Christmas Stories about Emmanuel

1:56And so, if you've been around a while, you've probably heard some of these stories, but nonetheless, it's good to bring them back, think deeply, let some of these eternal truths just take root in your heart. I don't know if you guys remember Bob Jones, but it's a quote I think is appropriate. The devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, to lie, to kill, to commit adultery. He tempted them to live independent of God. That was the temptation. You can do this without God, live without him.

2:44And that is what the first sin was about: independence from God. And they were deceived, they were tricked. Of course, Adam knew. Adam knew what he was doing. And it incarcerated him. Taking that step to live independent from God then incarcerated him to a life separate from God. You live not according to God's good plan, but according to your own power, to your own ability, to your own intellect. And so humanity started going after what seemed right, what seemed good, what makes most sense to us. And it is a prison that humanity just can't get out of. Even when they come to religion, religion then becomes just another means for man to get what he wants.

3:52And it's an endless cycle. It is a deep prison. It is a grand shackle that cannot be broken. And the momentum of man living for himself and using others to get what he wants just creates a world of depravity. Piper said it like this. John Piper said it like this. The root of our sinfulness is the desire for our own happiness apart from God and others' happiness apart from God. From God. Really, the root comes down to this is the root of sinfulness. We desire a happiness that is independent of God.

4:42Is that you tonight? I hope by the night is over, it won't be. Because that's exactly what Christ came to change. John 3:17. Jesus said, or actually, this is John's commentary, I believe, on Jesus' words: For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. The word for judge up there is the word condemn. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who does not believe has been judged already. So here's the problem of humanity, already condemned. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world because the world has already been condemned. He sent the Son to save the world. The world has been condemned because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment. Here it is.

6:00The light has come into the world, and men love the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. That is what life independent of God takes us. It's where it takes us. It's where it takes all of us. And it's exactly why Christ came. Romans 8:6 says, For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. So, what is that mind of death? Independence from God. You'll do what God says only when it makes sense, only when it helps you, only when it's expedient. But really, ultimately, the authority is yourself.

6:47And that mindset is death. It brings death. Death to your own relationships, death to other relationships. It just is a, it is a heart. It is a wellspring of death. When your heart is set upon your own self, that's what it does. Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so. Now, that's the problem, right? It's not like you can just change your mind and serve God.

7:30Even in, if something doesn't change deep within, even when you approach God, it's just a manipulation. Something, the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, period. So that mind has to be changed. How? But because it can't even subject itself to the law of God, it can't even do so. And those who are in the flesh cannot please God. That's planet Earth. Darkness, sin, the ruin, the fall, that's where humanity is. So the Redeemer comes.

8:15And what does he love to do? He loves to redeem the condemned. That's what he does. We love the, probably seen this house, some of you. I hadn't until I found this. But here's an old house just on the verge of being condemned. But somebody up in Waco saw some hope for this house and renovated it, redeemed it, went in and fixed it up. It's called the Magnolia House. I don't know if any of you. Who are the name of the people that do that?

8:55Yeah, yeah. So they'd love to take old houses, right? And they'd love to. I love it. I love the idea. Look at, here are some images that I just found. I love to see something fixed up. Well, here's a room that's really good for nothing, except maybe be torn down. But when somebody gets through with it, all of a sudden this room becomes a beautiful thing, very useful. And here's another picture. It's really something just a mess.

9:29It can be turned into something very beautiful, very useful, kitchen renovation. You've seen images like this, and that's made this couple up in Waco very famous, right? And wealthy. They love to redeem the condemned. And really, if you want to step into the mind of God, that's what he's about. Except he's not just taking an old building, he loves to take ruined humanity. And he loves to make them something special. That's the business he's into. That's his hobby, if you will. It's not even a hobby. It's his passion. It's his desire to take those that condemned, good for nothing, worthless humanity, and do something wonderful with it. I mean, think of royalty. You talk about a king. He comes down, and what kind of a king would come down?

10:30Seek out the very least people and give himself so completely and painfully to their redemption and renewal. Well, that's him. That's the king. So the question becomes: why and how? Why? In fact in John 3, there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. You remember him? He came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. And then Jesus says something that just stops him in his tracks, startles him. Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Born again, unless you are born again, unless you are born from above, you cannot see the kingdom of God.

