346-Jesus Jesus#
346—Jesus Jesus
(Jp Text Group - Benjamin Compilation)
Isaiah 9:6-7:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Let us first pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you. On this wonderful day, we come together to remember Jesus. You gave us Jesus because we need salvation. Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and our relationship with you can be fully restored. During this time, we once again remember Jesus' birth for us. Jesus came into the world to replace our lives and give us His life. Please renew every brother and sister through your word, so that we may receive supply, renew our thoughts, and remember the wonder of Jesus. In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!
The topic of sharing is: Jesus Jesus
The center of Christmas is Jesus. Christmas is not to celebrate Santa Claus, but to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Amen.
Looking at this text: For unto us a child is born
Why did Jesus come into the world? After the first man, Adam, sinned, humanity lost eternal peace and harmony, and even life itself. However, our God does not want us to live in pain and death. He wants to change our lives, which is why Jesus came into the world. When man sinned and offended God, a flesh-and-blood person had to make amends for all this. This is why Jesus had to come into the world as flesh. This child was born for us, not for God.
A son is given to us
"This son" refers to our Lord Jesus Christ. After man sinned, people of the world were originally one family, but because of different nations, different countries, and different viewpoints, they fought and attacked each other. For thousands of years, everyone has longed for peace and desired tranquility. We see that many taxis or private cars have a pendant that says, "Safe travels." Although people expect peace, they do not know where peace truly comes from. They think peace comes from charms or pendants, which cannot guarantee peace. True peace comes from Jesus.
To commemorate Jesus, on the night of His birth, people call it "Silent Night." Silent Night has nothing to do with apples or Santa Claus. True peace is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Amen! Celebrating Christmas should remind us that it is not an ordinary birth; this child is the Holy Child! That is why it is called Christmas. Amen! True peace comes from a child, whose name is Jesus Christ.
The government shall be upon his shoulder
What does government refer to? The government of the kingdom of heaven is righteousness, fairness, and peace. Such government is upon Jesus' shoulders. His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. These are all names of Jesus. He is a wonderful God who often performs marvelous deeds. What does Counselor mean? He is filled with wisdom. The birth of this child is related to every person in the world because His life is to enter into us. Hallelujah! This is the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world; His mission is to give us His life.
The first point of sharing: God gave Jesus to bring us peace and tranquility.
John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
This is the true peace of Jesus. Before He left, He told us, "I am going back now, but I will give you my peace." When you receive Jesus in your heart, you have peace. This is why many people feel anxious and filled with fear in the world. When they come to church, sit down, and pray, they feel an extraordinary peace in their hearts. That is because our Heavenly Father has placed peace within them, which the world cannot give. Amen!
After accepting Jesus, God's peace is always within you. Why do you sometimes feel it is absent? Because you are often in peace, so you do not feel it. If you are in a state of unrest and come to church, under our prayers, you will instantly feel peace and realize how important peace is. Just like a person who cannot sleep; after we pray, they fall asleep. Do they know how important sleep is? When you say, "I can't feel it," it is because you are in sufficient sleep every day, so of course, you cannot feel it. You are blessed.
God has placed His peace within you. The moment you accept Jesus as your Savior, God's peace fills you. When you feel uneasy about something, what should you do? Do not do that thing for now. Hallelujah. If you already feel uneasy, why do it? Just wait a little longer.
For example, in the past few days, the foreign exchange market collapsed again, and many people fell into it. God had already revealed to me about this three or four months ago. Over three weeks, I told everyone to stay away from these things. Before the collapse and before problems arose, God had already warned us because there was already unease inside. This is to remind God's people to stay away from these matters. What should you do when you hear this message? Withdraw immediately! Then there will be no problem.
Now, today, some people have suffered losses. Many of God's children are also involved. Yesterday someone told me, "You must pray for someone; he lost several million." Many people have jumped off buildings because of this. Have they lost peace? There is no peace in their hearts anymore.
Do you know, brothers and sisters, the peace that Jesus gives me surpasses the peace of the world. Even if you lose money, do not end your life because when life ends, what will you use to exchange for other funds? Keep your life and pray to Jesus. Even if it is your fault, our God will surely compensate you again. Our God will use this matter to let you know: "Only the wealth I give you comes without sorrow; only what I give you cannot be taken away by anyone." Amen!
Just like today's peace, the peace Jesus gives you cannot be taken away by anyone. What does this peace mean? It means that even in the face of storms, your heart is still at peace. Many people's peace comes from external circumstances. When everything is going smoothly, they say, "I am very peaceful." When others insult them or when everything is lost, they say, "I am not at peace." This is the peace of the world.
What is the peace Jesus gives you? It is that no matter what kind of environment you are in, your heart always has hope and tranquility because you tell yourself, "My Lord is still seated as King." Hallelujah! Because you know that all this is temporary, God will surely turn everything around for me. Even if sometimes the loss is due to your own reasons, my Lord has not abandoned me, and peace will fill your heart. Amen! This is what God wants to give you. What He gives is not like what the world gives. The world gives peace through status, money, and reputation, but Jesus says He is your peace. Therefore, do not let your heart be troubled or afraid. Amen!
