Sermon Series

Christmas Long Ago – Part 4

“A Celebration of Love”

Pastor Jerry

John 1:1-18

(A first person narration/drama – by the Apostle John)

————————————- Message Synopsis ————————————-

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning….In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…

Even as I write these words, my heart is filled with so many emotions, so many thoughts. The Spirit of God has prompted me to write—So much I’ve learned, so much I still do not understand.

For the longest time, I struggled with one question, “Why would the Word of God—the Son of the Living God leave the glory of heaven to come to earth?”

Like so many of the people in our land in that day, I wanted a Messiah who would come and rid us of Rome. I wanted a Messiah who would come in judgment.

But I learned that this is not what the Master had come to do. He came to show us the way into the Kingdom of God. But what compelled him to come, he who made the earth and sky? Only now do I truly understand. The reason the Messiah came to us was simple—he loved us.

The memories come flooding back to me now. Oh, let me introduce myself. I am the Apostle John. I remember the time a Pharisee came to see Jesus. Nicodemus was his name. He came to the Master by night. He didn’t want to be seen. A pharisee he was—and a member of the Sanhedrin. Jesus told the Jewish leader that he needed to experience a new birth. The Kingdom of God was not about keeping the law, but about receiving the free gift of salvation that came through the grace of God. – How about you? Are you in the Kingdom? Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up. He was talking about his death. Jesus looked Nicodemus, and loved him—and was willing to give himself for him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… Such an incredible love. Do you have this love?

I recall a trip we made through Samaria, stopping at Jacob’s well, Jesus asked a Samaritan woman –(a woman who had quite a bad reputation) for a drink of water. We couldn’t believe Jesus would talk with woman like that. He told us to open our eyes, everywhere around us the fields were ripe to harvest. I have trouble talking to people like that woman.  Do you? Later the entire village came out to see Jesus because of this woman. And many believed in the Lord. All because he loved a Samaritan woman—and was willing to tell her some Good News. Amazing love!

Of course his love was not limited to individuals. I can see so clearly one of the most amazing miracles he worked for a mass of people. Once a huge crowd of people followed us—at least 5,000 men. Instead of turning them away (which is what we wanted Jesus to do), he invited them to Him, taught them. And when time for the afternoon meal, he told us to feed them! Jesus ever asked you to do something you think you can’t do? And Jesus fed the entire crowd and he had us gather up the leftovers and we filled baskets full. Why didn’t he just turn the crowd away? He loved them. Such a generous love.

His love for people got him in trouble though. Self-righteous hypocrites came to him once, dragging a woman behind them. They threw her at Jesus’s feet. She was barely clothed. She was so overwhelmed with shame. She had been caught in the act of adultery. They wanted Jesus to pass judgment upon her. They knew if he said “stone her” then all of his talk of love would sound like a lie to the crowds. If he said “let her go” then they could claim he had no respect for the law.

Then, quietly, and quite calmly, Jesus knelt down and drew in the dirt. He was silent for a moment, then raised to his feet. He looked at the men and said, “Which ever of you is free from sin may cast the first stone.” Within moments the crowd was gone. Jesus told the woman that he would not condemn her, but that she must not go back to her life of sin. Jesus was so kind! Jesus offered her grace. Why? He loved her, even in her sin, He loved her. You ever need to be forgiven? Even though she didn’t deserve forgiveness, she was given it that day. All because of love. Oh, what gracious love!

I received a very personal glimpse of Jesus’ heart of love the day we found out his friend Lazarus had died. We were on the way to Bethany thinking that Jesus might heal Lazarus. Jesus let us know that Lazarus was already dead. Had been for days. Martha and Mary met us and each told Jesus that he could have saved their brother had he arrived earlier. Jesus assured them that Lazarus would live again. Jesus went to the grave side and wept. — wept at the tomb of his friend. Jesus called Lazarus back from the grave. It was such a glorious miracle. Have you ever been down and out and need help to get back to real living? If Jesus knew what was about to happen, Why did he cry? I believe He wept for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary that day, because he loved them and he did not want them to suffer. Such a compassionate love.

Of course the greatest testimony of the Master’s love was not in a healing. The greatest testimony of his love happened at a place called Golgotha. For months Jesus had been preparing us for his death. We simply would not believe him. Then our last Passover together was celebrated and that night he was arrested. Judas betrayed him, yes. But we all failed him. He was given a “trial,” if you could call it that, and was sentenced to death. That day of his crucifixion, I stood at the foot of his cross, I found his mother, Mary. She was weeping bitterly. I held her to my side, trying to comfort her as best I could. As I looked up into his face I finally understood—this was what he meant. This was the fulfillment of his words to Nicodemus. The Son of Man was lifted up. Somehow, this was in the great plan of God. How could such a perfect love which started at His birth on that first Christmas –be stamped out in such a cruel way. Even in death Jesus continued to love. He looked down and said Father forgive them.

Jesus died that horrible day. My faith was tested. But Love was triumphant. Jesus rose from the grave—and salvation became a reality in my heart! Do you have Jesus? Why did Jesus come at Christmas? I now know the answer. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. He came ALL BECAUSE OF LOVE!!!