The Little Lord Jesus

Well, thank you, Brother Greg.

Have you enjoyed church so far this morning?

Amen. I have as well.

If you would take your Bibles with me

and turn to Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

I want to get you.

Luke chapter 2 this morning.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

We're going to talk about a subject,

a phrase that you have probably heard already several times this Christmas.

The little Lord Jesus.

The little Lord Jesus.

What comes next, church?

A sleep in the hay, right?

Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

Let's talk about the little Lord Jesus.

Excuse me for a few moments.

Boy, for some reason this isn't connecting.

Can you advance us to the next slide?

There we go.

All right.

Luke chapter 2 beginning in verse 1.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

Church, if you wouldn't mind joining me and standing if you're able to,

let's do that out of honor of the Word of God this morning.

Beginning in verse 1.

It came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar to Augustus

that all the world should be registered.

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea,

to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.

Because he was of the house and lineage of David,

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was that while they were there,

the days were completed for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in the manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them,

Do not be afraid,

for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David

a Savior,

who is Christ, would you say it with me,

the Lord.

Let's pray together.

God, I pray that we would see you for who you are.

That our eyes would be directed heavenward,

and we would get an accurate picture

of the little Lord Jesus,

emphasis being on Lord.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

You may be seated.

Thank you for standing.

I would like to challenge you

to reframe your Christmas view of God

just a little bit.

I love, and all of us can probably agree,

that we love,

around Christmas time,

we hear all these Christmas carols sung,

and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is fun,

and Jingle Bells is fun,

and, you know,

my favorite is the Christmas song,

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.

I don't think I've ever eaten a chestnut,

but it sounds really fun and festive,

and I love singing about them.

I probably wouldn't even like them,

but there you go.

Those songs are all fun,

but the ones with the most power,

the ones that really speak to us the most,

are Hark to Herald Angels Sing,

Joy to the World,

Angels We Have Heard on High,

the songs that tell the story

of Christ's birth.

And we love that.

But I do believe

that oftentimes,

that is where

the world around us

ends their view of Jesus.

It ends right there with His birth.

It ends right there with Him lying in the manger.

It ends with baby Jesus.

There's an old comedy movie

with an actor named Will Ferrell

who has a little line in there

where he talks about

eight pound,

eight pound, four ounce

little baby Jesus or something.

He said,

that's my favorite way

to think of Jesus

is that little eight pound,

four ounce baby Jesus.

Thinking,

well,

He did a whole lot after that.

That's not really my,

now I am so glad He came.

If He had never come,

you and I would never have hope.

But that's not where the story is.

That was the beginning

of our story with Jesus.

When God Himself

humbled Himself,

left Heaven's throne

and came down

and was born as a baby.

But He didn't stay a baby, did He?

Thank God He didn't stay a baby.

So my challenge to you,

number one,

don't keep Christ in the cradle.

Don't keep Christ in the cradle.

Let's celebrate that Jesus came

and away in that manger

He was born.

Let's celebrate that day,

that starry night.

We don't know if the stars

were shining especially bright

that night

except the one star

that guided the shepherds

and guided the wise men, etc.

But, you know,

we can enjoy the trappings

and the beauty

and the celebration

of that night.

But then, let's move on.

And let's continue

pointing ourselves,

our families,

and the world around us

to the Jesus

who then grew up.

The Jesus who did mighty miracles.

The Jesus who healed people.

The Jesus who loved people.

The Jesus who did not show

the religious partiality,

the religious dividing lines

that were so common back then

and guess what?

Are still common today.

Jesus wouldn't fit

in many of our churches, would He?

Jesus would probably not be welcome

on committee sometimes.

Maybe He wouldn't be invited

to come sit in our homes

because He would go

with publicans and sinners,

the Bible says.

Jesus showed

the real, genuine love

and grace of God.

We talked about this last week.

He was balanced,

square in the middle,

between grace and truth.

He didn't go too far one way

or too far the other way.

Jesus walked that perfect balance

of showing the love of God

and speaking the truth

of the reality,

the dangers of our own sin.

But He didn't just condemn us.

He said,

I didn't come

to condemn the world.

He said,

I came

so that the world

could be saved.

I came to offer

a way of hope.

I came to offer

a way of salvation.

salvation.

And so that is what Jesus

came to do.

It all started in the cradle,

but it didn't stay there.

So don't keep Christ

in the cradle.

Would you turn with me quickly

to the book of John,

the Gospel of John.

Jesus walked closely with John.

He was called the apostle

who Jesus loved.

Jesus maybe,

out of His 12 disciples,

had a closer personal relationship

with John

than anyone else.

And so in John chapter 18,

John 18 · chapter mention

chapter 18,

Jesus is standing

before Pilate.

We've jumped all the way

33 years later

toward the end

of Jesus' time on earth.

And He's standing

before the ruler Pilate.

And He is facing charges

of blasphemy.

Facing charges

that would lead Him

to punishment

of death on a cross.

And what happens?

In verse 35,

Pilate says,

Your own nation

and the chief priests,

your chief priests,

the Jewish religious leaders

handed you over to Me.

What have you done?

Verse 36,

Jesus said,

My kingdom

is not of this world,

said Jesus.

If My kingdom

were of this world,

My servants would fight

so that I wouldn't

be handed over

to the Jews.

But as it is,

My kingdom

is not from here.

Verse 37,

So you're a king then?

Pilate asked.

You say that I'm a king,

Jesus replied.

I was born for this.

And I have come

into the world

for this,

to testify

to the truth.

He said,

I was born

for this.

I wasn't born

just to stay a baby.

I wasn't born

just as a miracle

of the virgin birth.

I wasn't born

just to have

the wise men come

and the kings

and give me gifts.

I wasn't born

just to have the shepherds

see the angels appear

and sing praises to God

and be so overwhelmed

and overcome

that they follow the star

to the manger

and they bow

and worship me.

I wasn't born

just for that moment.

He said,

I was born

to be a king.

I was born

to advance

the kingdom of God

on this earth.

I was born

to testify

to the truth.

So Jesus himself

gave us

the picture

of the reason,

the purpose

of his birth

right here

before Pilate

testifying to everyone

gathered there

watching.

He knew

his crucifixion

was right around

the corner.

He knew

he was about

to die.

That sacrifice

was about to happen

and so he said,

this is why

I was born.

This was it.

So don't keep

Christ

in the cradle.

Let him go on

in your heart,

in your mind,

and in your testimony

to those around you.

Let him go on

and live that purpose

for why he came.

Secondly,

don't keep Christ

on the cross.

Don't keep him

on the cradle,

but don't keep him

on the cross.

Oftentimes,

some of our

more tradition-based

religious practices

around this world

and churches

will be guilty

of this.

And I'm not saying

having a cross

in your home

is wrong.

I've got some

crosses

probably around

in decoration

celebrating

that Jesus

did come

and lay down

his life for us.

But don't leave him there.

Don't leave him there.

The story didn't end

in the cradle

and the story,

thank God,

did not end

on the cross.

So here's the point

to ponder.

Do I still see Jesus

as the baby

in the cradle

or the dying man

on the cross?

Pause right there,

would you?

And go over to Romans.

Romans chapter 6.

Romans 6 · chapter mention

We're getting a little exercise

turning the pages

of the Word of God today

and that's fine.

If you didn't have one

with you,

a Bible with you,

grab one from the pew

or we have the Bible app

on the phone,

YouVersion.

Great resource

and tool for people.

Romans chapter 6

Romans 6 · chapter mention

if you'd like to look on.

Romans chapter 6

Romans 6 · chapter mention

and verse 8.

Here we go.

Romans 6

and verse 8.

Now if we died

with Christ,

we believe

that we will also

live with him.

Well that's good news.

First of all,

it's talking about us dying.

So that's a little scary.

Why are we talking about that

on Christmas Eve?

Right?

If we died with Christ,

we believe

that we will also

live with him.

Verse 9.

Because we know

that Christ,

Jesus,

having been raised

from the dead,

will not die again.

Y'all,

this is so important.

Jesus can't die

for your sins again.

Jesus' death,

his one time death,

that moment in history

that has eclipsed

every other moment

in history.

So much so

that our time,

our year,

our annual dividers,

B.C.A.D.,

are centered around

Christ Jesus himself.

Before Christ

and Anno Domini

in the year of our Lord.

He is the central point

of all human history.

And that death,

that culmination

of his life

on this earth,

according to God's plan,

the sacrifice

of his one

and only son

on that cross,

his blood pouring out

to cleanse your sins away

and cleanse my sins away,

we will accept

his offer

of the free gift

of eternal life.

