Christmas Confusion The Skit Guys 2min 33sec
Nothing can take away the gift of God to us in Jesus. Just like was read for us from the Hebrews Bible Reading this morning. God sets the appointed day for a special birth, and nothing was going to get in the way of that. Christmas is coming, God’s way and God’s plan for us. Jesus is born in a cattle shed. The birth of Jesus is cause for us to gather together to celebrate the wonder of God. That he has been always acting for us and to show us the greatest present we can ever receive, it is a present no one can snatch away. The coming of God’s one and only Son into our world Is to save his people from their sins. The stunning thing about Christmas is that God would chose to speak, as sometimes I think we come to Christmas thinking more like Christmas survivalist’s, because we feel the pressure and see the waste or remember the excess of years past. At this time the coming together for family and friends takes up a lot of our time in the next few days. There will be lots of talking and eating and catching up about the year past; just like Christmas can feel like we keep looking at the rear view mirror to an ancient time in a far away land. So the difficulty is keeping our hearts right with God at this time of year is quite a challenge. The reason for the season is Jesus. As we look at Hebrews this morning we’re told: remember the past actions of God; remember the promise God makes to you as you look forward to the coming year. As we read in Hebrews 1:1-2
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Today we come to the intersection of our Bible. The midway point in time of our New & Old Testaments. A summary of the old finding fulfilment in the new
both intersecting at one time in the coming of God’s one and only Son Jesus. In just 2 verses the challenge to us is great. The question is by how much will we gag or let God speak to us. To the writer of the Hebrews it feels like Jesus needs no introduction so he jumps right in to summarise what God has going on. Here is the summary: in the past; to our forefather; through the prophets
at many times and in various ways; now in these last days; to us he has spoken; by his son. Like the Shepherds when they were out in the open fields were told by an angel. Luke 2:10-20
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
It’s easy to become fatigued about sharing the hope Jesus’ birth brings us. Forgetting that Jesus has us boots and all in his sight. The writer of Hebrews wants us to reflect on this during these coming days and remember the reason for the season. Jesus is unique. Look again Hebrews 1:2 where we see three powerful things. God has spoken directly to us – not out there in the ether hoping someone might catch on – He has spoken to us . We live in the last days, that is the days that are until Jesus returns as Jesus is Lord over all things and nothing has been made without the approval or purpose of Jesus. Verses 3-4
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Jesus is the name we are to identify with. He speaks to us on God’s behalf, and above all else what are we told Jesus came for. He came for the purification of sin. It was so that he could give up his life a sacrifice to die for our sin to cleanse us and bring to us forgiveness and bring us back to God. Right now Hebrews tells us Jesus sits in heaven reigning as Lord over all. As we are those looking forward to the day he returns to bring everything to its completion. A day in which we will all stand before him and give account for our lives. So be warned Hebrews 2:1
1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
So now keep check on where your heart is drifting away to as someone once wisely pointed out
There is a war that goes on in our hearts all the time between what the Bible has to say about us and what we would like to think is true about ourselves. Each of us are confronted with the reality that we are not as good as we imagine we are, and that really we are more needy and vulnerable than we typically consider ourselves to be.[1]
In every which way Jesus is far superior than us. That is the point of Hebrews 1:5-14. In which the writer draws on a string of Old Testament references two stand out from the Psalms, Psalms 110 & Psalm 2. As we read in Hebrews 1:13
13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
The right hand side seat to a king is the seat of power; it is the place of special honour. As here we get reminded God will bring his justice through the humiliation, suffering and death of his one and only Son. These Psalms used in Hebrews 1 bring us in to see Jesus as superior in every way in birth, in life, in death, and in rising again Jesus is superior. Jesus is our reason for the season
We see all the hallmarks of the want and waste in our world right around us every day. We have in Jesus a Saviour who doesn’t just convict us of our sin. He is the same saviour who restores us also in our relationship with God. Trusting Jesus we are told to expect great things from God . What God saves us from isn’t all the stuff out there the most significant thing God saves us from is right in here – in ourselves[2]. God really has an inside out way of dealing with our hearts. The birth of Jesus is a time for us to reflect on what God has changed in us this year. A time to praise the God who lets us bring all our fears and hopes and failures and sins and successes before him and in him finding peace and forgiveness and hope and most precious of all life. That’s the best gift we can receive this Christmas
let’s pray…
David Hassan @ Tamworth Community Presbyterian Church 24/12/17
[1] Tripp, Paul Broken Down House Shepherd Press, Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania, 2009. p..35-37
[2] Tripp, Paul Instruments in the redeemers hand P&R 2002 p 264-265