RESPONDING TO CRITICISM – John 6:41-47

Bible sermons, criticism, discrimination, John 6, prejudice, sermons

INTRODUCTION:

The first American steamboat took 32 hours to go from New York to Albany. People laughed! The horse and buggy passed an early motor car as if it were standing still. People laughed! The first electric light bulb was so dim that people had to use a lamp in order to see it. People laughed! The first airplane came down fifty-nine seconds after it left the ground. People laughed! But those inventors were committed to their work. Rather than wasting a lot of time responding to the jokes and criticisms aimed at them, they devoted their time to perfecting their ideas, and we all know the results. They are written in the history books. Those inventors have been honored, their work has been carried on, and we are reaping the benefits of their labors.

The cause of Christ is also not without its critics. When baseball player-turned – evangelist, Billy Sunday, first started holding crusades, he was criticized for many things, including his “coarse” language, his use of slang terms, his “acrobatic preaching”, and his inclusive attitude toward Negroes. Cartoons were drawn of him and put in the newspapers. In spite of all this criticism, Billy Sunday continued to do what God called him to do. He won the hearts of the working-class population and God changed the hearts of many of his accusers. By 1920 he was considered to be the greatest evangelist in America at that time.

In the 1940’s another evangelist began to become visible to the American nation, and he started drawing criticism from fundamentalists because of his cooperation with the National Counsel of Churches, and from others because of his identification with the civil rights movement. Rather than become discouraged, he announced, “I intend to go anywhere, sponsored by anybody, to preach the gospel of Christ, if there are no strings attached to my message.” That evangelist is Billy Graham, and look how God has blessed his commitment to the Person and work of Jesus Christ!

In the passage of Scripture we are studying, John 6:41-47, we will find that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was not excluded from criticism. In fact, He was, and still is, one of the most criticized people of all time. Let’s take a look at the criticisms that were leveled at Him in these verses of Scripture, and observe how He responded to them, and to the critics who expressed them.

I. MUMBLING AND GRUMBLING (verse 41)

Verse 11 says, “The Jews therefore were grumbling about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread that came down out of heaven’.” The Greek word (“ouranos”) is often used to describe the place where God dwells, so the crowd knows He is claiming to be God. This is the third time Jesus has used the phrase, “came down from heaven”, in His conversation with this crowd, and He is going to say that phrase three more times before the conversation is over. Jesus keeps saying it again and again!

When a person keeps saying something to you that you don’t believe and don’t want to hear, do you become angry inside? Do you feel your body tensing up? Are you thinking to yourself, “If he (or she) says it one more time, I’m going to explode”? Have you ever had one of those moments? Sure you have!

Try to visualize the thoughts in the minds of this crowd as the water in a large kettle that’s hanging over a fire. In verse 41 you can begin to see the steam rising from that kettle, and you can hear the water churning and the sound of bubbles coming to the surface and popping. That’s a picture that comes to my mind when I think of the words “murmuring” and “grumbling”. The words indicate discontent and anger. These Jews are acting just like their ancestors who “murmured” against Moses (Exodus 15:24; 17:3; Numbers 14:2).

II. THE REASON FOR THEIR GRUMBLING (verse 42)

The apostle John gives us the reason for their grumbling when he tells us the words they were mumbling to themselves and to one another. “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” John must have been next to Jesus, and both of them could overhear their words and the scoffing and sarcastic manner in which they were said. I’m sure they said worse things than that as they responded to each others’ words. The Greek word which is translated “grumbling” (or “murmuring“, or “muttering“, depending on your translation) is found eight times in the New Testament, and in every case it’s used in a negative sense. The Greek word is pronounced “gong-good’-zo”). Their grumbling sounded like a “a noisy gong“, but it was not “good“, but “bad” in each of those cases! I like the following definition: “smoldering discontent”. The embers keep burning and the smoke keeps rising, waiting for more wood to set it aflame!

Many psychological studies have been done on crowd behavior. This particular situation sounds a lot like the “emergent norm theory” of crowd behavior. I imagine that there were some of Jesus’ enemies in this crowd, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes. Because these groups were esteemed by the people, negative comments made by them would influence the others in the crowd to follow their example over the period of time they were around each other. Thus the behavior of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes became the new normative behavior of the rest of the crowd, which initially was just curious and desirous of this “bread of life”. We will see a similar effect occur in the crowd that is present at Jesus’ trial after His arrest.

Have you ever heard someone make fun of, or bad-mouth your parents? Did you get mad and say or do something about it? For many of us, negative remarks made about our parents can be more offensive and disturbing than similar statements made about ourselves. It’s as if God has given us a “protective instinct” when it comes to our families. As an old expression puts it: “Them’s fightin’ words!”

These Jews had come to the conclusion that Jesus was born in Nazareth and that Joseph was his real father. They were jumping to false conclusions without any evidence to prove them. Obviously, they had not done their homework! If they had done some investigation they would have, at least, found that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, where the Messiah was prophesied to be born, as recorded in Micah 5:2. “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.”

