Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/cbc/sermons/18291/christmas-eve-2016/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Thanks for coming out. It's such a cold night. They say we're supposed to get snow. We shall see. We shall see. Thanks for coming tonight.

[0:11] We're going to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. That's why we have our Christmas Eve service and we will have our Christmas Day service tomorrow as well where we will celebrate Christ's birth remembering what He's done for us and taking on human flesh the eternal Son 100% God and 100% man.

[0:35] We're going to celebrate that tonight. First let me start off by praying. Let's come to the Lord in prayer. Our Father in Heaven we're very thankful that You show grace to us.

[0:53] We're very thankful that You show compassion to sinners. You know we are in desperate need of it. We thank You because none of us are worthy.

[1:08] We're not worthy of Your grace which is why it's called grace. Undeserved favor. And You show that to us in the Lord Jesus Christ who took on flesh.

[1:19] He was made like us. He was made like us. He lived like us. He was a baby like all of us here were.

[1:34] He had to be nursed. He had to be cared for. He had to be... His diapers had to be changed. He took on human flesh.

[1:45] He made in the likeness of men. And He was obedient to the point of death. Even death on a cross. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Because tonight we not only celebrate the fact of the incarnation but also the fact of the crucifixion and of the resurrection.

[2:07] that He incarnated Himself. He died on behalf of sinners and resurrected from the dead.

[2:18] You brought Him back to life vindicating Him showing that He is the righteous one. He is both Lord and Christ. We praise You Lord Jesus.

[2:30] In these few minutes that we're together may You be praised. May You be glorified. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray together.

[2:42] Amen. We're going to have someone come up and read Scripture for us in Luke chapter 2 verses 1 to 20. Aaron, would you come and read?

[2:54] And in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

[3:10] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was out of the house of lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

[3:30] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swadling cloths, and laid him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the end. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

[3:45] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

[4:00] And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swadling cloths, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.

[4:15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

[4:27] And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in their heart.

[4:38] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Let's stand, let's sing, while shepherds watched their flocks.

[4:50] While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around, and glory shone around.

[5:23] Fear not, said he, for mighty dread had seized their trouble mine. Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind.

[5:42] To you and all mankind. Set.

[6:01] Thank you. I'm going to read from Isaiah 42, verses 6 through 8. I think I have it. Do I have it on the screen?

[6:12] Yes, I do. 6 to 7, I do. I am the Lord. I have called you in righteousness. I will also hold you by the right.

[6:22] Excuse me. I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you. And I will point you as a covenant to the people. As a light to the nations, to open blind eyes.

[6:35] To bring out prisoners from the dungeon. And those who dwell in darkness from the prison. I am the Lord. I am the Lord. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven images.

[6:47] This speaks about Jesus Christ. In verse 1 of chapter 42, Isaiah prophesies this.

[6:59] Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one, in whom my soul delights. So it's God the Father who's thinking about who was Isaiah through Isaiah the prophet.

[7:12] Was prophesying about the coming of Christ, of Jesus. So since Jesus is the servant, it's him when he says, I am the Lord.

[7:23] I have called you in righteousness. You meaning the Messiah, Jesus. I will point you, Jesus, as a covenant to the people. He is a light to the nations.

[7:34] To open blind eyes. To bring out prisoners from the dungeon. Those who dwell in darkness from the prison. That's the mission of Jesus.

[7:48] Jesus' mission to the nations is to be a light to them. So that their eyes may be open, revealing the true God.

[7:59] And the true way of salvation through himself. This is Jesus' purpose. This is why he came. So he's here to be a light to them, to all the nations.

[8:13] And he'll open their eyes. He's revealing the true God. So if you want to know who the true God is, it's in Jesus. If you want to know the true way of salvation, it's in Jesus.

[8:28] So how does one know God? How can one know the one true God? It's only through the Lord Jesus Christ. That's a message that's not told.

[8:40] That's a message that's not heard. That's a message that's very much out of vogue in our culture. They say there's many ways to God.

