Grand Canyon. He gawked at the sight before him – a vast chasm 1 mile deep, 18 miles across, and stretching out of sight. He gasped, “Something must have happened here!” (Our Daily Bread, 12/22/02)

Something even more amazing happened when the Creator-God came to His earth in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures declare it and changed lives continue to provide evidence for His birth, life, death, and resurrection.

John says, “we beheld His glory”. This may bring to your minds the Shekinah glory that filled the tabernacle in the wilderness. When the pillar of cloud that guided them by day would begin to settle down, there the sons of Israel would camp. Once the tabernacle was set up, the cloud would settle over the tabernacle (Numbers 9). Exodus chapter 40 describes the glory of the Lord. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. . . . For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

The apostle John knew this information since childhood, having grown up in a Jewish home. But John and the other disciples had the privilege of witnessing this glory in the Person of Jesus Christ for about three years. “The Word” was not an abstract concept but a real Person. John begins his first epistle with these words: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have beheld and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life.”

John, Peter, and James were with Jesus when He was transfigured before them. His garments became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared alongside Him and were talking to Him (Mt. 17; Mk. 9). What a spectacle that must have been! But John is writing here about the inner glory that he saw in the Lord Jesus.

John was the “beloved disciple”, the one who knew Jesus so intimately. He describes Jesus as One who was “full of grace and truth”. This is a Hebrew expression for the fullness of the revelation of God. “Grace” reveals God as love; “truth” reveals God as light.

The words “grace and truth” would probably bring to the minds of his Jewish readers two passages of Scripture from the book of Exodus. One of them is in Exodus 33, and the other in chapter 34. God tells Moses once again to make two stone tablets and meet with Him again on Mount Sinai. Moses makes this request of God in Exodus 33:18: “I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!” In responding to Moses, God first describes Himself to Moses. Then He responds to Moses’ request and describes Himself more fully. I think you will gain a greater understanding of the meaning of grace as a result of reflecting upon God’s description of Himself. This is what God says in Exodus 33:19 and in 34:6: “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you, and I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. , , , Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.’ “

I believe that the Lord Jesus demonstrated those qualities of God in His character and His actions while He was here on this earth. I also believe that the apostle John is purposely using the words “full of grace and truth” to connect his description of Christ in his Gospel with God’s description of Himself in the Old Testament Scriptures. The best Person to give an accurate description of God is God Himself, and He has been gracious enough to do so through various means.

In the next passage of Scripture, verses 15-18, John will be elaborating on the words of verse 14 more fully. In the meantime, I’ve been reading and re-reading a poem written by Marv and Marbeth Rosenthal entitled: “Mary Had The Little Lamb”. It briefly describes the Person, life and ministry of Jesus Christ from beginning to end. If you’ve never read this poem before, I encourage you to read it several times. If you are familiar with the poem, please read it again. Here it is:

Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth
Self-existent Son of God, from heaven He came to earth.
Micah 5:2

Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall–
Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall.
Isaiah 7:14

Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God;
Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod.
John 6;38

Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree,
The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free.
I Peter 1:18-19

Mary had the little Lamb — men placed Him in the grave,
Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave!
Matthew 28:6

Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He,
All work on earth is ended, our Advocate is He.
Hebrews 4:14-16

Mary had the little Lamb — mystery to behold!
From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold.
Revelation 5:5,6

When the Day Star comes again, of this be very sure,
It won’t be Lamb-like silence, but with the Lion’s roar.
Psalm 2:12
Revelation 19:11-16

May you experience the meaning of the grace and truth that are in Christ Jesus; and may you experience the joy and peace that come as a result of knowing Him personally, depending upon Him completely, and giving Him all the glory.

LOVE – TRUE LOVE

anger, attitudes, Bible sermons, kindness, listening, love, love is kind, love is patient, sermon for you today, sermon with illustrations, the tongue, true love, Valentine's Day message

How is your love-life? Do you want to be a better lover? Do you want to show your love in ways that will be more greatly appreciated, and more fulfilling to you as well? Then two words, when correctly understood and properly applied to your relationships, will make all the difference in the world!

