The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!! The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!! Luke 2:8-12.

““The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!”The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!”   

Luke 2:8-12Luke 2:8-12

““What is the most What is the most joyful time joyful time

of the year?”of the year?”  

1719 Isaac Watts1719 Isaac Watts: :

“Joy to the World”“Joy to the World”

    ““joy”joy”

  v.10 v.10

““I bring you good tidings I bring you good tidings of great joy”of great joy”

““GOOD TIDINGS”GOOD TIDINGS”evangelismevangelism = = “to bring good news”“to bring good news”

verse 11verse 11

““SaviorSavior,…,…

ChristChrist,,

The The LordLord””

verse 12verse 12

““baby”baby”

I.  JesusI.  Jesusis is

The Son The Son of of

God  God  

WHO was Born in 1809WHO was Born in 1809:  :  

William GladstoneWilliam Gladstone, Prime Minister of , Prime Minister of England England

Alfred Lord TennysonAlfred Lord Tennyson, World , World Literature   Literature  

Oliver Wendell Holmes & Edgar Oliver Wendell Holmes & Edgar Allan PoeAllan Poe, Novelists , Novelists

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin, Evolution Theory , Evolution Theory

Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln, 16, 16thth President of President of AmericaAmerica

““And this will be the sign to you:  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a BabyYou will find a Baby

wrapped in swaddling cloths, wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”lying in a manger.”

(v.12)(v.12)

The BirthThe Birthofof

The Son The Son of of

God God 

““sympathetic resonance”sympathetic resonance”

    II.  Jesus II.  Jesus is is

The Savior The Savior ofof

The World The World 

verse 10verse 10

“I bring you “I bring you good tidings good tidings of great joy!”of great joy!”

verse 11 verse 11

“For there is born “For there is born to you this day to you this day

in the city of David, in the city of David, a Savior!”a Savior!”

““SAVIOR”SAVIOR”a deliverer from one's enemiesa deliverer from one's enemies

    Isaiah 43:11Isaiah 43:11

“I, even I, am the Lord, “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me and besides Me

there is no savior!"there is no savior!"  

Isaiah 49:26Isaiah 49:26

“All flesh shall know “All flesh shall know that, I, The Lord, that, I, The Lord, Am Your Savior, Am Your Savior,

and Your Redeemer.”and Your Redeemer.”  

Christmas Christmas isis

The Coming The Coming of of

The SaviorThe Savior        

““SAVIORSAVIOR””= (noun) = (noun) “salvation”“salvation”

= (verb) = (verb) “to save”“to save” – found in N.T. – found in N.T.

= (Latin) = (Latin) “salvare” “salvare”

= = “to make safe”“to make safe” or or “secure”“secure”

““And we have And we have seen and testifyseen and testifythat the Father that the Father

has sent the Son has sent the Son as Savior as Savior

of the world.”of the world.” (1 Jn. 4:14)(1 Jn. 4:14)

““You shall call You shall call His Name Jesus, His Name Jesus, for He will save for He will save

His people His people from their sins.”from their sins.”   

(Mt. 1:21)(Mt. 1:21)

Greek, Greek, “Jesus”“Jesus” (iesuo) (iesuo)

Hebrew, Hebrew, “Joshua”“Joshua” (ieshua) (ieshua)

= = “Savior”“Savior” (soter)  (soter) 

<>< <>< (GREEK)(GREEK) “i-x-t-u-s”“i-x-t-u-s” = = (ENGLISH)(ENGLISH) “fish”“fish”::

(iota) (iota) ““ii” ” = = ii - esuo (Jesus) - esuo (Jesus)

(xsi) (xsi) ““xx” ” = = kk - ristuo (Christ) - ristuo (Christ)

(tau) (tau) ““tt” ” = = tt - heos (God) - heos (God)

(upsilon) (upsilon) ““uu” ” = = uu - ios (Son) - ios (Son)

(su) (su) ““ss” ” = = ss - oter (Savior) - oter (Savior)

JesusJesus,, ChristChrist, (is) , (is) God’sGod’s, , SonSon, (The) , (The) SaviorSavior       

If our greatest need had been information, If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. God would have sent us an educator.

  If our greatest need had been technology, If our greatest need had been technology,

God would have sent us a scientist. God would have sent us a scientist.

  If our greatest need had been money, If our greatest need had been money,

God would have sent us an economist. God would have sent us an economist.

  If our greatest need had been pleasure, If our greatest need had been pleasure,

God would have sent us an entertainer. God would have sent us an entertainer.

  But our greatest need was forgiveness, But our greatest need was forgiveness,

So God sent us a So God sent us a SaviorSavior..

The Savior must beThe Savior must be HUMANHUMAN & & DIVINEDIVINE:   :   

A.A. HUMAN HUMAN – to – to diedie for sin for sin

B.B. DIVINEDIVINE – to – to not dienot die in sin in sin

““For He made Him For He made Him who knew no sin who knew no sin to be sin for us, to be sin for us,

that we might become that we might become the righteousness the righteousness

of God in Him.”of God in Him.”(2 Cor. 5:21)(2 Cor. 5:21)

III.  Jesus III.  Jesus is is

The SupremeThe SupremeBeing Being 

““LORD”LORD”9,000++ times used in the O.T.9,000++ times used in the O.T.

6,000++ times used for 6,000++ times used for “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”  “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” 

The differences between The differences between Santa Claus & Jesus Christ: Santa Claus & Jesus Christ: 

Santa lives at the North Pole...JESUS is everywhere. Santa lives at the North Pole...JESUS is everywhere. 

Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year...JESUS is an ever present help.Santa comes but once a year...JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all of your needs.Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all of your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at the door of your Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at the door of your heart and knocks and enters when you say, "Come in.“heart and knocks and enters when you say, "Come in.“

You have to wait in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His You have to wait in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms.Santa lets you sit on his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name--all he can say is "Hi, little boy or little Santa doesn't know your name--all he can say is "Hi, little boy or little girl"...JESUS knew our name before we did.girl"...JESUS knew our name before we did.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...JESUS has a heart full of love.Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can do is "Ho, Ho, Ho"...JESUS offers health, help, and hope.All Santa can do is "Ho, Ho, Ho"...JESUS offers health, help, and hope.

Santa says, "You better not cry"...JESUS says, "Cast all your cares on Me, for I Santa says, "You better not cry"...JESUS says, "Cast all your cares on Me, for I care for you.“care for you.“

Santa's little helpers make toys...JESUS makes new life, mends broken wounded Santa's little helpers make toys...JESUS makes new life, mends broken wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions in heaven.hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions in heaven.

Santa may make you laugh...But JESUS gives you everlasting joy.Santa may make you laugh...But JESUS gives you everlasting joy.

Santa puts gifts under your tree...JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.Santa puts gifts under your tree...JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

Lessons Lessons fromfrom Christmas:Christmas:

Jesus Is The SONJesus Is The SON – relate to Him – relate to Him

Jesus Is The SAVIORJesus Is The SAVIOR – respond to Him – respond to Him

Jesus Is The SUPREMEJesus Is The SUPREME - receive Him - receive Him

““The The Lord Lord

is is Come!!!”Come!!!”