[8:52] There's many ways to know God. But notice from the passage here in Isaiah. That's not what Isaiah prophesied. This is what gives God glory.

[9:08] What gives God glory is when Jesus Christ is glorified. And that's why the next part of the verse, I will not give my glory to another.

[9:24] So God himself wants to give himself glory. He's not going to give it to anybody else. So the father wants to glorify his son.

[9:35] And the son wants to glorify his father. So if you embrace God, then you will embrace his son. And that will give glory to God.

[9:47] If you embrace the son, then you will embrace the father. And that will give glory to God. Do I have that? Yeah. Listen to what Jesus himself says in John chapter 12 in connection to this passage of Isaiah.

[10:06] Jesus says, Now my soul has become troubled. What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.

[10:18] There came therefore a voice out of heaven. I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered.

[10:29] Others are saying an angel had spoken to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice has not come for my sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world.

[10:40] Now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. And then Jesus says this, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. What was he talking about?

[10:51] John tells us. He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which he was to die. So there you have, Jesus says, I'm going to glorify you, Father. And the Father says, I glorified it and I'm going to glorify it again.

[11:04] He's going to do it by having Jesus die. The multitude therefore answered him, We've heard out of the law of the crisis to remain forever. How can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up?

[11:17] Who is this Son of Man? Jesus therefore said to them, For a little while longer the light is among you. He's talking about himself.

[11:27] Walk while you have the light. That darkness may not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light in order that you might become sons of light.

[11:45] Jesus is the light revealing the way that you can know God. If you want to draw closer to God, if you're seeking God, friend, if you're here tonight seeking God, go to Jesus.

[12:04] Go to Jesus. He's the light. While you have this opportunity, believe in the light, the trust, the true light, trust in the true light, trust in Jesus Christ.

[12:18] If you do, you will become a son of light. So when we, in just a few moments, we're going to light candles, let that be a reminder that Jesus, as you're holding the candle, Jesus is the light revealing the true God.

[12:37] And he reveals the way of salvation to God. Because that salvation is himself. And we'll try to turn off all the lights which have the Christmas lights on.

[12:47] So you remember thinking about if it's pitch black and there's no darkness, a total darkness, but that you have this one light. Jesus reveals who God is.

[12:58] So let that be a reminder to you. And God's going to glorify his son and he glorified his son by having this light die for sinners like us. That's all we have for.

[13:14] Yeah. So, in just a few moments, so I'm going to light the candle and then I'll just have you stand in just a moment. Let me give you some instructions about the candles.

[13:25] I kind of came up with a little saying. If you have it lit, stay pit. Stay put. Put, pit. You know, I'm trying to think of something.

[13:36] In other words, if you're lit, you don't want to move to try and light someone else's candle unless your neighbor enjoys hot wax on their hand.

[13:48] They'd be more than happy for you to pour that on their hand. Call me dumb, but most people don't like hot wax on their hands. So if you're lit, you do not want to do this.

[14:02] So if you're out, lean out. If you're out, lean out. So if the person's lit, you're out, you lean in and get yours covered and then you come down.

[14:14] Okay? So, so parents, please help your children and please, let's not burn that place down. So let's stand.

[14:24] Let's start by standing and I'll get this started on my end. If you're out, lean out.

[14:48] If you're lit, stay put. And then the light.

[15:25] The light. Can you see?

[15:43] You can play it by here. He's fine. We'll sing a couple verses of Silent Night. Three verses actually. Actually. Silent Night.

[16:00] Holy Night. All is calm. All is bright. Father, thank you that you glorify yourself and you have glorified it in your son and his death and his resurrection.

[16:24] It's unbelievable that you would, would do this amazing work to save a bunch of sinners. And yet, you do. So we can be trophies of your mercy and mercy and your compassion.

[16:39] Thank you. Pray for our safety tonight as we go home and are together with our families and friends. In the name of Jesus. Amen. May we love you.