{"id":2470,"date":"2025-12-03T18:40:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T18:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=2470"},"modified":"2025-12-11T17:35:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T17:35:03","slug":"christmas-long-long-ago","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/christmas-long-long-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"CHRISTMAS LONG, LONG AGO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Christmas Long, Long Ago<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John 1:1, 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, I don\u2019t know if you can tell or not \u2014 but the <strong>Christmas season is in full swing!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With winter nearly upon us, the weather has gotten colder, frost has moved in. Sweaters and coats have been pulled out of the closets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you house is anything like ours \u2014 then Christmas has made it\u2019s mark there as well,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At our house, you can tell from the moment you step through the door that the season has changed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gone are the pumpkins and fall leaves \u2014 they\u2019ve been replaced by the wreaths and candles, and bells and snowmen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just curious, how many of you have put your tree up already?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, our\u2019s is up \u2014 it went up the Saturday after Thanksgiving! In fact, our entire living room has had a face-lift. <strong>It\u2019s been rearranged to make space for Christmas!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is just a part of our annual routine. Something I\u2019ve come to both love and hate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I mean, I love the beauty of the <strong>decor<\/strong>, but I always hate having to crawl through the attic to pull out the boxes that hold it all. But once the boxes are pulled out and the containers opened, the joy quickly returns. Every year, as we unpack the old ornaments and settle into familiar traditions, I\u2019m reminded that Christmas has a way of carrying us back \u2014 back to our childhood, back to past moments, back to days when the kids were small, and back to those precious memories of long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But as nostalgic as Christmas may seem today, the original Christmas story reaches back much further than our memories. It took place long ago. Long before the shepherds looked up and saw a sky filled with angels, long before Mary and Joseph traveled the dusty road to Bethlehem, long before a manger held the newborn King\u2026there was Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s because Christmas did not begin in Bethlehem. Christmas began in eternity!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if we are going to fully embrace the wonder of Christmas and Christ\u2019s birth, we must go back to Christmas long, long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Transition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today I want us to explore the wonder of Christmas by looking at John\u2019s gospel. It\u2019s here that we find a reminder of the true beginnings of Christmas. So, if you have your Bible, turn with me to John chapter 1.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As John opens his Gospel, he does so with a very different approach than all of the other gospel writers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than begin with genealogies, or prophetic announcements, or even angelic visits, John chooses to reach back beyond time and space and tells us,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ae448ad8024cff7164629fe0155559c5 wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d<\/em> <strong>\u2014 John 1:1 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With just a single sentence, John opens a window into a time, before time. He calls us to step back into eternity past. He wants us to understand that the infant lying in the manger is actually the eternal Son of God, one who has always existed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if we want to worship Him fully,<strong><em>we must begin where the Bible begins.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So today, I challenge you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Lift Your Eyes to the Christ Who Has Always Been<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look again at John\u2019s opening line in <strong>chapter 1<\/strong>. He writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ae448ad8024cff7164629fe0155559c5 wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d<\/em> <strong>\u2014 John 1:1 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With these words, John declares right from the start, that long before He took His first breath in Bethlehem, that Jesus breathed life into Adam and all living things. He wants us to understand that before Mary held Him in her arms, that He (Jesus) held the entire universe in His hands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the apostle Paul would later describe in his letter to the Colossian believers, Jesus was the creator and sustainer life. Listen to <strong>Colossians 1:16-17,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-891b9abeb80f48ba5d70593d0080657d wp-block-paragraph\"><em>16&nbsp;\u201c<\/em><em>For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. <\/em><em>17&nbsp;<\/em><em>He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.\u201d&nbsp; <\/em>\u2014 <strong>Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the same message of mystery and majesty that John describes in His telling of the Christmas story.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He states emphatically, Jesus was \u201c<em>with God\u201d <\/em>and at the same time, He \u201c(the Word) <em>was God\u201d<\/em> (John 1:1).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, I know this sounds crazy, but that doesn\u2019t lessen its truthfulness. Before time began, Jesus was with God and at the same time, He is God.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And what\u2019s more \u2014 John will go on to say that He (the creator and Son of God), left the expanse of the eternity to step into time and space and come close to bring us hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So before we stare at the manger, or picture shepherds and angels gathering in Bethlehem, Scripture calls us to look up \u2014 because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5b8a94a8532eaf6a86e9cc21ecfac608 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#8b0c0c\"><strong>Christmas doesn\u2019t begin with the birth of Jesus, it begins with the eternal, pre-existence of Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means Jesus is not just a part of the Christmas story. <strong>He\u2019s the author of the Christmas story.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <strong>A. W. Tozer <\/strong>once said, <em>\u201cWhat comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Christmas<\/strong> is meant to shape what comes into our minds when we think about Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when we look back through the <strong>Old Testament <\/strong>with this understanding, we begin to see Christ everywhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We see him all the way back in Genesis as He walks with Adam and Eve in the Garden (in Genesis 3). And again in when He speaks with Abraham under the night sky (in Genesis 18). And we see Him wrestling with with Jacob all night long (in Genesis 32).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And what we find in Genesis, we can find throughout each book of the Old Testament. Just consider the story told in Daniel 3, where Jesus shows up in the most unlikely of places \u2014 in the midst of the fiery furnace as He stood alongside Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Or, what about the divine visitation in Judges 13, when the Lord appeared to Manoah and his wife (who had been barren). And he spoke to them, assuring them that they bare a child, a Son who would be used to begin the deliverance of Israel from hands of the Philistines. After this encounter, Manoah confessed, <em>\u201cwe have seen God\u201d<\/em>. And shortly after, Samson was born.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My point is simToday I want us to explore the wonder of Christmas by looking at <strong>John\u2019s<\/strong> <strong>gospel<\/strong>. It\u2019s here that we find a reminder of the true beginnings of <strong>Christmas<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>John<\/strong> (if you recall), was one of Jesus\u2019 disciples. But more than that \u2014 he was one of the closest three.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He takes us beyond the familiar scenes of shepherds, angels, and a Bethlehem manger. He brings us back to the true beginning of Christmas, the place where the story actually starts. So if you have your Bible, turn with me to John chapter 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At its heart, Christmas is an invitation to celebrate Jesus and to worship Him with a whole and undivided heart. But to worship Him rightly, we must see Him clearly. We must understand who He is and why He came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That means we don\u2019t enter this season simply through memory, tradition, or nostalgia. To grasp Christmas in all its beauty and fullness, we must begin where Scripture begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So tonight, I challenge you, as you enter into this Christmas season:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Recognize the Eternal Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <strong>John<\/strong> opens his Gospel, he does so with a very different approach than all of the other gospel writers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than begin with <strong>genealogies<\/strong>, or <strong>prophetic<\/strong> <strong>announcements<\/strong>, or even <strong>angelic<\/strong> <strong>visits<\/strong>, John chooses to reach back beyond time and space and tells us,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bf0f30750f1ed3530564ec65e8ae15bc wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d <\/em>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+1.1&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 1:1 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a single sentence, <strong>John<\/strong> pulls back the curtain on existence before creation even began. He calls us to step back into eternity past. He wants us to understand that the infant (we celebrate), lying in a manger is actually <strong>the eternal Son of God<\/strong>, one who has always existed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With these words, John declares right from the start, that long before He took His first breath in Bethlehem, that Jesus breathed life into Adam and all living things. He wants us to understand that before Mary held Him in her arms, that He (Jesus) held the entire universe in His hands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3761a9bac9384d72fb0f8b07e0b85b83 wp-block-paragraph\">As the apostle Paul would later describe in his letter to the Colossian believers, Jesus was the creator and sustainer life. Listen to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Colossians+1.16-17&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>Colossians 1:16-17<\/strong><\/a>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6d5330b5d620760b259af40dea25abc2 wp-block-paragraph\"><em>16&nbsp;\u201cFor in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17&nbsp;He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Colossians+1.16-17&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the same message of mystery and majesty that John describes in His telling of the Christmas story.