Merry Christmas!

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There is a debate whether our government is going to keep daylight saving time or revoke it, so that we maintain standard time without any clock changes. I’m sure there are pros/cons to both schedules. All I know is that I’m a fan of warm weather and not happy that it gets dark so early. How about you?

It’s also important to know that God made both light and darkness. While both can be beautiful and glorify God, light and dark are not just about clocks and calendars, but in the Bible are descriptors of circumstances or character.

Some circumstances make your heart sink and sad. And time on earth doesn’t heal all deep wounds and dark episodes. But darkness cannot overcome God’s light. Let us explore a brief passage to consider the reason for the season of Christmas.

EXAMINE           Born Eternal / Sinless / Lord / Born To Save (John 3)

¹ Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

The Bible is filled with all sorts of characters. If you think the Bible is only for put-together people with super-polished lives, then I would second-guess your reading. Christianity isn’t about perfect people but forgiven individuals.

And what I love about the Bible is that it shows that both irreligious and religious people are equally depraved. I don’t mean that sadistically like the Grinch reveling in someone’s depravity; just that I’m thankful for the reality that all humanity is equal, and grace is provided to anyone.

In this case, we have a man named Nicodemus who is very religious – a Pharisee; promoted strict obedience to rules and attending religious functions, and punished those who didn’t. Yet, not unlike today, this religious group was prone to hypocrisy.  

² This man came to Jesus by night

There it is – night. Why do you think a religious leader who likes to promote their good deeds in public, was operating in shadows and secrecy? Was he just pretending to be someone by day, and then at night another?
I’ll leave that for you to ponder…

Nicodemus said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Nic has observed some characteristics and activity of Jesus: teaching with divine authority and signs with divine power.

³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This is the $/# statement. Nic wants to discuss abilities, but Jesus shifts the discussion to belonging. We cannot have God’s blessings & gifts if we don’t belong to His kingdom. And entrance into God’s kingdom is not how most people think.

Some think it’s automatic. We’re all God’s children, so it doesn’t matter what you believe or how you behave. The challenge with this view is that there’s only one God, so we must not insult Him with detachment or division of our allegiance.

Others think it’s action. Bad behavior makes you excluded, but good behavior means you’re included. The challenge with this view is who determines the standard for bad/good? Our country is divided in multiple ways on right/wrong values.

Entrance to God’s kingdom isn’t automatic or your personal actions, but is about acknowledgement of what we are not, and who is Jesus. Jesus says that we must be “born again.”

What did YOU have to do with your birth? For the sake of us all, we’ll leave out those who were responsible. The point is, the only action we can do to be born again is to acknowledge our Creator.

Further, “born again” means we must die to self and be reborn in Christ. “Jesus took on flesh, so we can die to ours.”[1] Dying to self means we acknowledge God’s word is relevant, God’s way is right, and where our life is in contrast, we repent and grow in the life of faith.

Entrance to God’s kingdom isn’t automatic or your personal actions, but is about acknowledgement of what we are not, and who is Jesus. Jesus says that we must be “born again.” Dying to self and reborn by grace.

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⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Clearly, Nic is confused. But what we see next is that Jesus is compassionate towards those who are confused, or whose life is complicated. Jesus elaborates that the new birth is not a human formula or manufactured experience. We must be born again by the cleansing water of God’s forgiveness and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

These are the words of Jesus. He speaks “Truly, truly” in other words, with great substance and sobriety. And here’s what that means: If Jesus were only a legend, then He would not be able to help us, and we’re on our own. The worldly Christmas spirit and December generosity to be a positive example goes away in the cold of late January. Of all the “Charlie Brown’s of the world, we’d be the Charlie Browniest.” Yet… if Jesus isn’t just a legend but the living LORD (and He is!), then we’re not alone and we can be saved by grace.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY     

Relating this message to Christmas, we need to remember the reason why God sent Jesus as a gift to our world.

At Christmas, we struggle to find the right gift for others. We don’t want to purchase something silly or wasteful. We hope to find a meaningful gift that fits the person and is a symbol of your friendship. But to do this, we have to know and listen to people throughout the year.  

The reason that God’s gift of sending Jesus is the greatest Christmas gift is because He fully knows our need.

• If our greatest need was our appearance or image-makeover, God would have sent a social media expert or public relations professional.
• If our greatest need was financial, God would have sent a banker.
• If our greatest need was education, God would have sent a teacher.
• If our greatest need was enjoyment or pleasure, then God would have sent an entertainer.
• If our greatest need was advice, God would have sent a counselor.
• Even if our greatest need was religion, God would have sent a priest.

But our greatest need is a mix of all the above, but none more than forgiveness of our sin. Therefore, God sent a Savior, whose name is Jesus.

Jesus invites you to receive the gift of light, love, and salvation. ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.

So, let the light of Jesus enter your life…                  [… unlit candle bend to the light]

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[1] Daniel Ritchie, X quote.