The first word is “patience” . True love isn’t in a hurry. It doesn’t put the other person on a timetable, but gives the person space to make decisions and adjustments. True love lets relationships go at their own pace. It never gets tired of waiting, and demonstrates this attitude by the absence of griping, complaining, grumbling, or any other outward signs of irritation and impatience.

True love doesn’t lose heart, but perseveres through difficult and troublesome times. It keeps on hoping and believing. True love is also forgiving. Remember: nobody is perfect. If you’re looking for the perfect person to love, you’re in for a very long wait, and hopefully you’ll learn patience in the process!

A true lover is a good listener, and knows how to ask the right questions to keep the conversation going. A true lover seeks to understand, and shows respect for the loved one’s opinions. A patient person also excercises self-control and knows how to hold his or her tongue to avoid hurting the other person by a hasty or thoughtless word. A billboard had these words written on it: “A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves you a thousand moments of regret”. Do you want to be a more patient person? You will be loved for it, and you won’t regret it.

The other word is “kindness”. A true lover is kind, and a kind person is a joy to be around because he or she lifts the spirits of others. A kind person is also merciful, showing kindness even when it isn’t deserved. A true lover is kind and doesn’t take advantage of others. A little child was heard saying these words in a prayer: “God, make all the bad people good, and make all the good people nice”. This child saw a difference between being “good” and being “nice”. I think we can notice that difference also. Kind people don’t look down on others or make fun of others. True lovers focus on lifting up their loved ones, not bringing them down.

Kindness is something we all long for. We experience joy when we receive it from others, and even greater joy when we show it to others. An act of kindness leaves an indelible impression on the receiver and the giver, as well as on all who witness it. On the New York subway, a young man, his head covered by a hooded sweatshirt, fell asleep on the shoulder of an older passenger. When someone else offered to wake the young rider, the older man quietly said, “He must have had a long day. Let him sleep. We’ve all been there.”

We all need someone to lean on sometimes, don’t we? Do you want kindness to be more evident in your life? Do you want your loved ones to experience it more often from you?

These two qualities, patience and kindness, are at the top of the list, and that list is given in the Bible, in I Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

May our love for one another be characterized by these virtues.

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE – James 3:1-12

Epistle of James, human tongue, James, James 3:1-12, sermons you'll enjoy, six verbal pictures of the tongue, speech, the tongue, three powers of the tongue, tongue, Uncategorized

I’m going to describe a particular part of our bodies in the first person, as if I’m that part of our bodies. Here goes:

I may be the strongest muscle in your body. I am considered to be the strongest muscle for my size. I have been known to lift over 80 times my weight, but don’t put me to the test! I am busy during the day and all through the night, and I never get tired. I may be kind of rough on the surface, but I’m smooth underneath. I’m about 4 inches long and I am the only muscle in your body that is only connected to your body at one end. I can heal myself faster than any other part of your body. Thanks to your nose and my buds, I’m learning to develop a taste for things. I used to come out of my den more often for people to see me, but now I only come out when you need help eating an ice cream cone, or when the doctor says, “open your mouth, stick out your ‘tongue’ and say ahhhh”! As you’ve probably guessed, I’m the muscle that would be speaking this message aloud to you right now.

As strong as our tongues are physically, they boast of even greater power for good and for evil both emotionally, socially, and spiritually. I think it’s significant that, right after the apostle James writes about evidences of genuine, saving faith, he talks about the tongue.

James has already explained two characteristics of the true, maturing Christian. First, in chapter 1, James says that the true Christian is patient in times of trouble. Secondly, in chapter two, James says that the true Christian practices the truth. Here in chapter 3, James says that the third characteristic of a true believer is that he has power over his tongue.

James now goes for the jugular vein of the Christian life – the problem of the tongue. No other section of the Bible speaks with greater authority and impact on this subject than does James.

The words of the Lord Jesus Christ put this problem of the tongue into perspective. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 15:11, 18-19: “Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man. . . . the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man”. We need to realize that the heart and the tongue are directly associated with each other. Through its every word, the tongue broadcasts the condition of the heart.

In order to impress on us the importance of controlled speech, and the great consequences of our words, James gives us six pictures of the tongue: the bit, the rudder, fire, a dangerous animal, a fountain and a fig tree. You can put these six pictures into three categories that reveal the three powers of the tongue.

I. THE POWER TO DIRECT: THE BIT AND THE RUDDER (3:1-4)

James begins chapter 3 by saying, “Let not many of you become teachers.” The Greek word “didaskaloi” is used in the New Testament epistles to refer to teachers of God’s Word, rather than the alternate meaning of “masters” or “rulers” when referring to the Jewish rabbi’s. James is not discouraging Christians from using their gifts and abilities to benefit the local congregations. He is warning against the misuse of that privilege to gain power and prestige. Those motives and desires are not the marks of a true teacher of God’s Word. A teacher’s words are not to be used to exalt himself but to accurately explain the Word of God and exalt the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In verses 3-5 James uses the examples of the bit and rudder because each of them, like the tongue, is small yet powerful. The bit is a very small item that goes into the horse’s mouth in order to overcome the power and the wild nature of the horse. However, it is not the bit that controls the entire horse. It is the experienced rider, using the bit and bridle in the proper ways, that controls the horse. In the same way, the rudder on a ship is a very small item in comparison to the ship, and it has to overcome the forces of the wind and the waves and currents. However, it is not the rudder that controls the entire ship. It is the experienced pilot or helmsman, who operates the rudder in the correct ways, that controls the ship.

Unless the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior and Lord of our lives, we are not going to be able to keep our tongues from evil, nor will we always be able to say the right thing at the right time. There are evil forces inside us and in the world around us that are fighting for control of our hearts and our speech. King David had a temper, as we all do, and he prays in Psalm 141, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to do any evil thing.”

II. THE POWER TO DESTROY: THE FIRE AND THE DANGEROUS ANIMAL (3:5-8)

In verses 5-8, James compares the tongue to a fire and to a dangerous animal. A fire spreads very quickly and is very destructive, causing damage that can’t be easily repaired, if it can be repaired at all. In one town where I pastored, a neighbor came to the door yelling, “Help, my kitchen is on fire!” I grabbed the portable fire extinguisher out of my car and ran to her house, where I saw smoke coming out of the back door. As I entered, I had to duck down because of the smoke. I could see the fire on the wall above the stove and sprayed it with fire-retardent powder until the extinguisher was empty. When I went outside to get some fresh air I could hear the fire truck coming. The firemen went inside, sprayed the wall area and checked the ceiling and attic. Afterward, they asked us to come inside to see the damage. The wooden spice rack above the stove had caught on fire and the fire chief pointed to a couple of places where the flames had burned through the drywall and had charred the wood. He said that if I hadn’t been there and put the fire out when I did, it would have gone up the two-by-fours and into the attic and roof by the time they arrived just moments later. It would have become a house fire rather than just a kitchen fire, and the house would probably have been damaged beyond repair. That was a scary lesson about the swiftness and destructiveness of fire!

James tells us that the tongue can have a similar effect when we use it to gossip about or slander others. Evangelist Billy Graham used the following illustration to point out the destructive and lasting effect that our words can have: There is a story of a woman in England who came to her vicar with a troubled conscience. The vicar knew her to be an habitual gossip – she had maligned nearly everyone in the village. “How can I make amends?” she pleaded. The vicar said “If you want to make peace with your conscience, take a bag of goose feathers and drop one on the porch of each one you have slandered.” When she had done so, she came back to the vicar and said, “Is that all?” “No,” said the wise old minister, “you must go now and gather up every feather and bring them all back to me.” After a long time, the woman returned without a single feather. “The wind has blown them all away,” she said. “My good woman,” said the vicar, “so it is with gossip. Unkind words are easily dropped, but we can never take them back again.” (Day-By-Day with Billy Graham, Sept. 17)

Fire spreads, and the more fuel you add to that fire, the faster it will spread and the farther it will spread. Time does not erase or correct the effects of the sins of the tongue. God wants us to confess these sins and let Him take control of our speech, but the fires we have already kindled and fueled will continue to spread, just like the goose feathers being blown away by the wind. Realize also that those fires we kindle will also burn us. People who have been hurt by us will no longer trust us, and the word gets around, and our credibility is gone. There are many lonely people today who are suffering the consequences of their false and malicious words, and yet refuse to change or admit their guilt.

