Incarnate: Jesus - The Reason for Life - Dec 8, 2024 (Myles Holmes)

Hello and welcome to the Redemption Church Podcast.

We're a church in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada that exists to glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the spirit of the Great Commandment.

Thanks for joining us today.

John chapter 1.

John 1 · chapter mention

Would you stand with us as we read God's Word?

So good to worship together.

Let's continue to worship as we turn to God's Word.

John chapter 1, verses 1 to 3.

John 1:1–3

In the beginning was the Word.

And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him.

And without Him was not anything made that was made.

Let's turn to the Lord in prayer.

Father, we bow before you.

And God, we confess that there is power in no other name but the name of Jesus Christ alone.

God, we're reminded of Jesus' words to us that apart from him we can do nothing.

So this morning we come with a great aim.

And that aim is to exalt the name of Jesus Christ.

And Lord, to discover in the words of the Apostle John, that Jesus Christ is the reason for our life.

And so, Father, we have a great goal this morning.

And it is a goal that requires the work of your Holy Spirit in our midst.

And so we come before you in humble dependence.

Lord, asking that you would speak to us and that you would find here your servants listening to your word as you speak to us.

Or the word that was eternal and speaks life.

And so, Lord, your servants are here, we're listening.

Speak, O Lord.

We pray in the name of your Son Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

You can take a seat.

To be human is to search for meaning and purpose in life.

Beneath the surface of our busy lives, there lies a deeper question.

And the question is this: why am I here?

What's my purpose?

Now often we drown out these thoughts in work, in entertainment, in endless activity.

Especially during the Christmas season, we can seek to drown out those thoughts with excessive busyness that can be mistaken for significance.

But in the quieter moments of life, these questions speak with a blaring authority and volume.

They resurface and remind us that in this world nothing seems to satisfy.

And so we pursue fulfillment and success and relationships and our possessions, and yet, even as we achieve our goals or gain what we desire, isn't it true that we often just feel as restless and empty as when we started?

We ask why, and discover that it's because the deepest questions of life cannot be answered by anything created.

They can only be answered by a creator.

And so we ask this question: what is the reason that we are here?

And in the opening verses of the Gospel of John, John speaks directly to this longing.

He declares that our life has a reason, and the reason for our life is not some sort of abstract idea or theology.

It's a person, it's Jesus Christ.

John's desire for us in this gospel as we begin our time marching through the Gospel of John is that we would see Jesus and believe in him.

And often the first thing you need to do when you open to a new book is discern why the writer is writing that book.

And no one makes it more simple for us than John, because in John chapter 20, verse 31, he tells us exactly why he's writing.

John 20:31

We're told in John 20, verse 30, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

John 20:30

But listen to what he says, but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Life in his name.

John's desire for us is that we would see Jesus Christ, that we would believe in him, and that you and I would find life in his name.

Now this morning we are gonna explore three life-changing truths about Jesus.

And we're gonna discover here in verses 1 to 3 of chapter John that Jesus is not only the reason for the season, that Jesus is the reason for our very life.

Jesus is the source of life, he's the sustainer of life, and Jesus is the one who gives our life ultimate significance.

I want you to understand this morning that these truths are not just theological concepts.

They're deeply practical, they're deeply transformative, and especially in this Christmas season, as we gather around a manger and we reflect on the gift, God's gift to the world, the birth of Jesus Christ.

They're especially meaningful.

First, I want you to see this that Jesus helps us discover that he is the source of life.

He's the source of life.

Jesus is the source of life.

John begins his gospel with a profound statement.

You see it there in John 1, verse 1.

John 1:1

He says, This in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.

These words intentionally echo the opening of Genesis.

You remember in Genesis 1, Genesis 1 1, where the author there says, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

John begins his gospel at the very same place, and by doing so, John places Jesus, the Word, at the very foundation of existence.

And so you and I need to understand this about Jesus: that he's not just a teacher or a prophet, he is eternal, and he is divine, and he is the very source of life.

That's why John goes on to say in verse 3, through him all things were made.

Without him nothing was made that has been made.

You need to understand this that everything that exists, every star in the sky, every grain of sand, every human soul, it owes his existence to Jesus Christ.

Through him, we are told, all things were made.

Jesus is the uncreated creator.

Jesus is the one through whom all things come into being.

And so you and I can think about the power of words.

Words are powerful, aren't they?

Human words can inspire, they can create ideas, they can shape lives, but human words cannot create life.

This is where God's word is infinitely greater.

In Genesis, when God said, Let there be light, light came into existence.

It was created out of nothing.

