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A 'wonderful' Christmas Message
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 3, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: The CRADLE, The CROSS, and The CROWN...and practical looks at Jesus’ Wonderful HEART, HANDS, EYES, EARS, BOOK, SPIRIT, AND HOME. Powerpoint at website.
A “Wonderful” Christmas Message
Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website:
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INTRODUCTION: Jesus is Wonderful! The word “wonderful” in the middle of this verse is His name and it is the key word in this verse…it’s rich with meaning, pregnant with truth…an umbrella word under which all the words following it rest [He’s a wonderful counselor…etc.]. “Wonderful” is His first name! And all the words before it tell us what qualifies Jesus as Wonderful.
Isaiah, the prophet looked thru the telescope of prophecy and saw 700 years into the future. He saw three things about our wonderful Lord:
I. HE SAW A CRADLE. "Unto us a child is born"
A. A Cradle of Incarnation. "in the flesh"
1 Tim. 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…
Jn 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…
The creator becomes the creation!
B. A Cradle of Intervention. - Wickedness in the day of Noah. - Building of the tower of Babel. - Jonah on his way to Tarsus. - Paul on the Damascus Road…and you and I in our sin!
C. A Cradle of Inspiration. - God sent His Son. - Angels sang. - Wise men sacrificed. - Shepherds searched for the child. - We should be inspired to serve.
THE GREATEST GIFT
I heard recently about a 90-year-old lady who one Christmas found
buying presents a bit much, so she wrote out checks for all of her
family and friends, and decided she would put them in with her Christmas
cards. She wrote out her Christmas cards and wrote "Buy your own
present" after her name, then sent them off.
But after the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks
in her desk! Everyone had got a Christmas card from her with "Buy your
own present" written inside but without the checks!
We all like gifts. We like to receive them from those that we
love. And we also enjoy giving them. What Jesus said is certainly
true: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35). I
used to think that the greatest joy of Christmas belonged to children
because they get to experience the excitement of opening their presents.
But I’ve learned that the real excitement of Christmas comes in being
able to give to those who mean so much to you.
Joke: One year, a man decided to buy his wife a different gift for Christmas.
He decided to purchase a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift for her.
The wife thought it was quite strange but she figured: “at least
We won’t have to buy one when the time comes.”
So the next year comes around and the husband did not buy her a gift this
time.
When she asked him why, he replied,
"Why should I, you still haven’t used the gift I bought you last year!"
Unfortunately, our gift list is always so limited. If you’re like
me at this time of the year, you always have a lot of people you would
like to get something special for, but you just don’t have the money. [had to choose 1 missionary]
We can’t give to everyone. But God can, and God has, and there’s no one
who’s been left off of his gift list.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting
life." (John 3:16)
This Christmas, enjoy giving gifts and enjoy receiving them. But
be especially thankful for the greatest gift of all that came to this
earth in the form of a baby in a cradle.
II. HE SAW A CROSS. "Unto us a son is given."
Not just any son…
Jn. 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
III. HE SAW A CROWN. "The government shall be upon His shoulders."
A. Crown of thorns.
Jn. 19:5
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
B. A Crown of glory. Not a normal crown, but that shekinah glory surrounding…much more than a halo, blinding to us as at the transfiguration. We can only imagine!
Heb 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. [1st 2 crowns related!]
