Journey Toward Christmas: A Love that Sacrifices

Adrian Rogers, the late pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church Memphis, TN once told the story of a little girl who awoke in terror at the crashing thunder of a storm. In fright she cried out from her bedroom for her daddy. A loving father went to hold his little girl securely in his arms until her fear subsided. He told her, "Honey, you don't need to be afraid. God will take care of you because He loves you!"

Through her sniffles, the little girl looked up at her father and said, "I know God loves me and will take care of me, but right now daddy, I want someone with skin on to love me."

Jesus Christ is God with skin on. Colossians 1:15 tells us the “The Son is the image of the invisible God, ... “ Because he came, we do not have to be afraid when the storms of life roll into our lives.

The Gospel of Matthew presents us with a story of love etched in the miraculous birth, the extraordinary life, and the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. It is the account of a love so deep and so eternal that it willingly gave up everything so that you and I might personally know God. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, the writer speaking of Jesus tells us that: “ ... But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26, NIV84)

For centuries, the church has used the four Sundays preceding Christmas as a time of reflection on both the 1st and 2nd Advents of our Lord, Jesus. On each of four successive Sundays, candles are lit that call attention to the great themes of Advent: Promise, Hope, Joy and Love. This morning I want to preach on a love that sacrifices. It is the kind of love God had for us. It is the kind of love the world needs to see in believers.

I. TRUE LOVE IS WILLING TO SACRIFICE WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO IT FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER

“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:47–54, NIV84)

1. of all the gospels, Matthew is the most "Jewish" in nature

a. by that I mean that it was written for ethnic Jews familiar with the Old Testament

2. in his gospel, Matthew repeatedly portrays Jesus as the Messiah/King for his readers

a. he refers to the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven nearly 100 times

b. he begins his gospel with Joseph's genealogy to show that Jesus was legally descended from King David just as the Prophets had preached

c. Matthew is the only gospel writer who records the visit of the Magi who come and worship Jesus as a king

d. at the end of his gospel, he records the inscription on the placard Pilate had attached to the cross which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews"

1) indeed He was

3. that Jesus is King of kings, and Lord of lords makes his sacrifice all the more astounding

A. GOD THE SON SACRIFICED HIS DIVINE GLORY

1. God the Son momentarily sacrificed his divine glory that he might embrace our humanity

a. in Philippians 2:7 the Apostle Paul writes that Jesus emptied himself

1) this does not mean that Jesus Set Aside His Deity

a) the Bible does not say that God changed into a human being but rather that God became a human being without ceasing to be God

2) this does not mean that Jesus Set Aside Some Of His Divine Attributes

a) by definition, God cannot cease being God

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” (Colossians 2:9, NIV84)

3) this does not mean that Jesus Did Not Know That He Was God

a) Jesus was completely aware of who He was and what He could do

b. when Paul writes that Jesus emptied himself ...

1) he means that Jesus Willingly Humbled Himself

a) Jesus never used any of His divine attributes to relieve Himself of the limitations of being a human being

2) he means that Jesus’ Glory Was Veiled

a) the glory of Jesus was hidden from humanity during His time on the earth - although it was revealed at certain times such as at the Transfiguration

3) he means that Jesus Lived the Life of a Servant

a) Jesus chose to submit to the will of God the Father in every word and in every deed, and became a servant to the Father obeying in everything

b) Jesus also chose to submit himself to men by being a minister-servant to everyone he met

4) he means that Jesus Was Always Guided By The Holy Spirit

a) Jesus was always in the Spirit, guided by the Spirit, and empowered by the Spirit

2. God the Son momentarily emptied himself of his divine glory — I can think of few greater acts of sacrifice

a. imagine for a moment if you can, what God relinquished to become like you and I

1) in Heaven, Jesus was given honor, and glory and praise by the angels, but in His human form, Jesus could neither see nor hear the Cherubim and Seraphim flying above the throne of heaven crying out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

2) in Heaven Jesus never knew privation or poverty, but on earth He knew both

“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:19–20, NIV84)

3) in Heaven, the saints adored him, but on earth most men despised him

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.” (John 7:7, NIV84)

3. Jesus willingly sacrificed all these things that were rightfully his to walk the dusty roads of this life

B. GOD THE SON SACRIFICED HIS LIFE

1. as the Son of God, Jesus had every right to ask the Heavenly Father to spare his life and to find some other way to bring redemption to man other than dying on a cross

a. He did not, but submitted to the Father’s will

b. His life belonged to Him, but He willingly died because my sin demanded his sacrifice

“just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.” (John 10:15–17, NIV84)

2. there is something else that Jesus relinquished to become like you and I— freedom from temptation's struggle

“For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:16–18, NIV84)

a. the greatest temptation Jesus faced was not the temptations of Satan in the Judean wilderness

b. the greatest temptation Jesus faced was not the moment of truth in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matt. 26:39) NIV

c. the greatest temptation Jesus faced was when a skeptic cried out, "He saved others, let's see if he can same himself."

