Recognizing the True Significance of Christmas

 

Summary

On this Christmas morning, we gather to commemorate the most significant event in human history: the birth of Jesus Christ. This event is not just a religious observance but a historical fact that has changed the course of history, influencing even our calendars and weekly observances. The birth of Jesus is a pivotal moment recognized by both believers and secular historians as a turning point in time. However, the true significance of this event is often overlooked or misunderstood by many, both in the past and present.

The story of Jesus' birth in a humble stable because there was no room at the inn is a reflection of the world's failure to recognize the significance of His coming. This lack of recognition is not due to a lack of knowledge but rather a misunderstanding of who the Messiah is. The Jews of Jesus' time, despite their extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, failed to recognize Him because their expectations were shaped by political and nationalistic ideals. They expected a Messiah who would be a political and military leader, not a humble carpenter born in a stable.

This misunderstanding persists today as many people hold onto ideas about Christianity that are disconnected from the biblical narrative. The world often reshapes the message of Christ to fit its own philosophies, ignoring the historical and scriptural facts. True recognition of Jesus as the Messiah comes not from human wisdom but through divine revelation. Just as Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well, He continues to reveal Himself to those who are open to His message.

The essence of this revelation is the understanding that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Savior who offers hope and redemption to all, regardless of their past or status. His coming into the world is a testament to God's love and faithfulness, a promise that all who believe in Him will have eternal life. This Christmas, let us open our hearts to this revelation, acknowledging our need for Him and embracing the life He offers.

Key Takeaways:

- The birth of Jesus is a historical event that has profoundly impacted human history, yet its significance is often misunderstood due to preconceived notions and expectations. Recognizing Jesus requires us to look beyond our assumptions and understand the true nature of His mission. [01:48]

- The failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus as the Messiah highlights the danger of allowing cultural and political expectations to cloud our understanding of spiritual truths. True recognition of Jesus comes from aligning our understanding with the Scriptures. [12:25]

- Divine revelation is essential for recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. Just as He revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman, He continues to reveal Himself to those who are open to His message. This revelation is a gift of the Holy Spirit, opening our eyes to the truth. [27:35]

- Jesus embodies the fulfillment of all God's promises, offering hope and redemption to all, regardless of their past. His life and teachings reveal the depth of God's love and the assurance that His promises are sure and unfailing. [35:28]

- The message of Christmas is one of hope and redemption for all, not just the righteous or the learned. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, offering new life to those who acknowledge their need for Him and are willing to listen and believe. [38:42]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Gospel of John
- [00:55] - The Historical Significance of Christmas
- [02:06] - The Impact of Jesus' Birth on History
- [03:11] - The Change from Sabbath to Sunday
- [04:22] - The World's Failure to Recognize Jesus
- [05:30] - The Story of Jesus' Birth
- [07:35] - The World's Misunderstanding of Jesus
- [09:59] - Jesus Reveals Himself to the Samaritan Woman
- [12:59] - The Jews' Misconception of the Messiah
- [15:49] - The Importance of Scripture in Recognizing Jesus
- [18:11] - The Modern Misunderstanding of Christianity
- [22:39] - The Prophecies of Jesus' Return
- [27:35] - The Necessity of Divine Revelation
- [35:28] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of God's Promises
- [38:42] - Hope for All Through Jesus

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 4:25-26 (NIV): "The woman said, 'I know that Messiah' (called Christ) 'is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.' Then Jesus declared, 'I, the one speaking to you—I am he.'"

2. Micah 5:2 (NIV): "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

3. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV): "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of Jesus revealing Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well? [09:59]
2. How did the Jews' expectations of the Messiah differ from the reality of Jesus' birth and life? [13:32]
3. What role does divine revelation play in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, according to the sermon? [27:35]
4. How does the sermon describe the world's misunderstanding of Jesus' mission and message? [19:14]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might the Jews have struggled to recognize Jesus as the Messiah despite their knowledge of the Scriptures? [12:59]
2. How does the sermon suggest that cultural and political expectations can cloud spiritual understanding? [14:19]
3. In what ways does the sermon highlight the importance of aligning our understanding of Jesus with the Scriptures? [16:23]
4. How does the concept of divine revelation challenge or support one's personal understanding of Jesus? [27:35]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own expectations of Jesus. Are there any preconceived notions that might be hindering your understanding of His true mission? How can you align your understanding with the Scriptures? [13:32]
2. Consider a time when cultural or political views influenced your spiritual beliefs. How can you ensure that your faith is grounded in biblical truth rather than external influences? [14:19]
3. How open are you to receiving divine revelation in your life? What steps can you take to be more receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance? [27:35]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises. How can this understanding impact your daily life and interactions with others? [35:28]
5. Think about a person in your life who may have misconceptions about Christianity. How can you engage them in a conversation that reveals the true message of Jesus? [19:14]
6. Reflect on the hope and redemption offered through Jesus' birth. How can you share this message of hope with someone who feels lost or unworthy? [38:42]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to acknowledge your need for Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to embrace the life He offers? [41:31]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing the True Impact of Jesus' Birth
The birth of Jesus is a historical event that has profoundly impacted human history, yet its significance is often misunderstood due to preconceived notions and expectations. Recognizing Jesus requires us to look beyond our assumptions and understand the true nature of His mission. The world often reshapes the message of Christ to fit its own philosophies, ignoring the historical and scriptural facts. To truly appreciate the impact of Jesus' birth, one must acknowledge how it has influenced even our calendars and weekly observances. This Christmas, let us open our hearts to this revelation, acknowledging our need for Him and embracing the life He offers. [01:48]

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you set aside your preconceived notions about Jesus and seek to understand His true mission in your life today?


