Community & Discipleship

God Became a Baby (John 1:11~14)

2016.12.25Stephen Cha

God Became a Baby. Jesus, who was with God from the beginning, became a human baby so that he could reveal who God is, identify with our weaknesses, and give his life so that we may receive the gift of eternal life by receiving him.

Jesus came to reveal who God is (11-14)

The Gospels tell the story of Jesus, but John goes further and takes us back to 'In the beginning,' before creation, when the Word was already there. Hebrews says that in the past God spoke in many ways, but in these last days he spoke through his Son and revealed what he is like. Through Jesus we learn that God created each of us with a purpose, that he loves us just as we are, and that he seeks us out when we get lost. The sermon illustrates this with a story of a young boy who was missing and was found after everyone searched for him. In the same way, Jesus came looking for us to bring us back home. So we learn that God is one who loves us, created us, and came to find us.

Jesus became flesh to understand us more fully (14)

Verse 14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is 100% God and also 100% man, just like us. As a human, he prayed, was tempted, submitted to the Father's will, died, was buried, rose, and ascended to heaven. Because of this he knows loneliness, betrayal, injustice, and being wrongly punished, and he knows these things without having sinned. The pastor shares how his daughter Irene suffered a painful mouth infection, and how he prayed that he could take her sickness in her place. Jesus did what the pastor could not do: he stepped in and bore our punishment and sorrow because he loves us.

Jesus came to die so that we may have life (11-12)

Verse 12 says that to all who receive him and believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God. Other religions are spelled D-O, because people must do good works to earn their way to heaven. Christianity is spelled D-O-N-E, because Jesus has paid for everything and we only need to receive it. A friend's Christmas gift, a coffee bean bag that also contained a gift card, is used as an illustration of a gift that is more valuable than the outside appears. God's gift of forgiveness, love, and adoption as children of God is given to those who receive Jesus into their hearts, and nothing can separate them from God's love.

Apply to Life

  • Admit that we need Jesus and come to him with humble hearts, receiving the gift he has prepared for us.
  • Believe that Jesus paid for all our wrongs and is ready to forgive us, and trust in him alone.
  • Commit our hearts and lives to Jesus and ask him to come into our lives as our Savior and friend.
  • Remember that God created each of us with purpose and seeks us out, and return to him.
  • Share with others the gift of Christmas, which is the forgiveness, love, and eternal life that Jesus gives.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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