III. JESUS’ RESPONSE (verse 43)

We see, in verse 43, Jesus’ initial response to their grumbling. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do not grumble among yourselves’.” That sounds like a very short and incomplete response to me. Does it seem that way to you also? Those few words certainly demonstrate Jesus’ patience and wisdom in this particular situation. Defending his parents and trying to explain His virgin-birth would only add fuel to their smoldering fire. And those few words, “Do not grumble among yourselves”, silenced the crowd so that He could continue His conversation where He left off. How can that be? As I’ve mentioned before, the Jewish leaders had a deep respect for Moses the Law-giver, almost a sense of worship of him. Many of the Jewish leaders were familiar with every word that Moses spoke. When Jesus said, “Do not grumble among yourselves”, those who knew the words of Moses were reminded of what Moses said to their ancestors when they grumbled against him. In Exodus 16, when the people grumbled against Moses because of the lack of food, Moses said, ” . . . in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord, and what are we that you grumble against us? . . . Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.” (Exodus 16:7-8). Jesus is calling upon this crowd to reconsider their grumbling against Him because of who He claims to be. In Numbers 14, after hearing the report of the spies concerning the land of Canaan, the people grumbled against Moses again and threatened to kill him. As a consequence of those actions, God told the people of Israel that, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, everyone twenty years and over would not enter the promised land but would die in wilderness over a period of 40 years of wanderings. That’s a big price to pay for their grumblings. Jesus may be calling upon this crowd to also consider the possible consequences of their grumbling. The crowd quieted down and Jesus was able to continue His conversation. It’s as if Jesus had set out two warning flags before this crowd, and they heeded the warnings. They went from mumbling aloud to mulling it over in their minds: “Hmmm . . . maybe we should think this over for a while!”

IV. THE PROCESS OF COMING TO GOD (verses 44-47)

A. BEING DRAWN, AND COMING (verse 44)

Jesus resumes His conversation with the crowd in verse 44, saying, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” The Jews believed that they were chosen by God when they were born. They concluded that, since each of them was of Jewish parents, they were automatically God’s people, with all the eternal benefits included. Jesus is now going to correct their misconceptions. He tells them that, without the help of God, no one is able to respond to His invitation and come to Him. God the Father “draws” a person to His Son, and that person comes to believe in the Lord Jesus as a result. Without the drawing power of God the Father, no one can come to Christ. The Greek word that John uses is “helkuo”. It is found eight times in the New Testament. The majority of those instances speak of drawing in, or dragging a net full of fish (Jn. 21:6), dragging a person (Acts 16:19), or drawing a sword from its sheath (Jn. 18:10). It is also used of being drawn by an inward power (Jn. 12:32). We find this same concept in the Old Testament scriptures. God says, in Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

In my own conversion experience, God dragged me away from my former beliefs before He drew me to Himself, revealing the truth about Himself to me so that I believed. He changed the circumstances of my life to the point where I felt hopeless and helpless to save myself, and was gripped with a fear of death and the eternal suffering that would follow because of my sins. There was a “drawing away” and a “drawing to” in my case. That may be true in your case as well. The word “draw” indicates that there is some resistance, but the power and calling of God overcomes that resistance.

Once again Jesus says what He said to them in verse 39: “and I will raise them up on the last day.” I wonder whether those words brought to the minds of these Jews one of the most exciting promises in the Old Testament for the nation of Israel — the vision of the valley of the dry bones. God tells Ezekiel. “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come out of your graves, My people. . . I will put My Spirit within you and you will come back to life . . . place you on your own land . . . ” (Ezekiel 37) By saying the words, “I will raise them up”, Jesus is once again claiming to be God, and the One who will raise and rule over the people of Israel. For the true believer in Jesus Christ, verses 39 and 44 are powerful verses on assurance of salvation.

B. TROUGH THE WORD OF GOD (verse 45)

In verse 45, Jesus tells us the means that the Father uses in the drawing process when He says, “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” He’s quoting from Isaiah 54:13, letting the crowd know that the Father uses the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, to draw people to Himself. Jesus is telling them that, if they refuse to believe His words and come to Him as their Messiah, it is proof that the Father is not drawing them, at least not at this time.

Those who will believe are drawn by the Father through the Word as He empowers them to listen to it and learn from it. In this particular case, Jesus is the Teacher and His words are the Word of God to them. The drawing of the Father consists of hearing, learning, and believing. Those who listen and learn, come to Jesus. They are the ones whom the Father has chosen and drawn to His Son.

I found the following illustration to be helpful to me. You may find it helpful to you also.

The mere preaching of the gospel does not save an individual. The gospel message must be activated by the election and calling of God for an individual to be drawn to Him. It would be as if one had thrown a rope to a drowning man. The throwing of the rope could not save the man unless someone was at the other end of the rope, drawing him into shore.

