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An Unwanted Saviour
John 1:11
"It's more blessed to give than to receive."
To watch our children and grandchildren open their presents, and to see the smiles on their faces,
brings joy to our hearts.
Christmas is a wonderful day.
However, all good things come to an end, and so does Christmas.
It was great while it lasted.
Someone has realistically said, "December's generosity becomes January's payments.
Our presents soon become possessions."
Life quickly gets back to normal.
The holidays are over, and it is back to school and back to work.
Even though Christmas is so commercialized, more people probably still think about Jesus
than any other time of the year.
Choirs and carolers have sung about Him, and many churches have had Christmas plays,
and many people will have made their annual visit to church.
For a brief period they think about Jesus.
They remember about the baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem.
They will think about the greatest gift ever given.
I want to share this great gift of God with you.
I like what was pointed out to me recently
Someone has said that Christmas is more than the arrival of Jesus Christ.
It is also the departure.
The Bible says,
"For unto us a child is born (the arrival), unto us a Son is given (the departure)."
Isaiah 9:6
Luke writes,
"And she brought forth her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room in the Inn."
Luke 2:7
Mary laid her Son in a manger that wasn't His, and 33 years later, she would see Him
crucified on a cross that wasn't His, and then laid in a tomb that wasn't His.
When He arrived in Bethlehem, He did not come as a king.
He was born in stall where animals were fed.
Bethlehem was crowded with people that special night.
There were "No Vacancy" signs everywhere.
The only place left for Joseph and Mary was a stable behind the inn,
They had to sleep outside in the dark and dampness of the night.
And on that night Mary gave birth to Jesus.
Jesus' bed was a feeding troth.
The smell of the animals filled the night air.
This was the place where God Himself entered the world as a baby.
He came as an infant and was laid in a feeding troth.
Jesus was laid in a manger in order to show forth His humility.
This is the ultimate example of humility.
The Bible says, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)
Religious leaders were looking for a king to serve, but Jesus came as a serving king.
Jesus came to save all who will receive Him as Saviour and Lord.
Jesus wants all of us to come to Him, Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who are
burden and heavy laden, and I will give you rest...." (Matthew 11:28)
With Jesus there are no boundaries of race, color, creed, sex or religion.
God is able to save all who will come to Him.
He wants the rich and poor; the young and old; the moral and immoral to come to Him.
There is no one too good to come to Him, and there is no one too bad.
He wants us all to come to Him, and He will receive us just as we are.
Jesus knew what it was to be without.
He was not born into a rich family.
Jesus came to this earth knowing what it was to be poor.
Everything Jesus had was borrowed.
His manger; the donkey He rode on in Jerusalem; the cross He was crucified on, and the
tomb in which He was buried.
Shortly after He was born,
Herod was determined to kill Him.
King Herod was told by the wise men that the "King of the Jews" had been
born in Bethlehem.
So, Herod had all male children in Bethlehem, 2 years and under, killed in hopes of killing Jesus.
Though he failed to kill Him at his birth, his effort found fulfillment at Calvary.
From day one, man's sword was drawn ready to kill Him.
Mankind didn't want Jesus then, and Jesus is not wanted now.
There was no room for Jesus then, and there is no room for Him now.
Bethlehem didn't want Him then, and it doesn't want Him now.
Our country doesn't want Him either.
He is not wanted by government.
He is not welcomed in our public schools.
He is not welcomed in our businesses.
And, if the truth was know, He is not wanted in many of our churches.
There isn't any room for Him in our present world.
We should understand that Jesus didn't come to fill our government or our schools or our businesses.
Jesus came to this earth to fill our lives with Himself.
Have you made room for Him?
The next time you're feeling lonely, remember Jesus.
When you feel as though everything and everyone is against you, remember Jesus.
Nobody wanted Jesus.
The Bible says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11).
He who was spoken of by the prophets.
He who came and fulfilled the Scriptures was rejected, unwanted, and unloved.
This same Jesus who was seen turning water into wine; who was seen healing the sick, lame and blind;
who was seen feeding over 5000 people; and who was seen raising the dead,
was rejected by His own creation.
He came to set us free from the power of sin and of death.
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me, though He may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." John 11:25-26
He came to take our sins upon Himself, and pay the penalty for them.
John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin
of the world." John 1:29
He came to give us peace with God.
The Bible says,
" We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer (courage), I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
He came to give us the hope of heaven.
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
He came to give us an abundant life.
Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.
I have come that you might have life and that you may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him,
and he with Me." Revelations 3:20
People make room for everyone else, but Jesus.
What about you?
Have you made room in your heart for Jesus?
If you will make room for Jesus in your heart, He will make room for you in His Father's house in heaven.
Lets not crowd Him out of Christmas.
Let's celebrate His birthday by inviting Him to be the guest of honor.
Make room for Him in your heart by turning from sin and turning to Jesus.
Invite Jesus into your life as your personal Lord and Savior.
When you do, you will have received the greatest gift in all the world -- the gift of eternal salvation!
And you will truly be blessed and you will have the best Christmas ever.
Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
Email Dr. White at hleewhite@aol.com