Santa or Jesus? Well that would be a choice between history and fantasy! Many people choose fantasy over reality not only at Christmas but throughout the year!
How do you picture Santa? Can you describe him in less than 20 words? How about describing God to someone in less than 20 words in 30 seconds? Suppose I asked you to describe Him in 200,000 words – would you do any better?
The most important thoughts that you think are the thoughts you think about God that are true! As we consider afresh the incarnation of Jesus – here is reality!
“You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin” 1 John 3:5
“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:8
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” Titus 2:11
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4
Jesus didn’t appear to make us feel good about ourselves, rather He came to show us our helplessness, hopelessness, lostness and our desperate need of forgiveness!
Jesus appeared so that we would know what God is like as we have been reminded in our almost year-long study in Hebrews, “Jesus is the radiance of the Father’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” God put His glory, purpose and pleasure on display:
- At Christ’s birth, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with who He is pleased” Luke 2:14
- At Christ’s baptism, “You are my beloved Son, in You I am well pleased” Luke 3:22
- At Christ’s transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him” Matt. 17:5
- At Christ’s triumphal entry, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Luke 19:38
- At Christ’s crucifixion, “Father the hour has come, glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify you” John 17:1
One day Christ will return and, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13:26
This Christmas Sunday we will examine Heb. 13:20-25! My title is, “The Glory of God’s Will!” Please join us and bring a friend! I know many of you will want to be with family but maybe your family is bigger than you think? Why not start the morning focused on the Lord Jesus – Santa can wait!
Because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
Glen
P.S. Please join us for our Christmas Eve service as well which starts at 5 pm!