We are in a new series called, “The Night that Changed Everything.” We’re looking at the significance of Christmas, a night that changed much more than most of us imagine. We’ll see its impact on five segments of society:
The Night That Changed the Religious
The Night That Changed the Powerful
The Night That Changed the Poor
The Night That Changed You
The Night That Changed the Wise
Four of the five happened long ago, with categories of people who look different today – our wise aren’t Magi, our poor aren’t always shepherds, and our powerful are seldom kings.
Today, we’re looking at how it changes us today, not just those long ago. We’re looking at how it changes me, and you.
How can the birth of a baby 2000 years ago impact people today?
Whatever the reason or mechanism, we can simply note that it has. We still date years with AD/BC – a dating system intended to be based on Christ’s life. In popular culture, we see much discussion of Jesus, with new books, blogs and films created regularly. People still quote Jesus to prove their points.
And of course, many people like myself will tell you Jesus is alive and well in their lives today.
Question: What impact do you see Jesus having in the world today?
Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community – so check out today’s reading here.
Reminder: The best way to grow spiritually this year is to join our Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting January 22nd. Register for you and a friend today!
Read the Bible in Sync Today
Loading Content...
Share a Link to this Message
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
Yesterday we saw how King Herod was clinging to power using violence and fear to rule. Such times were described in book of Isaiah, prophetically, as a time of great darkness.
But contrast him to Jesus. Jesus also claims to be King of the Jews. But for him, that is a position he has not taken by force or manipulation, but by right. It is a position he hangs on to not by violence and fear, but by peace and love.
This is why he’s described by the Prophet Isaiah, 500 years before Jesus, as the light rising in the darkness.
What a contrast!
Herod has gone down in history, Christian and otherwise, as a brutal tyrant, a false king who never belonged in power.
And by contrast, Jesus is still known as a king. The sign above his cross – king of the Jews. Sing this Christmas: glory to the newborn king.
Then he got in the way of a different kind of power – the religious power of the scribes and Pharisees, and eventually Rome, who had him executed. And yet, Jesus is still known today as alive and active in people’s lives.
Jesus scares the powerful, because he is truly power. He is the source of all power and authority in the world. All power is given by God. All the ways people exert power rely on God having created and sustained world in the first place. When people who are abusing those means encounter true power, they are afraid. Like an employee who has been claiming to speak for the boss will suddenly shrink when the boss actually enters the room.
Jesus had that kind of true power, he scared those with false power.
The question is how will we respond to Jesus? Will we cling to power like Herod, or do everything we can to find and worship him, like the Magi?
Question: What do you think true power and authority looks like? How would you recognize it?
Reminder: We have a great Christmas event coming December 14th, 2013: The Original Christmas Party. Hope you're coming!
