Sunday Recap 12/25/16 “How did Christ Come for us to Serve the World?”

Sunday Recap 12/25/16 “How did Christ Come for us to Serve the World?”

Christmas Day 2016, Evident Grace celebrated the birth of Christ joyously by attempting to answer this Big Picture Question:

Big Picture Question:  How did Christ Come for us to Serve the World?

And to answer it, we read Luke 2:22-32

Luke 2:22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

And we found these answers to our question…

Big Picture Question:  How did Christ Come for us to Serve the World?

  • He was born to obey God’s commands.
  • He was born to give us hope.
  • He was born so the world might believe.

He was born to obey God’s commands.

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

When Jesus was born, His parents brought Him to the temple for a purification and dedication ceremony.  Mary and Joseph did this out of obedience to a command in the book of Leviticus.  This is important.  Had Jesus’ parents not obeyed, Jesus could not have been our Savior.  He would have been in disobedience even that early.  But thankfully, Mary and Joseph were Godly, and Jesus went on to obey all that God commanded for us.

He was born to give us hope.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Simeon was a Godly man who was told that he would see the Savior before he died.  When he saw Jesus, he knew that Jesus was the Savior.  He knew that Jesus was to be our comfort for our sins and the hope for non-believers.  We need hope for forgiveness, and all people need hope for a Savior.

He was born so that the world might believe.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 

Simeon knew he could die in peace because he saw Jesus.  But Simeon also knew that all people could now believe in God and be forgiven because of Jesus.  We should serve faithfully just like Simeon so that others can have that hope.

Big Picture Question:  How did Christ Come for us to Serve the World?

Truth:  Jesus’ obedience gives us hope that the world might believe in Him. 

Application:  Live knowing that the birth of Jesus was the beginning of both your hope and the world’s.

Action:  Take Christmas to prepare your heart for great hope and great mission in the coming year.  Then…serve boldly.

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