Sermon Snippet – A Brief History of Christmas
INTRODUCTION – On this first Sunday of Advent, let us briefly consider the history of Christmas – the Biblical history, that is.
1. THIS HISTORY INCLUDES A FORERUNNER TO THE PROMISED SAVIOR
We have been studying Elijah, who thought that he was all alone in Israel as a person of faith; but God revealed to him that there were still a few other believers (I Kings 19:14-18). The discouraged prophet has a place in the Christmas story, another evidence of the tender mercies of God; Malachi 4:5-6 predicted the return of Elijah before the coming of the Messiah. Jesus clarified in Matthew 17:10-13 that Elijah did not literally return but that this prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist, whose ministry of preparation and repentance followed the model established by Elijah. John’s message was instumental in introducing Jesus to the people of Israel (Isaiah 40:1-4; Matthew 3:1-16).
2. THIS HISTORY OF THE PROMISED SAVIOR INCLUDES THE PROMISE OF THE FULLNESS OF HIS HUMANITY
Sinning Adam and Eve were promised a Redeemer from their “seed” (Genesis 3:15). They so completely believed this covenant that they thought that their firstborn was the fulfillment (the name Cain means, “I have the man, the Lord”). Additional information foretold that this Savior would be of the line of Abraham (Genesis 12:3), of Isaac (Genesis 26:4), of Jacob (Genesis 28:14), of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and of David (II Samuel 7:16). Of course, any human must have a place of birth, and that predicted place for the Savior was Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Jesus fulfilled all of these specific requirements (Matthew 1:1-17; 2:1). His full humanity was essential to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. It was also necessary from a theological perspective, for only a real person could be our substitute.
3. THIS HISTORY OF THE PROMISED SAVIOR INCLUDES THE PROMISE OF THE FULLNESS OF HIS DIVINITY
We need a perfect substitute: no mere man could fill that position. We must also insist that this substitute be fully God because otherwise God would be guilty of crass cruelty in creating someone exclusively for the purpose of becoming our scapegoat and suffering and dying: this heresy is at the core of cults. Isaiah 9:6-7 is an absolute claim of the Messiah’s deity, especially “The Mighty God.” This unequivocal statement is confirmed in the birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:20-25). He is “God with us.”
CONCLUSION – Biblical prophecy becomes actual history. As we celebrate this Christmas season, we are commemorating the truth.