A dangerous animal also has the power to destroy. Some are dangerous because of their strong, swift and powerful bodies, many of them equipped with claws and sharp teeth or tusks. If you’ve ever been to Lion Country or to a Wildlife Safari, you know what I am saying. Yet James states that man has been able to tame some of these animals from every species. But, he adds in verse 8: “No one can tame the tongue”. Sounds discouraging, doesn’t it? Don’t lose hope! I believe that what the Lord Jesus said about riches and salvation in Matthew 19:26 is also true about the tongue: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Other animals are dangerous because they are poisonous. My first overseas duty in the Air Force was at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in northern Thailand. A group of us new arrivals were in an orientation briefing. One of the warnings we were given was to beware of a particular snake called the krait snake. The bite of a krait snake has little or no pain, and can cause a false reassurance to the victim. It feels like the bite of an ant or a mosquito. The person may not even realize that he’s been bitten. There is very minimum evidence of local swelling. Symptoms include a tightening of the facial muscles within one to two hours, inability of the person to see or talk, and death from respiratory failure (or suffocation) within 4-5 hours. The krait was called the “two-step snake” because its venom was so powerful and acted so quickly.

Our tongues can also have a poisoning effect on others, and on ourselves as well. Have you ever injected a malicious remark or comment into a conversation in the hope that it might spread to the person you wanted to hurt? Have you ever yelled at someone in a moment of anger, or shouted profanity? Maybe you were on the receiving end of those kinds of outbursts, How did it make you feel? A.T. Robinson, in his book, “Studies in the Epistle of James”, makes this observation about the defiling effect of our words: “It is now known that angry words cause the glands of the body to discharge a dangerous poison that affects the stomach, the heart, the brain.” King David, in Psalm 140:3, had these words to say about evil and wicked men: “They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; poison of a viper is under their lips.”

III. THE POWER TO DELIGHT: THE FOUNTAIN AND THE FIG TREE (James 3:9-12)

In verse 9 James recognizes that the tongue is good at times. It is not altogether evil. But it is inconsistent. He uses the illustrations of the fountain, the fig tree, and salt water to get his point across.

Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap? It isn’t a pleasant experience! An older kid in our neighborhood was accustomed to using filthy language, and whenever my younger brother and I were around him we tried to imitate him. One day my mother overheard our conversation. Since I was the older son, and should have been a good example to my brother, I received the cleansing treatment first. I could hear my younger brother snickering as I was going through the ordeal. Then it was his turn! He didn’t think it was funny anymore! The soap she used had a pleasant smell to it but it did not taste good! As you probably aready know, it wasn’t my mouth and tongue that were the real source of the problem. It was my heart. But having my mouth washed out with soap gave me a change of heart!

My mother got the point across and the lesson was learned. As I think of my mother, I cannot remember her ever cursing, swearing or using filthy language. I’m thankful to God and to her that the use of such language has never become a habit for me. However, there are other kinds of language that we all have been guilty of and struggle with. Evangelist Billy Graham says, “You can use your tongue to slander, to gripe, to scold, to nag, and to quarrel, or you can bring it under the control of God’s Spirit and make it an instrument of blessing and praise.”

In verses 10-12, James uses three illustrations: the fountain, the fig and olive trees, and salt water, to show the nature of things. Water is not sweet and bitter at the same time from the same fountain, is it? A fig tree cannot produce olives, can it? Nor can an olive tree produce figs. And salt water cannot, of itself, produce fresh water, can it? Nature is consistent because God made it that way.

Man was also created to reflect the image of God (Genesis 1:27). James says earlier in his letter: “No one can tame the tongue”; no one, that is, except God. You may remember in Exodus 15:23-26 that the people of Israel came to Marah on their journey to the Promised Land. The word “Marah” means “bitter”, and the waters there were bitter. They couldn’t drink the waters, and they couldn’t change the condition of the waters, but God did. When God told them to cast a particular tree into the water, the waters became sweet and drinkable.