This is what God has done. By His election, God draws to Himself the one who has heard the message. The person may have the rope, but he still needs the effective force of God drawing him in. Who, therefore, deserves the praise for salvation? Is it the man who tossed the rope? The man who grabbed the rope? No – the God who draws him in! Pastor and author, Warren Wiersbe, describes the process with these words: “It is through the teaching of the Word that God draws people to the Savior. The sinner hears, learns, and comes as the Father draws him. A mystery? Yes! A blessed reality? Yes!”

C. EVIDENCED BY BELIEF IN HIM (verses 46-47)

In verse 46, the Lord Jesus qualifies His previous statement so that the crowd would not misunderstand His words and come to a false conclusion that is contrary to the Old Testament scriptures. Therefore Jesus gives the following words of explanation: “Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.” In Exodus 33:18-20, God said to Moses, “No one can see my face and live.” No man can see God in all his glory and live. By His words in verse 46. Jesus is claiming to be more than a man because He has seen the Father and has been sent by the Father. Once again Jesus is claiming to be the Son of God, the Messiah. Only He has the full knowledge of the nature, the character, and plans of God the Father.

Now that He has made that clear to them, the Lord Jesus tells them to listen carefully as He gives them the third ingredient in the salvation process. He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

A missionary to Africa experienced great difficulty while trying to translate the Gospel of John into a particular native dialect. The problem he faced was to find a word for “believe”, because faith was something that wasn’t shown at all by this particular tribe. He continued to do the best he could, but always had to leave a blank space when he came to the word “believe”. One day, however, a runner came panting into the camp, having traveled a great distance with a very important message. After blurting out his story, he fell completely exhausted into a nearby hammock, muttering a brief phrase as he did so. The missionary had never heard those words before, so he asked a native what the runner had said. “Good massa, he is only saying, ‘I’m at the end of myself. Therefore I’m resting all my weight here’.” Delighted, the missionary exclaimed, “Praise God, that is the very expression I need for ‘believe’!” And so he was able to complete his translation of John’s Gospel into their native language.

The Lord Jesus is giving an invitation in verse 46 when He says, “he who believes has eternal life”. It is similar to the invitation Jesus gives in Matthew 11:28, where He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Let’s examine this verse in the context of the preceding verse, Matthew 11:27, which says, “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” A person can only come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. He will reveal the Father only to those who are “weary and heavy-laden”. They feel weak and helpless under the heavy burden of their sin and guilt. Only God can bring you under that conviction of sin. Only God can draw you to Himself. Only God can give you rest and inner peace as you entrust your life to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and rely completely on Him to hold you up and sustain you by His grace.

Are you feeling weak and helpless under the weight of your own sin and guilt? Do you feel like you’re drowning spiritually? Is there a fear of death and of reaping the consequences of your thoughts, words, and actions? Is there an emptiness inside that nothing in this life has been able to fill; a lack of meaning and purpose to your life? The author of Hebrews, when describing Moses, says, ” . . . choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin“ (Hebrews 11:27). Since there is pleasure in sin, the guilt and weight of conviction must be from God. He is drawing you to Himself. The choice is up to you to respond to the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, repenting of your sins and asking Jesus Christ to take control of your life and change your life. He will keep His promises to you if you sincerely believe.

If Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives, one lesson we can learn from this passage is how Jesus responded to criticism, and how we can follow His example. The Lord Jesus Christ was a man of conviction. He didn’t follow the crowds; the crowds followed Him! He would not compromise His Father’s will or the teachings of the Scriptures, and yet, at the same time, was compassionate toward people. Billy Graham beautifully described Jesus’ character and convictions when he said these words:

“His own inner conviction was so strong, so firm, so unswerving
that He could afford to mingle with any group secure in the knowledge
that He would not be contaminated. It is fear that makes us unwilling to
listen to another’s point of view, fear that our own ideas may be attacked.
Jesus had no such fear, no such pettiness of viewpoint, no need to
fence Himself off for His own protection. He knew the difference between
graciousness and compromise and we would do well to learn from Him.
He set for us the most magnificent and glowing example of truth combined with
mercy of all time. and in departing He said: “Go ye and do likewise.” (Lk. 10:37)

This lesson is exemplified in a phenomenon of nature. Sailors in the northern oceans have frequently observed icebergs traveling in one direction in spite of strong winds blowing in the opposite direction. How can this be? The explanation is that the icebergs, with eight-ninths of their bulk under the water’s surface, were caught in the grip of strong currents that moved them in a certain direction, no matter which way the winds blew and no matter how fiercely they raged. In the Christian life, no matter how strongly the winds of passing opinion blow in opposition, the believer who has a close relationship to God, and a depth of living in the currents of God’s grace will be moved in the direction of following Jesus’ example. The criticism that’s bound to come won’t blow us away.

CONSTRUCTION SITE: COMPLETED on 2/8/18

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.

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?