11:41Why? Why? Of course, that shocked Nicodemus. Question is, why? Why do we have to be born again? Some people even mock that, right? Oh, you're one of those born-again, like refried beans. Didn't get it right the first time. Yeah. And go through it again, right? I mean, there's just why do we have to be born again? That's a question you need to answer. You need to have a real understanding. And kids, children, everybody in there, you all need to know why you must be born again.

12:22Well, that's what the Christmas cat is all about. Christmas cat. I hope I remember it. But picture a time years ago, a time of ladies and lords, kings and queens, lands and kingdoms and dominions, all that. Picture a kingdom and Christmas Day celebration. Every year, a king of this particular domain held a grand Christmas celebration, and everybody was always welcome, invited. Everyone across the kingdom, high, low, and everyone in between, were invited to come out to this celebration every Christmas Day.

13:22Now, on one particular Christmas Day, the celebration was happening, and the king had. A trusted advisor, an old sage. And the sage often said that nobility is a result of a person's birth. Nobility is in the blood. Well, the king's son, a little bit progressive for his time, and said, no, nobility could be learned. It's a learned trait. In one particular Christmas celebration, this came to a head, and the king's son challenged the old sage to a debate.

14:21I will prove to you a year from now, let's have an open debate next Christmas celebration, let's have an open debate in the public for everybody to listen. You go and you research, you come up with your best case to prove that nobility comes from birth, and I will come and prove to you and to everyone else that nobility is a learned trait. So the king said, okay. Thought his boy was a little bit foolish, but okay.

15:00So for the next year, the young son, the son, thought, well, you know what I can do? I'm going to take my cat, and I'm going to teach my cat how to walk and how to talk like a regular gentleman. And that way, I won't even have to prepare a case because people will see just right off the bat that my cat can learn how to be noble. And if a cat can learn, well, then certainly anyone else. And so he took his cat, and he amazing. He taught his cat how to walk on his hind legs, how to serve up food and wine and everything in the most elegant manner, taught him every language in the kingdom. The cat was just a master at engaging on any subject level. So there it was. The next Christmas came around, and sure enough, sure enough, the debate was set, and out comes the cat, serving up in the finest manner, serves his guests, and the people thought, oh, for sure, for sure.

16:30For sure, nobility is something that is learned. I kind of felt sorry for the old sage, even the king. I mean, the cat talked for hours on some of the most elaborate subjects, was able to wax eloquent. Surely, surely, this proves that nobility can be learned. So the king looked at the old sage and said, Your turn. All eyes turned upon the old sage, and he pulled out a little box from his pocket and opened it up, and three little mice came running out.

17:18Well, the cat lost all composure, went disappeared for about 20 minutes, came back a little bit later, his hat torn up, his coat torn up, and licking his paws and purring in the most cat-like way. And it was evident to all that after all of that was done, the cat was still a cat. And that's the message: why must someone be born again? Because unless you're born again, Guess what? You are still a fallen creature. You are still bound to your old nature. Your nature, you need a new nature.

18:19Nobility comes from above. It's a result of being born. And you need a new nature. You need a nature that loves the things of God. The cat answers the question: why? Why do we need to be born again? Well, but as you read carefully, when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus in chapter 3 and verse 4, Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born again when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?

19:03So Nicodemus isn't asking the why question. He's asking the what. How? How is he born again? Jesus goes on a little bit later. You're the teacher of Israel and you do not understand these things. Let me ask you, been in church a long time, how does one become born again? You know why. Why one must be born again, how does it come about? Well, you need to know the answer to that one. And that's where the Christmas flower comes in.

19:44The Christmas flower. And that answers the how question. How is one born again? All this comes out of John 3. I'm just trying to take some of the concepts, some of the very critical, important concepts in John chapter 3 and weave in a little Christmas story to try to help you understand or help a child understand, help myself understand. Well, what is the most beautiful flower in the world? Depends, right? Well, there's a lot of candidates out there. I'll just give you a few ideas. There's the South African ghasania, and it is beautiful, if you've ever seen one. I mean, it is a beautiful, beautiful flower. There's the plumeria. I mean, it comes in all kinds of colors, and the fragrance is very, very strong and good, sweet-smelling. So many think that that's the prettiest flower in the world. I see some people shaking their heads. It must have something else on them. Well, there's the magnolia. Magnolia, right?