If your speech is not reflecting the character of God, and other areas of your life are contrary to God’s will, you may want to make sure that your relationship to God is genuine, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly the Lord of your life. The theme of the book of James is: “genuine faith produces genuine works”. If there is any question in your mind, God wants to enter your life if you will turn from your sinful ways and let Him come in and take control of your mind, emotions and will. Then your words will become words of praise and thanksgiving to God and to others; words that heal, comfort and encourage; words that are beautiful to hear; words that give glory to God.

THE REMOVAL AND BURIAL OF JESUS – John 19:31-42

Bible sermon, Bible sermons, burial of Jesus, crucifixion, death, Jesus' birth, New Testament sermon, Uncategorized

INTRODUCTION:

When the Lord Jesus came into this world as an infant, there were also miraculous signs that accompanied His birth. Luke 2 tells us of the angel who suddenly appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. After the angel made the announcement of the Savior’s birth, a whole multitude of angels appeared in the sky singing, “Glory to God in the highest . . . “. Then there was a star that pointed the way for the Magi from the East to find Jesus.

Jesus’ death was also followed by some amazing events. Matthew 27 tells us that immediately after Jesus said “It is finished!”, the earth shook and the rocks were split apart. Also, tombs opened up and bodies of the saints were raised and entered the holy city of Jerusalem. When the centurion who was guarding Jesus saw these things happening, he said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”. The Lord Jesus revealed His deity to a few people both at His birth and at His death.

I. REMOVAL FROM THE CROSS (verses 31-37)

As we read in verse 31, the Jewish leaders asked Pilate that the legs of those crucified should be broken so that they would soon die, and then could be taken off their crosses before the Passover Sabbath began. Breaking their legs would result in a quick death because the crucified person would no longer be able to lift himself up to exhale, and would soon die from asphyxiation.

Pilate granted their request, and the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves, but they didn’t break Jesus’ legs because they could see that He was already dead. So in verse 34 it says that “one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear”. The middle of the spear’s head was a hand-breadth wide. Out of Jesus’ side flowed blood and water. It’s believed that the sword pierced the membrane surrounded the heart, and the serum with clots of blood in it was proof that Jesus had already died.

These events fulfilled two Old Testament prophesies. The first was the instructions for cooking and eating the Passover lamb. Exodus, chapter 12, says that as you eat the lamb, you are not to break any bone of it. This command not to break any of the bones of the Passover lamb is repeated in Numbers 9:12 as they celebrate this feast day each year. Secondly, the piercing of Jesus’ side fulfills the prophesy in Zechariah 12:10, which is quoted here in verse 37: “They shall look on Him whom they pierced”.

II. THE BURIAL (verses 38-42)

The Romans had made an exception by taking Jesus and the two thieves down from the cross. Normally the Romans left those who were crucified on their crosses until their flesh was eaten by birds of prey. Guards kept watch over the bodies in order to keep friends and family members from taking them away. But Pilate made an exception in this case.

Up until now, Joseph of Arimathea had been a secret believer for fear of the Jews. Now, in verse 38, he boldly comes forward to claim the Lord’s body for burial. Why did Pilate hand over the body of Jesus to Joseph? Joseph wasn’t even related to Jesus, and that was against Roman law. Perhaps it was because Pilate was convinced that Jesus wasn’t guilty.

In verse 39 Nicodemus joins Joseph, bringing with him a hundred pounds of spices. Why so great an amount of spices to prepare one man’s body for burial? That’s’ enough spices for a king’s burial! That’s exactly what they wanted to do for Jesus – give Him a king’s burial! The spices were probably in a powdered form, or a paste. They put some of the spices directly on Jesus’ body, wound strips of linen cloth around His body from His feet to His shoulders, and put more spices between each layer of cloth.

Verse 41 says that “in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb.” Matthew 27 tells us that it was Joseph’s new tomb, which he had hewn in a rock. This hill called “Golgotha”, on the edge of town was considered a God-forsaken place. No expensive tombs were constructed by the Jews in this area. Most wealthy Jews had burial places on the property where they lived. It’s very possible that when Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death, Joseph of Arimathea hurriedly bought that piece of land in the garden and hired a crew of laborers to cut that tomb in the rock so that Jesus could be buried there. There wasn’t time to take the body of Jesus very far because it was almost time to prepare for the Passover meal. Matthew 27 tells us that they rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb after they put Jesus inside, and the chief priests and Pharisees put a guard there. They didn’t believe Jesus’ prophesy that He would rise from the dead in three days, but they wanted to make sure no one could steal the body and start a rumor that Jesus rose from the dead.

As you’ve read this sermon, have the events surrounding the death and burial of Christ made an impression on you? The centurion who observed these events was amazed and afraid, and his attitude toward Jesus Christ changed.

ILLUSTRATION: One day two non-Christians were riding along on a railroad train discussing Christ’s wonderful life. One of them said, “I think an interesting romance could be written about Him”. The other man replied, “Yes, and you are just the man to do it, setting forth the correct views of His life and character. I advise you to tear down the idea of His divine nature, and paint Him and He was – just a man living among men.” The recommendation was acted upon and the novel was written. The man who made the suggestion was Colonel Ingersoll, and the author was General Lew Wallace. The book was entitled “Ben Hur”. I imagine that many of you have read the book or seen the movie.

In the process of writing that book, Wallace learned some amazing truths. The more he studied Jesus’ life and character, the more he become convinced that Jesus was more than just a great teacher. Like the centurion in Matthew’s Gospel, he became persuaded that “Truly, this was the Son of God”! I pray that you might also reach that conclusion, act upon it, and enjoy the privileges of being a “child of God”.

SIMEON AND ANNA MEET THE BABY JESUS

Christmas, Christmas joy, Simeon and Anna, Sunday after Christmas sermon

In Luke’s Gospel we read about two elderly people who loved God, served Him with all their hearts, and looked forward to the coming of the promised Messiah. Luke 2:22-24 tells us that the baby Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after His birth in obedience to the Law of Moses. Then after the time of purification, which is thirty-three days for a male child according to Leviticus 12, if the child is the first-born, he was to be brought to the temple to be dedicated to God. So the baby Jesus was about six weeks old when his parents brought Him to the temple for His dedication, and they also brought two turtle doves as a sacrifice to the Lord.

SIMEON (Luke 2:25-35)

In Luke 2:25 we are told about Simeon. He was “a righteous and devout man, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Verse 26 says that the Holy Spirit revealed to him “that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” The word “Christ” means “the Anointed One”, the “Messiah”. Verse 27 tells us that it was the Holy Spirit who led Simeon to go to the temple at the very time when Mary and Joseph were bringing the baby Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him to God. Simeon was given the ability to recognize that this baby was the Messiah, and as he holds the baby Jesus in his arms, his heart is filled with joy and his words of gratitude are very moving as he says, “Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for my eyes have seen Thy salvation.” The sight of the baby Jesus in his arms made possible Simeon’s joyful departure from this world.

Jesus’ presence with us today is also real, giving us strength for service, and taking the fear out of dying for those who have put their faith in Him. I have seen humble believers leave this world with peace, joy, and radiant hope on the faces because they knew that the Lord Jesus was with them and was taking them home to be with Him. Even martyrs have been able to sing while being burned at the stake.

Simeon’s words that follow in verses 31-35 cause us to realize that Simeon knew that this baby Jesus would someday provide salvation by suffering and dying for our sins. Simeon also prophesied that Jesus would be a Savior to both Jews and Gentiles, and that Mary’s soul would be pierced by a sword of sorrow at her Son’s death. Like Simeon, we too must look to Jesus for our salvation. Like Simeon, we too can rejoice even in the face of death if we know Jesus as our Savior and Lord. So don’t let hardship and trials rob your Christmas of its deeper joy.

ANNA THE PROPHETESS (verses 36-38)

While Simeon was holding the baby Jesus in his arms, someone else was there in the temple, and she came forward to see the baby Jesus. Her name was Anna and she was a prophetess of God. If you add up the numbers in verses 36 and 37 you will find that Anna was over a hundred years old. Verse 37 says that she “never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.” Her entire life was devoted to prayer. What an example she is to us all!