Ephesians 2:13-17:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
This passage can be understood as: "Before accepting Jesus, our relationship with God was very distant. He sits in heaven as the Creator, and we are just small people." But now it is different. When you acknowledge that you are a sinner and that Jesus has shed His blood for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead three days later, when you believe this, our Heavenly Father says, "I will place the peace of Jesus in your heart. I will let this peace exist in your heart forever, allowing you to have the peace that the world does not have." Moreover, He guarantees this peace: that we are forever reconciled with the Heavenly Father.
Do you know that our peace is well-founded? Why is it that when you encounter problems, you still do not lose heart or fear? Because you know that the Heavenly Father still loves you and that your relationship with the Heavenly Father is good. Even if you mess everything up, our Heavenly Father will not abandon you. This is the basis of our peace. It cannot be said that knowing we have peace in our hearts and that prayers have not been answered means there is no peace. No! You are reconciled with the Heavenly Father, and you have become one with Him through Jesus.
Many times, it may be due to your own reasons that things become very messy, but our Heavenly Father still has the power to turn everything around. Just like Adam, who, due to his own thoughts, ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, causing himself and the whole world to fall under a curse. He felt he had messed everything up.
But our God still has a way. Our God made clothes of animal skins for them and prepared Jesus Christ as salvation for them, so that one day they could be saved through Jesus Christ. Amen! This is our God; He always has a way. When you believe in Jesus, do not be afraid of anything because there is always a way out with Him. Amen! This is our true peace.
"Why are people in the hospital's intensive care unit so afraid? They are not afraid of the disease itself but because they have no way out and do not know how to overcome the illness. Many people lose sleep and become anxious in the face of great difficulties because they have no strength to solve the problem. But you have peace because you know that God will help you. Although your strength is limited, the God you believe in has unlimited power. Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, they could not produce food or water to drink, but their God would supply them, and they had peace. Amen!
Just like those who believe in Jesus should always let the peace of Jesus fill their hearts. Hallelujah! Jesus has already provided evidence for you. He abolished enmity in His flesh. Do you know what enmity He abolished? The enmity between you and God is the law recorded in the commandments. If Jesus had not taken your sins, our God would have to deal with you according to the law, and you would live under a curse. You would have messed things up and deserved that punishment, which is what people deserve. But now it is not like that. Jesus bore the curse, the curse of the law, and gave you His blessing. We call this grace given freely. Amen!
You have been made a new creation in Jesus, and your relationship with the Heavenly Father is forever reconciled. Hallelujah! We call this the gospel. God hopes that we will spread this gospel to those far away and to those nearby, so that everyone, regardless of who they are, should hear this gospel.
Why do we tell others about Jesus at Christmas? Because everyone needs Jesus. Jesus brings us peace because we have lost peace, so He wants to give us peace. Jesus brings us harmony because people have lost harmony with each other, but through Jesus, you are in Christ, and all this will be freely given to you by God.
Let’s take a look at the mission of John the Baptist in Luke 1:76-79:
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
John the Baptist came to preach six months before Jesus. He was the forerunner of the gospel of the Lord and was preparing the way. He was called the prophet of the Highest, referring to our Jesus, right? The prophet before Jesus walked before the Lord to prepare the way for Jesus. What was he doing? He was giving knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins. John the Baptist came to tell the world that they should repent of their sins and wait for the coming of the Savior, and they would receive salvation. Amen! Do you know what salvation is? Many people think salvation refers to believing in Jesus to be saved.
In fact, salvation includes two aspects:
First: being saved, believing in Jesus from death to life;
Second: victory, which means you can rely on Jesus in everything in your life.
John the Baptist came to let the people know about salvation. Because of our God’s tender mercy, do you see that? It is not that we have been in pain for a long time and one day our conscience tells us, "Creator, we are too painful in sin. I want to leave sin; please redeem me." No! Not a single person did that. We live in sin and think this is how we should be; this is our life.
Just like non-believers, if you tell them they will die one day, they think it is too normal. Why is it normal? Because everyone around them is like that. If you tell them, "There will be many problems and diseases in a person's life," they will say, "That is very normal." They have taken something abnormal and regarded it as normal because it is outside of Christ, right?
People have no hope and no lasting peace, but God's tender mercy has come upon us. What kind of tender mercy? God wants to tell you: "Death is not normal; having diseases is also not normal; encountering accidents is not normal; living in peace, joy, and God's blessings is what is normal." Amen! This is God's mercy upon us. He tells us a higher way of living: "You should not live to die but live for something better, to live in God's blessings."
This is why when Lazarus died, people cried for the family, and Jesus also wept. People thought, "Look how much Jesus loves Lazarus, so He cried so sadly." In fact, Jesus wept because this is not the original state of humanity. The end of man is not like this. We should be joyful every day and receive a more abundant life; this is our life.