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6b596563baefc1332e7a408b6e6f312a wp-block-paragraph\">He states emphatically, Jesus was<em> \u201cwith God\u201d <\/em>and at the same time, He (the Word) <em>\u201cwas God\u201d<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+1.1&amp;t=NIV\">John 1:1<\/a>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, I know this sounds crazy, but <strong>the fact that is\u2019s mind-blowing<\/strong>, or difficult to conceive, <strong>doesn\u2019t lessen its truthfulness<\/strong>. Just because my mind my struggle to understand (or figure something out), doesn\u2019t mean that its untrue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are plenty of things in life I don\u2019t fully understand, <strong>but I trust them anyway<\/strong>. Things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 How an <strong>engine<\/strong> turns <strong>fuel into motion<\/strong>, (I don\u2019t understand the science behind it, but I still drive my car)<br>\u2022 How <strong>electricity<\/strong> <strong>moves<\/strong> through wires, (yet I still flip switches, and expect the lights to come on).<br>\u2022 How a cell phone can transport my voice to someone miles away, (yet I rely on it constantly).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My point is, there are a lot of things that I can\u2019t fully explain or even comprehend \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t stop me from believing or trusting in them. And the same is true with this \u2014 <strong>the doctrine of Christ\u2019s eternal deity,<\/strong> <strong>His preexistence<\/strong>, <strong>His divine nature as the Son of God<\/strong> who has always been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, Jesus was \u201cwith God\u201d and \u201cwas God.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that\u2019s not all. John goes on to say that He (the creator and Son of God), left the expanse of the eternity to step into time and space and come close to bring us hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So before we stare at the manger, or picture shepherds and angels gathering in Bethlehem, Scripture calls us to look up \u2014 because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christmas doesn\u2019t begin with the birth of Jesus, it begins with the eternal, pre-existence of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means Jesus is not just a part of the Christmas story. He\u2019s the author of the Christmas story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <strong>A. W. Toze<\/strong>r once said, \u201cWhat comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christmas is meant to shape what comes into our minds when we think about Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when we look back through the Old Testament with this understanding, we begin to see Christ everywhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We see him all the way back in Genesis as He walks with Adam and Eve in the Garden (in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Genesis+3&amp;t=NIV\">Genesis 3<\/a>). And again in when He speaks with Abraham under the night sky (in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Genesis+18&amp;t=NIV\">Genesis 18<\/a>). And we see Him wrestling with with Jacob all night long (in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Genesis+32&amp;t=NIV\">Genesis 32<\/a>).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And what we find in Genesis, we can find throughout each book of the Old Testament. Just consider the story told in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Daniel+3&amp;t=NIV\">Daniel 3<\/a>, where Jesus shows up in the most unlikely of places \u2014 in the midst of the fiery furnace as He stood alongside Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or, what about the divine visitation in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Judges+13&amp;t=NIV\">Judges 13<\/a>, when the Lord appeared to Manoah and his wife (who had been barren). And he spoke to them, assuring them that they bare a child, a Son who would be used to begin the deliverance of Israel from hands of the Philistines. After this encounter, Manoah confessed, \u201cwe have seen God\u201d. And shortly after, Samson was born.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My point is simple \u2014 Christ did not begin in Bethlehem; Bethlehem was just the place where He chose to step into human history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I was a kid, I used to love<strong> pulling out the old photo albums<\/strong> that my mother kept. They were thick and heavy, <strong>filled with pictures for long ago and far away.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I remember seeing a picture of <strong>my mom\u2019s daddy <\/strong>\u2014 a tall slender man, a man weathered by hardwork and difficult days.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though I had never met him, he looked familiar to me. I recognized his face in that of my mom and her siblings. You see, my granddaddy died when my mom was just 12 years old.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And even though I had never met him, I loved looking through the pictures (sort of peering back in time), to see the man who made my story possible. Seeing his pictures made the stories I had heard about him even more real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In like manner, this ancient story of<strong> Christmas<\/strong> makes the stories of Jesus\u2019 time on earth <strong>even more real<\/strong>!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why John begins his story by pointing back to the beginning of time. Because the eternal existence of Jesus helps us see Him as He is: <strong>eternal, glorious, uncreated, <\/strong>and<strong> sovereign<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s <strong>Christmas long, long ago!<\/strong> It begins before time \u2014 with <strong>Christ\u2019s eternal existence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which leads us to the next challenge of the Christmas story (and our understanding of Jesus).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Marvel At His Incarnation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having been introduced to the<strong> Eternal Jesus<\/strong> \u2014 <strong>John<\/strong> then shifts our attention to what we most often think of when we think of <strong>Christ<\/strong>. He moves from <strong>eternity<\/strong> \u2014 into history\u2026and he tells us about the incarnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look with me at <strong>verse 14.