Anna instantly knew that this baby was the Messiah and she immediately gave fervent thanks to God. But Anna didn’t stop there. Verse 38 says that Anna “continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” She became a ready and willing witness for Jesus Christ, and probably prepared many to follow Him thirty years later when Jesus began His public ministry. The effects of her witness for Christ continued long after her lifetime here on this earth.

Like Anna, may we pause to reflect upon, and give thanks for, the One who came as a baby in order to save us from the penalty of our sins. Also, like Anna, let us ask God for opportunities to share the saving work of Christ with others during this Christmas season, so that they too might experience the true and lasting joy of Christmas, and have the peace of heart that only Jesus Christ can give. During this season of the year when depression and suicides are at their highest, may we radiate the love of Christ, and be ready to give a reason for the hope and joy that is in us.

MAKING ROOM FOR JESUS AT CHRISTMAS

after-Christmas blues, Bible sermons, Christmas, Christmas Day, Joy, Uncategorized

The real joy of Christmas comes when we discover and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas can only be found by asking and answering this question: “Why did Jesus come to earth?” Why did Jesus come to earth? Was it to give us an additional opportunity to “make merry”? Was it to give people an occasion to spend money on presents, greeting cards, and Christmas decorations? The purpose of this question is not to condemn these activities, but to cause us to think about the real meaning of Christmas.

Why did Jesus come to earth? Let’s let Jesus answer that question Himself. In Matthew 20:28 Jesus says, “. . . the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus was born on this earth in order to die for our sins, as a perfect sacrifice to a holy God. He didn’t have to come as a helpless infant. He didn’t have to come and die for our sins, but He chose to do so out of love for each of us.

In John 10:10 Jesus states another reason for His coming to earth. Jesus said, “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” Jesus came to give us the kind of life that neither money nor anything else on this earth can buy.

Do you and I have the true joy of Christmas this year? In the midst of wrapping presents and making preparations, is there room in our lives for Jesus? Today, over 2000 years after that glorious event, millions of people have no room for Jesus. Although they participate enthusiastically in the festivities of the Christmas season, the Lord Jesus is kept out of their lives. How about you? Is there room in your life for Jesus the Messiah? What better time than during this season to rededicate your life to Him, or to receive Him into your life as your personal Savior and Lord!

Just prior to World War II, in the country of India, there existed a Christian school for the children of the lowest class of society, called the “untouchables”. Every year these students received Christmas presents from children in England. The girls received a doll and the boys received a toy. On one occasion the doctor from a nearby mission hospital was asked to hand out the gifts. While he was there, he told the youngsters about a village where the boys and girls had never heard of Jesus. He suggested that maybe they would like to give them some of their old toys as presents. The children liked the idea and agreed to do so. A week later the doctor returned to collect the gifts. One by one the children filed by and handed the doctor a doll or a toy. To his great surprise, they all gave the new present they had just received a week earlier. When he asked “why”, a girl spoke up and said, “Think what God did by giving us His only Son. Could we give Him less than our best?”

What’s it going to be like for you on the day after Christmas – when Christmas is over? Let’s go back to the original Christmas. On the day following Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph were faced with the ordinary tasks of caring for a new baby. The shepherds would be back on the hillside tending their sheep. All the elements were present for an emotional letdown, which often follows an emotional high. But I don’t believe they experienced any “after-Christmas blues”. Mary and Joseph didn’t quickly forget all that happened, and the shepherds couldn’t easily forget what they had seen and heard. The angelic message had proven to be true, and their lives were filled with new hope and anticipation.

Two thousand years later, we have the full story. Jesus came into this world to die for our sins. He then conquered death by rising from the grave. We have more truth to ponder and more reasons to glorify God than did Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. We need not experience an “after-Christmas letdown”. As we remind ourselves of the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, may each day of our lives be filled with joy.

May you have a joyous Christmas season, and “after-Christmas” season!

CHRISTMAS – Why Is It Significant?

Bible sermons, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas joy, Jesus' birth, Joy, Joy on Christmas Day, meaning of Christmas, New Testament sermon, Uncategorized

INTRODUCTION:

After the first American astronaut landed on the moon, the President of the United States praised this wonder of modern science. He said, “The planting of human feet on the moon is the greatest moment in human history!” Later, evangelist Billy Graham made this comment: “With all due respect”, he said, “the greatest moment in human history was not when man set foot on the moon, but when the infinite and eternal God set foot on this earth in Jesus of Nazareth!” Just how significant is the birth of Jesus Christ in our world today?

