Sermon Central
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Christmas Communion Through The Eyes Of John Series
Contributed by Gene Gregory on Dec 11, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: A Communion message, suitable for Christmas, focusing on what John remembers about Jesus.
COMMUNION THROUGH THE EYES OF JOHN 12 11
Uncover table. Read.
Pray.
> Luke 22:19 (HCSB) And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
We are about to celebrate a memorial meal. A meal given to us by Jesus Christ Himself, that He says is to be used to remember Him by. But, what is it specifically that we are to remember about Jesus? What are we to think about and remember as we share this meal together?
Let’s ask John, the “Beloved Disciple” what things stand out in his mind as he thinks about Jesus. What are the things he thinks are especially important to remember?
I. JESUS IS ETERNAL – vv 1-2
Some people think of Jesus as having arrived on the scene in Bethlehem. My friends, I want you to understand that Jesus didn’t start in Bethlehem. He didn’t begin in Mary’s womb. Jesus has always been. John tells us that He was in the beginning with the Father.
Parents. Grandparents, as we celebrate this Christmas season together, as we sing carols and talk about the Baby Jesus, explain to your children and grandchildren that although Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem, that He had been around for a long time.
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Nothing has happened that He is unaware of and there is nothing that can or will come your way that He is unaware of. He is eternal.
- OK John, Jesus is eternal. What else shall we remember as we share this meal?
II. JESUS IS GOD – v1
When you ask people what they think about Jesus or ask them Who He is, they will say many things. The muslims will tell you He was a prophet. Others will tell you He was a good man, or a good example, or a Jewish miracle-worker.
The Mormons will tell you He is an older-brother and that we can become like him.
Jehovah’s False Witnesses will tell you that He is a god.
Listen, the Bible tells us that Jesus is not “a” god, but that He is God.
He’s not one of many, but one of a kind.
Because you can talk about Jesus as a baby in a manger, and you can talk about Him as a good example, and you can run around with WWJD bracelets on your wrists, cross earrings dangling you’re your ears, and crosses tattooed on your bellybutton, without people getting too upset; but when you start talking about Jesus being God and people needing to know Him, folks will get upset.
Isaiah prophesied:
> Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
The writer of Hebrews describes Him
> Hebrews 1:8 but about the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
The angel said in Luke 2:11
> Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
An angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:23
> Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, “God with us”.
Doubting Thomas after seeing the resurrected Lord, called Him in John 20:28 …”My Lord and My God.”
He is Emmanuel, “God with us.”
But John says, “I remember Him. He is eternal, and He is God.”
What else do you remember John? I remember that Jesus is the Creator.
III. JESUS IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
Our founding fathers said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain inalienable rights …”
How sad is it that our founding fathers, in the documents that brought about the formation of our country, were able to speak of a Creator that we are no longer able to mention in polite conversation or in many public settings. But John says, “I remember that Jesus is the Creator!”
This past April, across our country, people gathered in many locations to celebrate the Earth Day Birthday. Can you believe that? The Earth Day Birthday. They celebrated a birthday to the earth when they complain about us celebrating Christmas and recognizing the birth of Christ.
Someone even took the music from “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and rewrote the words for Earth Day.
On the twelfth Earth Day birthday the wide world gave to me:
