November 27, 2011

“ONCE Jesus Came, NOW Jesus Comes, YET Jesus Will Come”

Isaiah 40:1-5; John 18:33-37

Introduction

    We live in a time of enormous, rapid change. How life is lived, how societies are formed and shaped by particular values, how the many cultures around the world experience and understand each other: these things are so very different even within just one generation. I was born at a time in America when private and public ridicule of African Americans and Asians, women and homosexuals, the mentally or physically handicapped, when disdain for Polish or Italian, German or Russian was rarely challenged and was even acceptable language or behavior. When I was young I knew and sometimes used the ugly, pejorative names for each of these groups.
    Thankfully, within one generation, this awful devaluation of human beings has largely been erased (even though it gets expressed from time to time in both private conversation and public statement).
    Yet today, it seems there is still a group in America held up to public mockery with little objection. Attacks on the church and Christianity are common.
    So, as we enter the Advent/Christmas season, I have thought about this question for believer and non-believer alike, for seeker and skeptic, friend or foe: Can you imagine what the world would be like if God, in the person of Jesus Christ, had never come into our world or into my life or yours?

I. ONCE Jesus Came

First of all, we would never have heard of the love of a personal God, the One who gives life, redeems his people, and offers real hope and purpose for everyday life. There would be no Christmas, no celebrating God’s greatest gift; no Christmas carols, songs or music that have enriched the lives of countless people like no other subject in history. Thierry Fischer would be emptied of his love for the Berlioz’ L’enfance du Christ that the symphony orchestra and chorus performed last week. No Messiah sing-in, no 1st Pres Christmas concert.
What if Jesus had never been born? There would be no New Testament account. And the lives of the people of that time would have turned out quite differently. Mary Magdalene would have died in her sin and shame. Matthew would still have been a traitor to his countrymen. The Roman soldier would have continued his cruelty. Peter, James and John would have done nothing more with their lives than fish for a living. The Apostle Paul would never have been more than a cruel Pharisee steeped in legalism with an unrelenting demand for perfection from other people. The people who needed healing would have remained broken in body and spirit. The lame would still have been lame. The blind would have remained in their darkness. The deaf would have still lived in silence. And all of them would live in the poverty and hopelessness of a culture that not only didn’t care but outright rejected them.
    Who knows how or if the following contributions of followers of Jesus Christ would have developed or not? In much of the non-Christian world, they have not. Here’s a sample: hospitals, universities (most of the worlds’ greatest were founded by Christians for Christian purposes), literacy and education for the masses, civil liberties, the abolition of slavery (even though slavery is a huge problem today in several nations around the world), elevation and equality for women, higher standards of justice, high regard for human life, and most importantly, the hope and joy of eternal salvation for countless people.
    The 1946 film classic It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed is on TV several times each Christmas season. George Bailey gets a chance to see what life would be like had he never been born. There were terrible differences in his family, among friends and in Bedford Falls. I believe if Jesus had not been born into real human history, our world would be harsher, uglier, darker, and hopeless in ways we cannot imagine. But “Praise God!” Jesus did come to bring the good news of God’s mercy, grace, salvation and love.
    Isaiah gave the prophecy: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God… And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” And when asked, Jesus said, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  

II. NOW Jesus Comes

    I am so glad to live on this side of the history of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. How good is it to hear and know the words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). And, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). And “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). This is why we sing about Emmanuel. God is with us. The risen Lord Jesus is with us now in this present moment to show us who God is and what God is like. He still is the friend of sinners and people with all the ups and downs, successes and failures that you and I experience. He still shows love and compassion to the outcasts of the world. Our sins are forgiven by faith in his name.
Think for a moment of the worst thing you ever did, something that may still make you feel shameful. Jesus comes today – for his Advent is ever-present – and you can be forgiven. What would that be like?  Our Redeemer removes guilt and condemnation – gone forever. In Jesus Christ you and I receive the grace he came to give. We can know the freedom that forgiveness brings.
But if Jesus had never come, there would be no talk of forgiveness and reconciliation to God. Grace would not be a word in our vocabulary. The hymn Amazing Grace would not exist. Instead we would only talk about justice, and people getting what they deserved. Think about what the world would feel like if there was no hope of heaven. What could I say at the funeral if Jesus had not come? There would be no hope beyond the grave. The Bible says, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people” (1 Corinthians 15:19). But today, this Advent, this Christmas, the Lord invites you to accept him, receive him, know him in your life.

III. YET Jesus Will Come

If Jesus Christ had not come, there would be no hope of a returning Savior who will overcome the world and open heaven for us. There would be no hope of hearing the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). There’s nothing to anticipate, except the closing of the coffin lid and the coldness of the grave. Tragically, there are many people in the world and in our society who do not trust the word of God to be true.
But because Jesus came, all that has changed. We live in joyful anticipation of what is yet to come. Christmas means that Christ has given us the gift of life and heaven. At this point it is still wrapped. But the package has our name on it. We know what awaits us. It is yours and mine solely by the grace of God; solely by faith in Christ.
We would never have received the gift were it not for Christmas. But we wait longingly for the day when we will enjoy the gift of heaven in all of its unwrapped wonder. Because Jesus came, we know what God is like. We experience forgiveness for our sins and the transformation of our hearts and minds. We have received the promise of heaven and eternal life. What better gifts could we ask for?

Conclusion

    In our day and time, we take so many things for granted. Our culture values life because of God in Christ. I dare say, and confidently so, that the protections that we gladly afford children, women, and the elderly developed because Jesus once came, now comes and yet will come. Take away Jesus from history back then or now and Penn State wouldn’t even make the news; women and children would be considered “property” and by will and whim of husband or father treated as such (still happens in today’s world where Christ is rejected and Christians are illegal); and the elderly when becoming useless or a burden are disposed of or left to die.
    With Jesus Christ, with the mercy and love of God, with generations of authentic Christianity as our foundation, It’s a Wonderful Life. This Advent and Christmas we will sing, “Joy to the world! the Lord is come… “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled… With the dawn of redeeming grace, Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!”
Let us prayer together.