And so we understand this that God's word doesn't merely describe reality, it creates reality.

And John tells us that this divine word is Jesus.

He's the agent of creation, he's the one through whom the uniform, the universe was formed and life began.

That means something profound for you and I.

It means that your life is not an accident.

You were spoken into existence with purpose and with meaning.

The very reality that you are here means that you are not here by chance, but that you were created by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus.

That every breath you take this morning is a gift from him.

Every word you sing in praise this morning is a gift for him.

Your life has meaning because it flows from the purpose and the will of a creator who creates it.

Now, this stands in stark contrast to the predominant worldview of our day that you and I are just a collision of atoms and molecules, and that we are here by chance.

This is secular materialism.

It tells us that we are nothing but an accident.

It tells us that we are nothing but a random collision of atoms and molecules emerging from a purposeless and mechanical process.

But I want you to understand this morning that the Christian worldview is radically different.

And the children know it.

We have worth in our creation because we did not just happen to be, we were spoken intentionally into existence.

Christmas reminds us of this astonishing reality.

We celebrate this reality that the Creator entered his creation, the Word who existed before time began, we're told in John 1.14, became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

The same Jesus who spoke the stars into being, came in the world born as a baby, born in a manger.

He is the source of life, and he humbled himself to walk among those he created.

This truth transforms the way that we view Christmas.

The manger for us is not just a symbol of peace or goodwill.

It is the eternal word who came to give life, physical life, spiritual life, eternal life.

And it is in this word that you and I find our meaning.

It's in Jesus that we find the source of life.

Your identity, your purpose cannot be found in things in this world, but they have a source in Jesus Christ.

He spoke you to into existence.

Therefore, your meaning in life, the reason for life, is not something that you can achieve or find on your own, but something that you must receive.

Your purpose, your reason, your identity are not given to you.

They are found, purchased by Jesus Christ for you.

Jesus is the source of our life.

Well, here's the second thing I want you to see from John chapter 1.

John 1 · chapter mention

I want you to see this morning that Jesus is the sustainer of our life.

He's the sustainer of our life.

After establishing that Jesus is the source of all life, John chapter 1, verse 4 continues, in him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 1:4

You see, Jesus not only created life, he actively sustains it.

He is the one who keeps the world in motion.

And while Jesus as the creator focuses on the beginning of life, Jesus, in the role of sustainer, speaks to our present day-to-day dependence on him for every breath, for every heartbeat, for every moment of grace.

I want you to see in Scripture that Jesus sustains the universe.

Colossians 1.17 underscores this truth.

It says, He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

That is, every atom in the universe is upheld by the sustaining power of Jesus, the laws of physics, the rotation of planets, the changing of seasons.

Everything exists and functions because Jesus continues to will it so.

He didn't wind up the universe like a clock and step back.

He remains actively involved in preserving and sustaining life in the universe.

Hebrews 1.3 expands on this idea.

It declares that Jesus is sustaining all things by his powerful word.

This means that the same word through which creation was spoken into existence now sustains creation moment by moment.

Apart from Jesus, we are told this world unravels into chaos.

He is the glue that is holding everything together, the unseen hand guiding history toward its ultimate purpose.

And so I want you to understand that you have a reason in life.

I want you to see this morning that Jesus has brought you to this place.

That he has sustained you for this moment.

This changes the reality of Christmas.

It's not so much about us meeting a baby, it's about a baby meeting us.

It's about Jesus sustaining us to this very point.

Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power.

I want you to see that Jesus also sustains our physical lives.

Consider the reality that even the simplest aspects of our lives are sustained by Jesus.

Acts 17, verse 28 states, for in him we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28

Every breath we take and every beat of our hearts is a gift of the sustaining grace of Jesus Christ.

The food that we eat, the water that we drink, the shelter that we enjoy are all signs of his provision, just as Jesus taught in Matthew 6, verse 26, that even the birds of the air are fed by the Father, and we are far more worthwhile to him.

Matthew 6:26

Truth reminds us, as we consider the physical sustaining of Jesus in our lives, it reminds us that our dependence on God is not just for spiritual salvation, but for our physical existence.

A culture that prizes self-sufficiency, we often forget how fragile and dependent we truly are.

A sudden illness, a natural disaster, an unexpected loss can remind us that we are not in control.

And yet in these moments we find hope in the truth that Jesus is the sustainer of our lives.

His care is not passive, it is not distant, it is active, and it is intimate.

He sustains us.

I want you to understand this morning that Jesus does more than just sustain our physical life.

He sustains our spiritual lives.

In John 15, 5, he'll say this: I am the vine, you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.

Apart from me, you can do nothing.