21:02I love the magnolia. That's why I gave it the biggest. For some, there's just nothing more beautiful than a magnolia tree in full bloom. Just a picture of stately grace. It old smell wonderful. Others think it's the iris. In fact, the iris has been the subject of a lot of paintings, made a lot of people famous. Anybody know of a famous painter that really took to irises? Monet, thank you. Yes, so for some, the iris, for some, it's the lily. It's my wife's favorite stargazer lily, or the most beautiful flower belongs in the lily family. Then there's the rose, of course. Everyone, they're the poets, songs, you know, everything about the rose, the rose, the rose. So many think that the rose has everything to be the most beautiful flower in the world. Well, whatever flower ends up getting that title, there is a legendary flower that some say exists whose glory absolutely surpasses all of them. Because one of the things about All the other flowers, they're beautiful, but they can only put their beauty on display. Only the Christmas flower could make the beholder beautiful. Only the Christmas flower had a beauty that was contagious.

22:51How few ever saw the Christmas flower because it bloomed in remote places, a little bit off the beaten path. And very few people, even when it was in bloom, really stopped to look upon its deep beauty. But some did. And for those who did, something truly amazing happened. As the passer-by stopped and began to gaze upon the deep beauty of this Christmas flower, something truly amazing happened. The flower's beauty started transferring to the beholder. Their flaws began to disappear. As they breathed in the fragrance, an internal disposition of peace.

24:00And joy would take over even the most troubled souls. Every blight, the flower was so beautiful that its beauty just couldn't be contained. It would give its beauty away. And an interesting transaction would take place. As the beholder became as bright and as beautiful as the flower itself, the flower would take on the ugliness and the grossness of its beholder. And after a little while, the flower would simply die. Having transferred its beauty and having received all the ugliness, it would die.

25:05And then again, following year, come up again. Such was the glory of the Christmas flower. And such is the glory of the Christ sent to save us. You see, he's not just. Here to put his kingly power and beauty on display. He's here to transform all who will stop their journey and gaze upon his deep beauty. In fact, Jesus goes on in John chapter 3 and he explains to Nicodemus how this happens. He says, As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. So here's the transaction. You remember the story in the Israelites' wilderness? They complained, they complained, they were against God, they wouldn't believe God, and then God sent some serpents among them, didn't he? And what happened? They bit the believers. I mean, they bit the Israelites, believers and unbelievers. They bit them. They bit them. And then what happened?

26:47Well, Moses put up this serpent. Just a picture of this serpent that was coming and biting them. And who? Whoever looked upon that would have their death sentence removed. Remember that, right? Because these were serpents, they bite, they would inject poison. You're going to die unless you look to the remedy. Moses put up the remedy, and so guess what happened to those who got bit? They had a choice, didn't they? Would they believe Moses or would they not? Would they look or would they not? What happened to the unbeliever who didn't look? He died, right?

27:34So he removed some unbelief from the camp, right? What happened to the unbeliever who looked? He lived, and what else? He believed. He believed, right? He believed. You see, all of us have a death sentence, don't we? See, the problem wasn't the poison. The problem wasn't the poison that the serpents put in there, was it? The problem was the disposition not to believe, to live independent from God. That's the problem. And so when the serpents came and injected poison, got people thinking, ah, I'm going to die.

28:18But there's a way out. Listen, we're all terminal, aren't we? We all are going to die. And God has. Lifted up the Son of Man, the one who is promised to come with all glory. All nations, all kingdoms are going to obey him. That is who the Son of Man is. And this king has come. And this king went to a cross. Now, what kind of a king would do that? For the most lowliest scum in his king, he came and he loved them with such a depth, such a rich love.

29:09It's beautiful. In fact, when you see him, Revelation records him as being looking like a lamb who was slain. When you see him, you're going to see those scars are going to tell the story of a king who deeply, deeply loves his people. And so, how? You gaze upon the king, you gaze upon the God who stepped down, came into our world, grew up, went to the cross. It's there. It's there at the cross where he is lifted up. Gaze upon that God. God and all his power, God and all his justice, God on the cross for his people.

30:12And when you get a hold of that, you no longer want to run from him. You no longer want to be independent from him. Not only is the death sentence removed, but the cause of the death sentence in the first place is removed. And as you look upon him, you are transformed. Something happens that only the Spirit does, but it happens there. I can't explain the mystery. Jesus Himself said to Nicodemus, the wind blows where it will.