Day 2: Overcoming Cultural and Political Expectations
The failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus as the Messiah highlights the danger of allowing cultural and political expectations to cloud our understanding of spiritual truths. Despite their extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, the Jews of Jesus' time expected a Messiah who would be a political and military leader, not a humble carpenter born in a stable. This misunderstanding persists today as many people hold onto ideas about Christianity that are disconnected from the biblical narrative. True recognition of Jesus comes from aligning our understanding with the Scriptures. [12:25]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What cultural or political expectations might be clouding your understanding of Jesus, and how can you align your perspective with Scripture today?


Day 3: The Gift of Divine Revelation
Divine revelation is essential for recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. Just as He revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman, He continues to reveal Himself to those who are open to His message. This revelation is a gift of the Holy Spirit, opening our eyes to the truth. It is not through human wisdom that we come to know Jesus, but through the Spirit's work in our hearts. Embrace the opportunity to seek divine revelation and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in understanding the true nature of Jesus. [27:35]

"But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Are you open to the Holy Spirit's revelation in your life? How can you create space for divine guidance today?


Day 4: Jesus as the Fulfillment of God's Promises
Jesus embodies the fulfillment of all God's promises, offering hope and redemption to all, regardless of their past. His life and teachings reveal the depth of God's love and the assurance that His promises are sure and unfailing. The essence of this revelation is the understanding that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Savior who offers hope and redemption to all. [35:28]

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you trust in Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises in your life today?


Day 5: Embracing the Hope and Redemption of Christmas
The message of Christmas is one of hope and redemption for all, not just the righteous or the learned. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, offering new life to those who acknowledge their need for Him and are willing to listen and believe. This Christmas, let us open our hearts to this revelation, acknowledging our need for Him and embracing the life He offers. [38:42]

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1-5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace the hope and redemption offered by Jesus this Christmas, and what steps can you take to share this message with others?

Quotes

We are ever so much in danger of forgetting that we are dealing with facts dealing with history there is no greater danger than to regard the Christian faith the Christian message as just a philosophy just a teaching so it's very good that we should constantly remember remind ourselves that all we have and all we hope and all we hold on to is based solidly upon facts. [00:01:12]

The world remains very much as it was when he was born into it take that passage which we read at the beginning where we read about him being born in a stable why well the reason is given because there was no room for them in the in here a woman arrives on the verge of giving birth to her firstborn child and yet she can't find a room in any of the hostelries of Bethlehem. [00:05:36]

The extraordinary thing therefore that comes to us all as a Christian is this do we realize this do we realize as we should the significance of this great and momentous event which we are met together to commemorate and which in a sense we meet together to commemorate every Lord's day every Sunday every first day of the week. [00:04:24]

The failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus as the Messiah highlights the danger of allowing cultural and political expectations to cloud our understanding of spiritual truths. True recognition of Jesus comes from aligning our understanding with the Scriptures. [00:12:25]

The Jews failed to recognize their own Messiah their expected Messiah John has already summed it up for us in the prolog of this gospel where he says he came unto his own and his own received him not now here is the question confronting us why did they fail to recognize him in spite of the knowledge which they had and in spite of the fact that they were looking forward to him. [00:12:47]

The real explanation was their false ideas with respect to the Messiah it's not enough that we should expect a deliverer what is most important is that our ideas concerning him should be true should be accurate now as we have so often seen the trouble with the Jews was that their notion of the Messiah was a political one or a military one. [00:13:07]

They would have had no idea of a messiah at all and they would not have been expecting a messiah were it not for their scriptures were it not for their tradition that's where it came from and yet though they have this they're entirely wrong in their view of him what's this due to well you see there is only one answer to this it was that they hadn't studied their scriptures as they show should have done. [00:16:00]

The astounding thing about these Old Testament scriptures is that they not only say that a messiah is going to come they give such details about his coming and about him for instance in the scriptures the Prophecies of the Old Testament you are actually told that he's going to be born in Bethlehem it's in the prophecy of Micah the exact place is described. [00:16:40]

The principle is that we have become such as the result of the fall and the result of sin that we cannot recognize the Messiah we cannot recognize Our Savior as the princes of this world didn't know him and they killed him crucified him regarded him as an impostor and a blasphemer so the world still doesn't know him and the teaching is that the world cannot know him he has to be revealed to us. [00:27:15]

He reveals the fact that he is the Messiah the savior he is the all and in all the woman had said to him sir I believe I perceive that thou art a prophet she now says we're looking for the Messiah he says I am he what is he well he's Prophet he's priest he's King in the prophecies and in the Old Testament history you had different people some were prophets some were priests some were Kings always different people. [00:34:32]

The message of Christmas is one of hope and redemption for all, not just the righteous or the learned. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, offering new life to those who acknowledge their need for Him and are willing to listen and believe. [00:38:42]

There is no one too bad to be saved and to be redeemed he has hope for all indeed all he requires of us is what he required of the woman of Samaria what's that Honesty when he challenges her about her life she doesn't deny it she admits it honesty he always asks for that Readiness to admit the truth about ourselves however unpleasant it may be. [00:39:38]

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Transcript
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