I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH

The year is 2021 A.D., isn’t it? As you probably know, the letters A.D. are an abbreviation for two Latin words: “anno Domini”, a phrase which means “in the year of the Lord”. Events prior to Jesus’ birth are dated B.C., that is, “before Christ”. Everything in history is dated from the time when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Every newspaper and magazine, every official document gives testimony to Christ’s birth.

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS BIRTH (Luke 2:1-20)

Yet when we look at the circumstances surrounding His birth, we see poverty and humility. But from these circumstances, and the symbolism in them, we can gain valuable insight into why the Lord Jesus was born. Let’s take a closer look at this passage of Scripture: Luke chapter 2, verses one to twenty.

In verses 1 to 6, we read that Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken of the whole Roman empire. Joseph and Mary were forced to make an eighty-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem because they belonged to the descendants of David. Caesar didn’t know it, but he was doing an errand for God so that Micah’s prophecy in Micah 5:2 would be fulfilled. The Savior of the world was to be born in the city of Bethlehem.

In verse 7, Mary brought forth her child alone. There was no midwife; there were no friends and no family, except her husband, Joseph. Similarly, at the end of Jesus’ life, as He hung dying on a cross, there was only a handful of His family and friends close to him. Verse 7 also says, “they wrapped Him in cloths. The Greek word literally means “to swaddle” or to wrap in strips of cloth. This was often the way dead bodies were wrapped in preparation for burial.

Verse 7 also says that they laid the newborn baby Jesus in a manger – a feeding trough for animals. Jesus was born in a stable, a place for sheep and cattle. There were probably many lambs under the same roof as the baby Jesus. This is significant because, before Jesus began his public ministry, John the Baptist said of Him, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

From verses 8-20, we learn that the only other people to see the newborn baby Jesus were the shepherds. And these were no ordinary shepherds. The Jewish book of legal codes, called the “Mishnah”, prohibited the tending of flocks of sheep throughout the land of Israel, except in the wilderness areas, because sheep were unclean animals. The only exception was the flocks used for the temple sacrifices. These sheep were killed and offered up as sacrifices for the sins of the people.

III. WHY WAS JESUS CHRIST BORN

Why was Jesus Christ born? What is the true meaning of Christmas? I found out the answer to that question in 1970. Have you ever had a miserable Christmas? Well, Christmas of 1970 had all the indications of being the worst Christmas I would ever experience. It was Christmas eve, and I was in the Air Force, stationed at a remote base in northern Thailand. I was away from my family and friends, and there was no “Christmas spirit” in me. I was on a bus headed into town to attend a Bible study at the Christian Servicemen’s Center. I had been going there for several weeks, hoping to find some answers to life. The director of the center must have noticed my despondency because he asked me if I would mind staying for a while after the Bible study. He said he had something he wanted to talk to me about. I had nothing else going on that evening so I agreed.

He began by asking me this question: “If you died tonight, and you stood before God in judgment, and God said, ‘Tom, give me one reason why I should let you into My heaven’, what would you say?” I don’t remember what the Bible study was about that night, nor who was there, but I do remember the joy and peace I experienced when I invited Jesus Christ to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. I also remember smiling as I rode back to the base on the 10:00 p.m. bus. I was probably the only serviceman who was smiling and who wasn’t drunk! On Christmas Day I had no Christmas tree and no presents, but I had more joy than I had ever experienced. I spent most of Christmas Day reading the New Testament Scriptures. It was a new book to me because I was now a child of God. If you want to know more about what I learned, and what happened to me that night, it’s all in the ABOUT PAGE of this blog.

The real joy of Christmas comes when we discover the true meaning of Christmas. Why did Jesus Christ come to earth? Let’s allow Jesus to answer that question for Himself. In Mark 10:45 Jesus says, “For the Son of man also came, not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” In John 10:10 Jesus says, “I came that you may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” In the midst of shopping for presents, sending cards, and putting up decorations, is there room in your heart for Jesus?