<\/strong> Here <strong>John<\/strong> writes,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bdf7135b1953bf5161fdb0994d30bd2d wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.\u201d <\/em>\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+1.14&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 1:14 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have to admit, these ten words are equally as my mind as the first line of this chapter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you thought it was a struggle to understand Jesus\u2019s eternality \u2014 try wrapping your mind around the fact that God (in His fullness), could compress Himself into the confines of a human being. More than that, into the framework of an infant! A baby!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, I can\u2019t explain this \u2014 not fully. Not to your satisfaction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can explain it \u2014 I can only <strong>PROCLAIM IT<\/strong><strong>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s why I invite you to join me in <strong>MARVELING AT HIS INCARNATION<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To marvel is to pause in the presence of something so extraordinary, so beautiful, or so far beyond ordinary understanding that it awakens a deep sense of wonder within you. It\u2019s that sacred moment when your heart seems to slow, your breath catches, and your spirit whispers, <em>This is greater than me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To <strong>MARVEL<\/strong> is to let the greatness of God wash over you <strong>until<\/strong> <strong>worship<\/strong> <strong>becomes<\/strong> your response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this verse, <strong>John<\/strong> connects <strong>the wonder and majesty of God<\/strong> with <strong>the miracle of virgin birth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this point, and <strong>the incarnation of Christ<\/strong> is important because it\u2019s the foundation of our salvation and the clearest revelation of God\u2019s heart toward us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Without the incarnation<\/strong>, <strong>we would have no Savior<\/strong> (one who is both fully God and fully human), able to bridge the gap our sin created. But, in <strong>Jesus<\/strong>, God comes down \u2014 leaving heaven to enter time and space, to rescue us from our sin (up close and personally).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>incarnation<\/strong> shows that God didn\u2019t leave us to struggle alone; He entered our pain, shared in our humanity, and made redemption possible through His perfect <strong>life<\/strong>, <strong>death<\/strong>, and <strong>resurrection<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>That\u2019s the story of Christmas! <\/strong><strong>God came near <\/strong>\u2014and<strong> Jesus was born!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I know it\u2019s easy to picture the manger <strong>through the lens of nostalgia<\/strong> \u2014 picturing that \u201csilent night\u201d of Christ\u2019s birth as if \u201call was calm &#8211; all was bright\u201d, or as that \u201choly night\u201d where the cattle were lowing and the baby awakes \u2014 the little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.\u201d Right? The animals were calm, the stall and straw were clean. the angelic halos were shiny and bright. Everything perfect.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the real scene was probably nothing like that. It was probably rough and cold, and loud and dirty. It was earthy. It was humble. It was a place of soiled animals, unsanitized, smelly \u2014 and into that kind of setting, a place no earthly king would ever choose, came the King of kings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years ago, author and pastor, <strong>Max Lucado<\/strong> made a statement that continues to astonish me. Describing the incarnation, he said, <strong>\u201cThe maker of the stars would <\/strong><em>(come to)<\/em><strong> sleep under them.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that line really captures what <strong>John<\/strong> tells us in <strong>verse 14<\/strong>. The eternal Christ did not simply visit humanity \u2014 <strong>He immersed Himself in our experience<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He took on flesh. He moved into our world. And He voluntarily chose to walk among us \u2014 <strong>sinners, sufferers, and skeptics alike.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why thinking biblically about Christmas matters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If we settle for <strong>nostalgia<\/strong>, we miss the miracle!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christmas is not merely a charming nativity scene; it is the staggering truth that God became man.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But why? Why did He do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did it to save us. To redeem us. To free us from our sin \u2014 and it\u2019s penalty of eternal death!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that brings us to the final challenge today. And it\u2019s this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Celebrate the Gift of Salvation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just as <strong>John<\/strong> makes it clear who Jesus is, he also makes it clear what He came to do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He tells us (again and again) throughout his gospel, that Jesus came for one purpose. <strong>He came to save!<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+1&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 1<\/strong><\/a> he quotes <strong>John the Baptist<\/strong> when he pointed to Jesus and said,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d8907f989cc82441e0053338921297b0 wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cBehold, the Lamb of God <\/em><em>who takes away the sin of the world<\/em><em>.