Remembering The Reason

Introduction A little boy and girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded "Silent Night" with the words, "Sleep in heavenly beans." "No," his sister corrected, "not beans, peas." Just as the little children in this story misunderstood the words to the song they were singing, sometimes people misunderstand the reason behind the season we are now celebrating.

Background: In 353 A.D. Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today

Proposition: Today, in a world choked with commercialization we often overlook the true reason behind our celebration, so this morning we are going to take a look at the true reason for the season.

Transition: This morning as we focus on the “real” reason for the season we are going to look at three reasons why Jesus came to live among us. The first of these is that…

I. JESUS CAME TO BRING PEACE

a. The concept of peace by itself is a grand idea, but certainly not a new one

- All one had to do is look at the world around us to see the lack of peace

- We see it every time we turn on the T.V.

- Even when it looks as if peace has been reached in one part of the world something comes along to disrupt it

- I think one of the main reasons for this is because they were looking for peace in the wrong place

- They look to man as the guide for the road to peace instead of looking to God

- For God can bring peace to any situation, even those that seem hopeless

- Don and Carol Richardson and the Sawi tribes of Kamur and Haenam

b. Jesus came to bring peace to earth

- Jesus was the true “peace child”

- Just look at the angel’s message (Luke 2:14)

- This was not a political peace, but a true peace with God

- It was the greeting “Shalom” and chief desire of the Jewish people

- Peace cannot be merited or achieved by man, it is a gift of God

- At this time, as strange as it may sound – Rome was at peace (The Gates Of Janus)

- The peace that is spoken of here comes from the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 2:14)

- Peace with God then peace wit man

Transition: On that night in the stable the Prince of Peace was born, but bringing peace to earth was not the only reason Jesus came, for in His life and ministry we see that Jesus came…

II. JESUS CAME TO SERVE OTHERS

a. Service to others was the hallmark of Jesus’ ministry

- One only has to scan the pages of scripture to see this

- His life and ministry was service to others

- We see him turning the water into wine at the wedding in Canna of Galilee, healing of the Gadaren Demoniacs and the raising his friend Lazarus from the dead.

- This idea of service culminates with an object lesson at the last supper when Jesus washes the feet of His disciples

b. Jesus was constantly giving of Himself

- This can be clearly seen through Jesus’ own words (Matthew 20:28)

- Here Jesus the Son of man, presents Himself and the supreme example of service to others

- The very essence of Jesus’ task is illustrated by the higher priority of seeking the welfare of others over Himself

- He impressed upon His disciples the importance of service to others

- He came not to be served to serve others, and to fulfill the role of God’s