THE CAST OF CHRISTMAS: Jesus 12-21-25

THE CAST OF CHRISTMAS: Jesus 12-21-25

INTRODUCTION

The Cast of Christmas 

Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds, Simeon and Anna

What does our infatuation with Santa say about our view of Christmas?

“To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.”

E. B. White, The Second Tree from the Corner.

Why Jesus is Better than Santa

• Santa lives at the North Pole…JESUS is everywhere.

• Santa rides in a sleigh…JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

• Santa comes but once a year…JESUS is an ever present help.

• Santa fills your stockings with goodies…JESUS supplies all your needs.

• Santa comes down your chimney uninvited…JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

• You have to wait in line to see Santa…JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

• Santa lets you sit on his lap…JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

• Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”…JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

• Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly…JESUS has a heart full of love

• All Santa can offer is HO HO HO…JESUS offers health, help and hope.

• Santa says “You better not cry”…JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

• Santa’s little helpers make toys…JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

• Santa may make you chuckle but…JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

• While Santa puts gifts under your tree…JESUS became our gift and died on a tree…the cross.

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5b-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭2:5b-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I.  BECOMING 

‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  The Word became flesh

B.  The Word dwelt among us

C.  His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son of God

D.  Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth

“This is the Christmas Gospel: Jesus, God in flesh, unrobed Himself from His divine essences to be encumbered in sinless human flesh; so that He might: atone, redeem, reconcile, justify, sanctify and glorify sinful humanity. The gift of eternal life is through faith in Christ. Jesus is our Savior, Redeemer, Sanctifier, Justifier, Glorifier, Lord and God!" 

David Tack, Sermon Central, December 14, 2010.

Jesus became exactly what his Father wanted.  What are you becoming?

II.  BECOMING NOTHING

According to the ancient historical writer Jerome, he feels Jesus was born in a stable because "...it would have been fitting for Christ to come into the Holy of Holies in the Temple, but he came into this world in a stinking stable, for us...

"Christ found no room in the Holy of Holies that shone with gold, precious stones, pure silk and silver. He is not born in the midst of gold and riches, but in the midst of dung, in a stable where our sins were filthier than the dung. He is born on a dunghill in order to lift up those who come from it: 'From the dunghill he lifts up the poor' (Ps 113:7)"

Jerome, On the Nativity of the Lord, ACCSNT 3:39.

Philippians 2:5b-7 NIV

Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2: 5b-7 NIV

A.  Gave up equality with God

1.  Boundaried

2.  Confined

3.  Limited

B.  "Made himself nothing"

1.  Taking the very nature of a servant

2.  Being made in human likeness

"Jesus has come, moreover, not as a blaze which will soon die down, but as a light which will last our day, yea, last for ever. After the long dark and cold night of our misery, the Lord comes in the fittest and most effectual manner; neither as lightning, nor candle, nor flaming meteor, but as the sun which begins the day… The visits of God are like the dayspring, because they end our darkness. The dayspring banishes the night… Our night is ended once for all when we behold God visiting us in Jesus Christ. Our day may cloud over, but night will not return. O, you that are in the blackest midnight, if you can but get a view of Christ, morning will have come to you!"

Charles Spurgeon, The Tender Mercy of our God

What do you hope to become?

III.  BECOMING OBEDIENT TO DEATH

How extreme are you willing to get in obedience?

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Humbled himself by becoming obedient to death

B.  Even death on a cross!

James Martin tells about a trip to the Holy Land. While there, he buys a nativity set for his Sunday School class. It was carved out of olive wood in the town of Bethlehem and had all the traditional figures: sheep and oxen; wise men and the shepherds; Mary, Joseph, and, of course, the baby Jesus.

As he began the return trip home, he had to go through the very strict security at Tel Aviv airport. He didn’t figure that the nativity set would attract any attention but he was wrong. Each figure was carefully scrutinized and even X-rayed. Martin asked why they were being so diligent. The security officer explained it this way: "You see, we must make sure there is nothing explosive in them."

The Christmas story is explosive. It’s part of the dynamite of the Gospel story. There is power in knowing that almighty God loved us enough to come to this earth, be born, live a perfect life, die for our sins, and then raise from the dead and give us the promise of new, abundant, and eternal life.

Michael Luke, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, 12/5/2009.

Does your personal obedience demonstrate a value for what God values?

CONCLUSION

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:15-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

‭‭ Colossians‬ ‭1:15-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It was Christmas Eve, 1910. General William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army in London, England was near the end of his life. His health was poor, and he was going to be unable to attend the Army’s annual convention. Booth had become an invalid, and his eyesight was failing him. No one knew that he would not live to see another Christmas.

Somebody suggested that General Booth send a telegram or a message to be read at the opening of the convention as an encouragement to the many soldiers of the Salvation Army that would be in attendance following Christmas and their many hours of labor ministering to so many others through the holidays and the cold winter months. Booth agreed to do so.

Knowing that funds were limited and desiring not to use any more money than necessary so that as much money as possible could be used to help the many people in need, General Booth decided to send a one word message. He searched his mind and reviewed his years of ministry, looking for the one word that would summarize his life, the mission of the Army and encourage the others to continue on.

When the thousands of delegates met, the moderator announced that Booth would not be able to be present because of failing health and eyesight. Gloom and pessimism swept across the floor of the convention. Then, the moderator announced that Booth had sent a message to be read with the opening of the first session. He opened the telegram and read the one word message:

Others!

Signed, General Booth.

The bottom line is that while Jesus is the reason for the season - we are the reason for the reason!

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.