\u201d <\/em>\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+1.29&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 1:29 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+3.17&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 3:17<\/strong><\/a> he says,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9f5eee5e2d1ee2e590ed8e1b5760505d wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cGod did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but <\/em><em>to save the world<\/em><em> through Him.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+3.17&amp;t=NIV\">John 3:17 (NIV)<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And them in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+10.10&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 10:10<\/strong><\/a>, he quotes Jesus as saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8afd6beef24dd6904c7fe6cc06aa4f8b wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>I have come that they may have life<\/em><em>, and have it to the full.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+10.10&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 10:10 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And in<strong> verse 15<\/strong>, Jesus clarifies how he will save us \u2014 when he says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dca0eb2bb0e1919b82665df495505160 wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI lay down My life for the sheep.\u201d<\/em> \u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=John+10.15&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>John 10:15 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>apostle Paul<\/strong> sums it up like this (in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Galatians+4.4&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>Galatians 4:4<\/strong><\/a>), he says,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f9087d105b9a592ca0e297918d457ccc wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWhen the set time had fully come, God sent His Son\u2026 to redeem those under the law.\u201d<\/em> \u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueletterbible.org\/search\/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Galatians+4.4%E2%80%935&amp;t=NIV\"><strong>Galatians 4:4\u20135 (NIV)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those words remind us that <strong>Christmas<\/strong> is not simply about <strong>God coming near<\/strong>\u2014 it\u2019s about God redeeming mankind. <strong>He came to save us<\/strong>. Because <strong>we needed saving!<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We needed someone to pay the high price for our salvation! And Jesus came, as God in the flesh, to do just that.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He didn\u2019t enter the world to be admired. He entered the world to be offered.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He didn\u2019t come to give us a holiday. He came to give us hope.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not come to make life easier. He came to make salvation possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s the good news of <strong>Christmas long, long ago.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And here\u2019s what I want you to understand, if <strong>Jesus<\/strong> would choose to enter the brokenness of this world, then He will also choose to enter the brokenness of your life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If He would step into the mess of the manger, then He will also step into the mess of your circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s good news! That\u2019s the message of Christmas!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recognize<\/strong> His eternality, <strong>Marvel<\/strong> at His incarnation, and <strong>Celebrate<\/strong> the gift of His salvation!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we close tonight, I want to remind you that the things we\u2019ve discussed tonight are not just doctrines to affirm \u2014 they are realities to experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So this year, let your heart be filled with wonder \u2014 and welcome the promised, abiding presence of Jesus into your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you bow your head and join me in prayer before we go?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Closing Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-88d80cec9e02bbad424e095fd6a11cef wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#881616\">Heavenly Father, we thank You for Christmas \u2014 Christmas long, long ago!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27f55cb85d35595523f49f03889cb0bf wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#881616\">But we also thank you for the Christmas we get to celebrate and experience again today, and throughout this season. Thank you for the reminder that your existence didn\u2019t begin in a manger \u2014 but that you are eternal. Thank you for leaving heaven and entering our world to save us \u2014 to redeem us, and to draw close to us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ff6f2082aa825d83ccd7583eb98a6210 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#881616\">Would you do that again tonight. Come close, meet us in the mess of our circumstances, bring hope and healing and help to everyone here. Give us strength and comfort and fill us with joy! And, open our eyes to see Jesus clearly this season, not simply as the baby in the manger but as the eternal Lord of all. We pray this in Jesus\u2019 name, Amen!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christmas Long, Long Ago John 1:1, 14 Introduction Well, I don\u2019t know if you can tell or not \u2014 but the Christmas season is in &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2470","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2562,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2470\/revisions\/2562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}