3. he could have!

a. in Matthew 26:53 Jesus tells Peter, "Hey, put away your sword. Don't you realize that if I wanted to, all I have to do is give the word and my Heavenly Father will send more than 12 legions of angels to fight on my behalf?"

b. I would not want to have been part of the arresting crowd when Jesus calls 72,000 angels descend from Heaven to surround and protect him

4. praise God, that Jesus did not surrender to that temptation

a. he never sinned and thus he became the perfect sacrifice for our sins

1) he was the spotless Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world

b. he lovingly laid down his life and willingly sacrificed all that rightly belong to him that sinners could know God

5. True Love Is Willing to Surrender What Rightfully Belongs to it for the Sake of Another

II. TRUE LOVE IS WILLING TO FORGIVE COMPLETELY

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21–35, NIV84)

1. Peter's question is haunting. "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?"

a. the question itself reveals our desire to keep score when others sin against us

b. we frequently file away other's offences against us to use as ammunition at some future date

2. Jesus answers Peter's question with a parable about a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants

a. the point of the parable is that the king freely forgave his servant what he owed him

b. Jesus concludes his parable by saying, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

A. CHRIST'S SACRIFICE CANCELS OUR DEBTS AND FORGIVES US OUR SIN

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14, NIV)

ILLUS. What Paul is here referring to was a legal document called the Handwriting of Ordinances. When you were arrested in those days, the magistrates would compile a hand written list of all the charges leveled against you. It was very similar to being arraigned in our own court system. This list of charges was called the "Handwriting of Ordinances." If you were found guilty, you were thrown in prison and the charges were nailed to the door of your cell. They were a constant reminder of your crimes, your guilt and your sentence. When the sentence was finished the Handwriting of Ordinances were initialed by the guard and the prisoner and the ordinances were taken to the judge. In bold letters scrawled across the charges the judge would write "It is finished," meaning that the penalty had been paid in full and the prisoner was now free.

1. do those words sound familiar?

a. they should — Jesus spoke them from the cross

b. when he our Savior cried out, "It is finished," he was not referring to his life, but to the redemption he purchased on the cross, when he paid our penalty for your sin and mine

2. if you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, every sin you've ever committed, and every sin you ever will commit was nailed to the cross with Jesus

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)

3. as Jesus hangs on the cross — becoming our sin-bearer — His mother watches, and the words of the angel ring in her mind: “... and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

4. True Love Is Willing to Forgive Completely

III. TRUE LOVE IS WILLING TO LIVE OBEDIENTLY

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” (Matthew 21:28–32, NIV84)

1. God's greatest desire is to pursue a continuing love relationship with you

a. to be a Christian means many things ...

1) it means we are servants ...

2) it means we are worshipers ...

3) it means we are ministers ...

2. but the most important thing it means to be a Christian is to live in fellowship and a love relationship with God

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:9, NIV)

A. CHRIST'S ACTIONS SPOKE LOUDER THAN HIS WORDS

1. through this parable, Jesus is addressing all those who say they love God with their lips, but through their actions say something completely different

a. it's one thing to profess I love God

b. it's another altogether to express that love through obedient living

2. Jesus set the example for his disciples and for us by his life of obedience to his Heavenly Father

“but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “... .” (John 14:31, NIV84)

a. he demonstrated his sacrificial love through obedience to God the Father

3. True Love Is Willing to Live Obediently

IV. THE APPLICATION

A. IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL LIVE SACRIFICIALLY

1. the Christian must be willing to sacrifice everything including our right to ourself for a higher allegiance to Christ

“and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2, NIV)

ILLUS. I really like what David Livingstone wrote in his journal concerning the idea of living a sacrificial life for God. “People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paying back a small part of the great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind and a bright hope of glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.”

2. if Jesus Christ is God, and if He died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him

B. IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL FREELY FORGIVE AS WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN

1. forgiveness is like an eraser that wipes out painful memories

ILLUS. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude.”

2. for the Christian forgiveness is a required course in the school of life

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26, KJV)

C. IF WE LOVE GOD WE LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD'S COMMANDS

1. everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing God and experiencing Him depends on the quality of your love relationship to God

a. God initiates that relationship

b. but this relationship is not a one-sided affair

2. we show our love to God by obeying Him

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21, NIV84)

That is what Christ demands of us. Our love and devotion for Him must be so complete that the deepest love we have for our dearest loved one fades in comparison. Do you love the Lord Jesus like that? If you don't — or aren't willing to — you cannot be His disciple.

Advent is a time for kindness, thinking of others, and sharing with others. It is a time to love as God loved us by giving us his most precious gift. As God is love, let us be love also. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34–35, NIV84)

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