31:03You can tell the effects of it. You can't see it, but this is where the transaction happens: is gazing, believing. And that's what the eyes of faith are about. How do you see? You see him. He's there. He's written all over the pages of Scripture. And you behold him. Through those words, they take us there. They connect us to him. And you see him through faith. Gaze upon him. Believe. Believing, whoever believes in him will have eternal life. What was Nicodemus' question? How can a man be born again?

31:54Jesus said, You can't, unless you're born again, you can't even see the kingdom of God. Now, here, the one who is having eternal life, who is the one who has eternal life, the one who believes. God Himself has walked among us, God Himself has taken your sin, God Himself has dealt with it justly and righteously. God has called you to come to Him and accept His benevolent rulership over your life. Be free from your own incarceration, the momentum of your own way. Well, that is about out of time. Got one more. Someone asked me for this.

32:41You guys remember the story of King Tree and Mary Tree? No, King Tree and okay, you asked me for this one, right? Okay, God. Okay. Now, this one is kind of just maybe. It gives you a picture of the motivation behind it all. It's not as directly tied to a scripture, but it's a fun story nonetheless. Okay, picture a meadow, kind of like the one I have on the screen, in the forest, a little knoll, a little hill, and picture two little trees growing up on top of that little hill. I mean, from the very beginning, either tree never could remember a time when the other tree wasn't there because they both seemed to spring up together and they lived together right there on top. They could see the four, they could see for miles around. They were perched up high and they grew. They loved each other. They grew and talked to each other. They spent their first winter together, first spring, summer. They just, years go by and they start growing. And one day something amazing happened.

34:05An owl came, stood, and landed in one of the branches, one of the trees, and said, You two are going to be two of the greatest trees that have ever lived. Wow. Prophecy. They got a prophecy. We're going to be the two greatest trees that have ever lived. And so they. They didn't even know how to process that. And so the only thing they could think of was: well, that must mean that I'm going to be king tree and you're going to be Lord Mayor Tree. That's what that's. We're going to be the great. What else could be greater than being the king tree of the forest and the Lord Mayor Tree of the forest? And so these two trees grew up together. And boy, not a day went by and they didn't talk about it. And they just grew strong and straight and they towered over the rest of the forest. You could see them. If you just came into the forest, you could see King Tree and Lord Mayor Tree up there on their hill, just looking over.

35:11Well, and then one day, an interesting thing happened. A bunch of people came into the forest. King Tree could see them, Lord Mayor Tree could see them. Ah, this was the day. This was the day that the owl had talked about. They must be coming to coronate us, crown us, King, Lord Mayor Tree. As people came closer, they were noticing we're marking out trees. And then something unthinkable happened. They pulled out their axes and saws, and they took Lord Mayor Tree down and down went.

36:00Lord Mayor Tree. And they drug him off. What had gone wrong? I mean, Kingtree was stunned. What in the world? What happened? Sad winters, sad springs, sad years go by, and Kingtree never forgot Lord Mayor Tree. Some years later, another group came out. Kingtree saw them coming and thought, oh, well, maybe the prophecy was wrong. Maybe today, maybe the prophecy was just about me being the greatest. So now, maybe this is the day that they're going to make me king.

36:48No sooner had the thought come than he realized they had come and they did the same to him as they did to Lord Mayor Tree. The word had gotten out that Lord Mayor Tree had been cut up into some sort of barn, stable. Kingtree, the last moments of his recollection, as life was fleeting, he was being cut up into boards. So if you go out to This little forest today, there's two little, two big stumps where Lord Mayor Tree and King Tree used to stand.

37:43They're the two greatest trees that ever lived. You see, because from the wood of Lord Mayor Tree, they made the place where our Lord Jesus laid his head down for the first time. And from the wood of kingtree, they made the place where Jesus laid his head down for the last. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever would believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Let's pray.

38:32Heavenly Father, as we reflect upon your goodness, Father, we're reminded of our own sinful disposition to seek out our own happiness independent of you. But, Father, we know it's a prison, we know it leads to death, and so, Father, We want to be born, renewed by your Spirit. Father, we want to be done with the old, put on the new. And Father, we thank you that you were motivated and we are reminded of that this Christmas season as we stop and ponder the mystery of you coming to earth, born in a manger, the career going to the cross, and renovating our souls in the process. Thank you, Father, that you love to redeem that which is condemned. And, Father, it's for that reason that we can sing tonight and celebrate. It's in Christ's name. Amen.