That moment,

that death,

changed the game.

That moment

changed everything.

And that moment

was sufficient.

It was enough

for all of your

bad things.

It was sufficient

for all of your

weaknesses.

All of your

shortcomings.

All the ways

that you don't measure up.

All the issues

your spouse

has with you.

All the issues

your kids

have with you.

All the issues

you have with yourself.

Jesus'

death,

his blood

was enough

to pay for it.

To cover it.

To cleanse it

and forgive it.

that is why

we celebrate

him.

That's why

we sing

these songs.

That's why

we gather

on Sundays

and worship

him.

That's why

we read

his book.

And that's why

we listen

to his advice.

And we try

to follow

his leading

in our lives

because

he paid

everything.

He paid

all of our

debts.

Jesus

paid it

all.

But don't

leave him

on that cross.

If he was

dead

then what

good would

he be

to us

now?

Why would

we pray

to a dead

man?

Why would

we sing

songs of

praise

to a dead

man

except to

honor his

memory?

Folks,

we're not

honoring his

memory.

We're singing

to him

now

because

he is

alive.

Don't

keep

Jesus

on the

cross.

So do

we still

see him

as the

dying

man on

the cross?

Or do

I

recognize

now

that

Jesus

is my

resurrected

king

whose

spirit

lives

inside

me?

Remember

what

Pilate

said?

He said,

oh,

so you're

a king?

And Jesus

said,

this was

the purpose

while I was

born.

To be

the king.

He was

already

king of

kings.

He was

already

lord of

lords.

The

Bible

says that

one day

every knee

will bow

and every

tongue

will confess

yours

and mine

and everyone

else's.

All those

who say,

oh,

I'm an

atheist.

I'm

agnostic.

I don't

really

believe.

That's

okay.

One day

you will.

One day

you'll see

him face

to face

and one

day your

knee will

bow and

your tongue

will join

ours in

confessing

that Jesus

Christ

is Lord.

God.

So he's

now our

resurrected

king.

And his

spirit,

if you

have

accepted

him by

faith in

Jesus,

turn from

your sin

and turn

to Jesus,

then his

spirit lives

inside you

and he

has now

made all

of his

power,

his peace,

his love,

his joy,

wisdom,

and grace

freely

available to

you and

to me.

That's the

good news of

Christmas.

Man,

if he was

still a

baby,

I don't

know about

y'all,

I've had

two go

through the

baby stage

and not

a whole lot

they can do

at that

moment.

Jesus

was 100%

God,

he never

gave that

up,

but he

was also

100%

man.

Both

combined

at the

same time,

the theology

world,

they call it

the hypostatic

union.

Don't ask

me to

describe that,

define that.

I don't know

why they call

it that,

but that's

what it

means,

100%

man and

100%

God.

I've got

my master's

degree now

so I can

use that

kind of

stuff.

We have

to believe

that he's

right because

he has

a master's

degree.

Anyway,

he was

100%

man and

100%

God.

And so

as 100%

man,

he was

a baby.

You know

that song

says,

no crying

he makes?

The Bible

doesn't say

that.

I'm guessing

he probably

cried a

time or

two.

I don't

think he

was talking

when he

was a

baby.

So don't

leave him

as a

baby.

He grew

up.

He did

lay down

his life

for you

and for

me,

but don't

leave him

on that

cross.

Three days

later,

what did

he do?

He rose.

In just a few

months,

we'll celebrate

that too.

Man,

we celebrate

that every

day.

But we'll

set a

time,

a special

time around

Easter to

put our

focus solely

on the

resurrection

of our

living Lord.

The little

Lord Jesus

was right

to be called

Lord.

While he

was walking

on this

earth,

they called

him Lord.

When he

died on the

cross,

he was

still Lord.

during those

three days

in the

grave,

he was

still Lord.

And when

he rose

from the

dead,

showing all

of his

power,

he proved

that he

can be

Lord over

everything.

And so

you recognize,

right,

church?

You recognize

that Jesus

is Lord?

How many

of you

would be

able to

lift your

hand and

say,

testify

together that

Jesus is

Lord?

Can we do

that?

Can we

join?

Yes.

Amen.

Amen.

