John  1_ 1-13      As Many As Received Him

Rev. David Holwick

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

Christmas Eve, 1993

John 1:1-13


AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM



  I. Different perspectives on Christmas.

      A. Gospel of Mark doesn't mention birth at all.  Jesus is 27.


      B. Matthew and Luke give traditional stories we all know.


      C. Gospel of John gives a unique perspective - from eternity.

          1) Jesus was before the "Big Bang."

          2) Jesus came according to the Father's plan.


II. What Jesus did before he ended up in a manger.

      A. Has always existed as part of Godhead.

          1) Clearest statement in Bible is found in John 1:1.

          2) We know this because Jehovah's Witnesses, who reject diety

               of Jesus, are armed to the teeth on this verse.

          3) Not only has Jesus always been around, but God has always

                been like Jesus.  God of whole Bible is same God.


      B. Instrument of creation of world.


      C. Visit earth as angel of Lord?

          1) Everyone loves angels.

          2) Both Time & Newsweek have special articles on them this week.


III. What we did once he came here.

      A. Those who should have been closest to him, rejected him.

          1) They didn't even recognize him.                   1:10


      B. Most of us would not recognize him, either.

          1) We love personalities:  People Magazine, Us Magazine.

                But they certainly aren't about people like us.

                  - Unless you are a lot like Michael Jackson!

          2) At his birth, the only people who honored Jesus were

                blue-collar workers and foreigners.

          3) Would you have gathered at the manger?


      C. It is what is inside that counts.

          1) A modern example of incarnation:


             Ted Engstrom tells the story of Pat Moore.  One day in

             May, 1979, Moore, who looked like she must be eighty-

             five years old, opened the door of her New York

             apartment and stepped nervously into the hall.  She put

             her cane out in front of her and hesitantly felt for

             the first step on the stairs.  Her legs moved gingerly,

             awkwardly.  One step... two... three... all the way to

             the twelfth step.  So far so good.  When she arrived at

             the bottom of the stairs, she saw her landlady who

             exclaimed, "Oh, I'm sorry, I was expecting somebody

             else."


             "Don't you recognize me?" asked Pat, her voice strained

             and cracked. "No, ma'am, I don't," said the landlady,

             staring at the frail woman. "I'm Pat Moore," she said

             laughing.  As she saw her landlady's mouth widen in

             disbelief, Pat knew in that flash of a moment she

             passed the test.


             You see, Pat Moore was not eighty-five years old at

             all.  Not even close. She was an attractive twenty-six-

             year-old specialist in industrial design, who was

             concerned about the needs of the aged.  At least once

             each week for the next three years, Pat put on her

             masquerade of facial latex foam, a heavy fabric that

             bound her body, and a convincing gray wig.  She visited

             fourteen states as an old woman.  She met hundreds of

             people who never once discovered her true identity.

             Pat Moore wanted to have a first hand experience of

             what it was to be elderly in America.


             The journey God made that first Christmas from the

             throne of glory to the stable in Bethlehem was that

             kind of journey. He emptied himself, he invaded our

             world.


             AUTHOR: Guideposts, Jan,'84, Pp.2-5. Cited In Engstrom,

             "The Fine Art Of Friendship" (Nashville: Thomas Nelson

             Publishers, 1985).  Seven Worlds Publishing: Dec 4 91

             DATE: 10/1/91            ENTERED: 11/7/91

                                                                   #1663


          2) Jesus became one of us, to save us.

              a) He was only on earth a short while, but he was God in

                    the flesh.


IV. Those who receive him have a special blessing:  adoption.

      A. What may seem second-rate to us is mandatory to God.

          1) God has no natural-born children.

              a) Not a decision by parents or ethnic heritage.

              b) We can't even make ourselves children of God.

          2) God's children are born supernaturally.

              a) We must become children of God.

                  1> Bible refers to this as being born again.

              b) It takes a miracle to be a Christian.

                  1> God has to do it.  He opens the way.

                  2> God offers, we must accept him.


      B. How to receive Jesus as Savior.

          1) Barclay on two sons, one with motel-mentality and other

                with devotion.  Become a devoted child.  Do what Dad says.



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