Just as a branch depends on the vine for life and growth, we depend on Jesus for spiritual vitality.

Apart from him, we wither.

We become spiritually fruitless.

Well, here's the application for us, then, as we consider Jesus as a sustainer of our lives, is that we consider what kind of power Jesus has.

We're told that Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power.

And at this very moment, galaxies are in motion because he is willing it to be so.

This kind of power, it's not enough for us simply to acknowledge him as a co-pilot of our lives, someone we depend on only when we need.

This diminishes his authority and reign over us.

Jesus doesn't want just a seat in the cockpit.

Jesus, he demands control.

And if he's truly the Son of God with all power and authority, then he must be our Lord.

He must lead us and guide us and direct every aspect of our lives.

Which means that you and I, the call for us this Christmas is to surrender control to him, to surrender our plans, our desires, our way of doing things, allowing him to take lead in our decisions and relationships and actions.

To truly trust Jesus as Lord means to submit fully to his guidance, to let go of self-reliance, to recognize that his way is the way to true life and true purpose.

It's not a casual partnership where we can retain the ability to overrule his decisions or to steer him towards our goals.

It is a complete surrender to his will.

It is a radical shift in thinking, especially in a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency.

But when we truly understand his power and love, we realize that his way is not only the best, but it is also the path to true freedom and abundant life.

Christmas especially brings this into focus as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and recognize that he is the King who entered creation not as a co-pilot, but as Lord over all.

His life, his death, his resurrection demonstrate his ultimate authority, and our response should be one of complete trust and obedience.

Our response is to make him the Lord of our lives.

I want to see lastly here that Jesus is the significance of our lives.

Jesus is the source of life.

He's the sustainer of life.

But he's also the very significance of our lives.

This final truth completes the picture of who Jesus is and what it means for us to follow him.

In John chapter 10, verse 10, Jesus declares these words I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

John 10:10

Jesus doesn't just offer us existence, he gives us abundant and purposeful life.

Often, you and I, we search for significance in the things we do, in our careers, our accomplishments, our relationships, but Jesus is teaching us this morning that significance can only be found in Him.

Jesus transforms our understanding of worth and purpose by showing us that our lives are not defined by what we achieve, but by who we are in Him.

In the familiar words of Paul in Philippians 1, verse 21, he says, For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

Paul understood that his significance wasn't rooted in his actions, but in his identity as a follower of Jesus.

Practical terms, this means for you and I that our daily decisions, our priorities, our relationships, and even our suffering, they find their meaning and purpose in Christ.

Our lives are not meant to be self-centered, but meant to be Christ-centered.

The world may tell us that our worth is tied to our success, tied to our status, tied to our possessions, but Jesus invites us to find our worth in Him alone.

Our lives are not measured by what we accumulate, how we compare to others, but how we reflect his love and his humility and his sacrifice.

Christmas is a vivid reminder of this truth.

Baby in the manger, whose birth we celebrate, is the very reason for our significance.

He came not just to give us life, he came to give it meaning.

His life, his death, his resurrection.

Make it possible for us to know God and to be known by Him, an identity that goes far beyond what the world can offer.

Jesus is the lens through which we see our lives and our purpose clearly.

Without him, we are lost in the emptiness of striving for more, never quite achieving the fulfillment we crave.

The invitation to you and I this morning is to allow Jesus to define our significance, to embrace the truth that our worth is not in what we do, but in whose we are as beloved children of God.

As we reflect on the birth of Jesus, we commit ourselves to living for his glory, to being lights in a world that desperately needs to see the love and hope of Christ.

As we close, we remember these words of Jesus from John 15, verse 5.

John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches.

If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit.

Apart from me, you can do nothing.

May we live in a way that his life is evident in every part of our being, allowing his spirit to work through us to bring light, love, and purpose to the world around us.

Jesus is not just part of our lives, he's the reason for our lives.

And as we celebrate Christmas this season, let's remember that it's not just us about us finding significance in our busyness or what we can achieve.

It is about us finding our true purpose in Him.

Jesus is the source of life, he is the sustainer of life, and He's the only one who gives our life true significance.

May we live this truth every day, allowing him to guide us and sustain us and make us whole.

Let's turn to him in prayer.

Father, we thank you for Jesus.

He is the word from the beginning.

And Lord, we turn to him now to give you praise for all that you have done through him.

Lord, speaking into our life a reason for existence.

Showing us that Jesus is the source, the sustainer, and the significance of our lives.

And I pray that this will be a season where we see that especially true.

What a beautiful name.

We worship you, God.

We pray this in the name of your son.

Amen.