That God

receives glory

from that.

Now don't

raise your

hand on

this one.

But how

many of you

would say,

he is

indeed Lord

of my

life?

He's

Lord of

my life.

His

spirit lives

in me.

I recognize

that he's

given me all

his power,

all his

peace,

all his

love,

his joy,

his wisdom,

and his

grace.

freely

without

charge.

He's

Lord

of my

life.

So that's

the takeaway

this morning.

Let Jesus

be Lord

of my

life.

That little

Lord Jesus.

What does that

look like for

you?

Maybe for you,

letting Jesus

be Lord of

your life

means taking

that first

step and

saying,

I know

that I

am a

sinner,

and I know

that Jesus

wants to be

my Savior.

Savior.

Maybe I've

heard that

story,

or maybe

I'm hearing

it for the

first time,

but I

recognize that

Jesus laid

down his

throne in

heaven,

and came

down,

and was

born of

the Virgin

Mary.

And he

grew up,

and he did

many miracles,

and he proved

himself as

God to those

who saw him

here on earth,

and he

gained this

big following,

right?

But then

Jesus laid

down his

life on the

cross,

and he

allowed the

religious leaders

of that day

to crucify him.

And then

Jesus'

following began

to grow like

nothing this

world has ever

seen.

And churches

began popping

up,

worshiping this

man called

Jesus.

Why?

Because he

didn't stay

on that cross.

Because he

rose from the

dead.

And so now

Jesus is alive

today, and he

matters for this

church, and he

matters for you,

and he matters

for the broken

relationship that

you have.

He can help

that.

Jesus can be

Lord over that.

He can make

a difference if

you give it to

him.

Jesus can make

a difference for

that need that

you can't seem

to meet.

Jesus can make

a difference for

the thing in

your life that

seems hopeless,

that you can't

wrap your head

around.

Jesus is the

answer.

Why?

Because he's

king.

Because he's

Lord.

He's got power

over it all.

He said all

power is given

to me in heaven

and in earth,

so you can go

in that power.

It's accessible

to you.

It's free

to you.

But you've

got to make

Jesus Lord

of your life.

We're not

puppets on a

string.

He's not

pulling us

and forcing

us to do

exactly what

he wants us

to do.

He gives

us this

little thing

called free

will.

And when we

go our own

way, we

receive the

results of

that.

when we

subject our

will to

his and

make him

Lord, then

we receive

the results

of his

lordship in

our life.

Let Jesus

be Lord of

your life.

Maybe you

need to turn

to him for

the forgiveness

of your sins

and become

his child.

Or maybe,

maybe you've

already done

that and

maybe you

need to make

him Lord

over a

specific thing

in your life.

Maybe there's

an addiction

that you need

to make him

Lord over.

Maybe there's

a pride

problem.

Maybe there's

an arrogance

problem.

Maybe there's

a fear

problem that

you need to

recognize that

God is in

control and

make him

Lord over

that fear,

over that

worry.

Whatever it

is, he

said, my

peace I

leave with

you.

But you've

got to make

him Lord.

The little

Lord Jesus

can be Lord

of your life

this morning.

Would you

bow your

heads with

me?

God, I

thank you so

much for

your offer,

your gift of

lordship to

us.

You didn't

just create

us, you

didn't just

save us and

forgive us and

then abandon

us.

You offered

to walk with

us, to

give us that

wisdom, to

help us to

walk under

your authority,

recognizing

you as

our father,

as our

friend, and

as Lord over

our decisions,

as Lord over

our emotions,

as Lord over

our bank

accounts, as

Lord over our

families, our

relationships.

We can speak

the power of

Jesus into

those things.

God, I know

that there are

families here

this morning

who are just

trying to make

it through

Christmas because

it's a difficult

time.

I know that

there are people

here in town

that there's

strained

relationships.

I know that

there's financial

hardships.

I know that

there are all

kinds of

problems that

this world

gives to us.

But God, I

know that you're

bigger than all

of us.

I know that

you can hold

our hand as

we walk through

those things.

And you can

make them

easier to

endure.

You can get

us through.

And then

someday, we

can look back

and see why.

Knowing that

you brought us

through for our

good and for

your glory.

God, I pray

that there's

somebody here

this morning that

would make you

Lord of their

life.

And it's in

Jesus' name I

pray it.

Amen.