God originally created Adam not to let him die but to enjoy God's presence. However, in Israel, Jesus did not see this. He saw diseases, accidents, and death everywhere, so He wept. Humanity has lived in this pain for thousands of years, but no one can escape it. How many kings and wise people in ancient times could escape death? No one can escape it; they all have no way in the face of death.
But Jesus came. God wants to place this tender mercy upon us, causing the dayspring from on high to visit us. It is as if people live in darkness, and suddenly the dayspring shines upon them. That is a hope. Amen! It is a great hope.
Verse 79 says: To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
This does not mean there is no sun in the world; it means many people live in gloom, with pain in their souls, no hope, and no way out, often worrying about things. This is the darkness of humanity. People sit here, but God's light shines down to illuminate those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.
Do you know this way? Where is the way of peace? It is actually Jesus. When you come to church, you are seeking Jesus; this is a way of peace. Amen! No matter how many problems you have, when you bring those problems and come to this way of peace, God will fill you with His peace. The birth of our Lord Jesus brings us light and His peace, making God rejoice in us. The following passage may be the most frequently used during Christmas, and from here we can see something. Let’s read together.
Luke 2:8-14:
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Amen!
Many people read this passage. This passage tells us that the arrival of Jesus brings light to the world.
Many people pay attention to our lunar calendar, which is the Yin calendar. December 24 is usually the longest night of the year. After that day, the nights become shorter and shorter.
Do you know what this means? In the spiritual sense, first, I want to tell you that on the longest night, some call it the winter solstice, right? Yes! That day may be the longest night, the hardest to endure. But in the spiritual night, we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of light, yet it seems we cannot see the end; it gets longer and longer. What to do? Suddenly, light comes! That light surpasses all other light.
When these shepherds were keeping watch over their flock by night, it was a pitch-black night. Suddenly, the glory of the Lord appeared. Have you ever thought about that scene? Go back and imagine it: a pitch-black night, a great light comes down and illuminates the entire wilderness. When a person is in darkness and suddenly comes into the light, are they afraid or happy? They are very afraid! This is not normal, brothers and sisters. If you are in darkness and are eagerly awaiting light, why would you be afraid when light suddenly comes? Because you have never seen such bright light. We need to prepare ourselves mentally. In the future, will we need the sun in heaven? No, we will not. That light will be brighter than any light in the world; that is the glory of Jesus Christ.
When the glory of the Lord shone round about them, the shepherds were very afraid. The first thing the angel said to them was, "Fear not!"
Brothers and sisters, this is peace. The first thing Jesus says to you is, "Fear not!" Amen! This is the message the angel brought us. The birth of this child is to make you no longer afraid. What are you afraid of? You say you are afraid of your business, afraid of your family, afraid of your current life, work, etc. These are what you are afraid of. Let God's light shine upon you, and you will no longer be afraid. He has the power to drive away all darkness, brothers and sisters.
The angel said to them, "Fear not! I bring you good tidings of great joy." When we hear good tidings of great joy, we all like it. When do we use the term "great joy"? When we get married, we do not usually use this term. But do you know? The real good tidings of great joy is to receive Jesus into your heart. Jesus living in your heart means that from then on, you have the gospel, which is that wherever you go, God's grace will walk with you. Jesus is related to every person in the world. He is not just a God of Israel; He is not a foreign religion. He is the Savior, and since He is the Savior, He is related to everyone.
Verses 11-14 say: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior! Brothers and sisters, remember! A Savior was born for us in the city of David.
Let me ask you a question. Do you know what a chef does? "Cooks!" Conversely, are all cooks those who cook? Not necessarily, right? What does a teacher do? "Teaches!" Are all who teach teachers? "Not necessarily!" Let’s take a look at what a Savior does. A Savior is someone who brings you salvation! Some might say, "This picture is too big to imagine." "That's right!" Yes! This is our Savior! If we look at it as a profession, only this one person can fulfill this profession; no one else can do it. He is the Savior, which means you need some kind of salvation.
For example, a chef might say to you, "Ma'am, what would you like to eat?" This is his profession; it is what he can do.
Do you know what Jesus would say?
Jesus comes to you and says, "What can I do for you?"
Is there a similar situation?
When you go to someone's store, they say, "May I help you?"
But our Jesus says, "What can I do for you?"
Do you know what it means to be a Savior? If there is nothing inside, would you dare to say such a thing to others?
When a blind person comes to Jesus and says, "Lord, I want to see," can your store provide that?
You say, "I cannot provide that." What did Jesus say? He is the Savior! The Savior means you need light, right? Jesus says, "Okay, then you can see!"
When a lame person comes to Jesus and says, "I want to stand up," Jesus says, "Then stand up!" Do you know? This is the Savior! Isn't this the peace Jesus gives us? Without Jesus, these people would live in darkness and pain forever. But Jesus came; He is the Savior! The main work of the Savior is to do the work of salvation. Amen!
Are you disciples of Christ? What should Christians do? What is your mission? To do the work of salvation. Hallelujah! God did not give us a lawgiver in the city of David, nor did He give us a judge; He gave us a Savior. You should go out and proclaim: Jesus is the Savior; He is here to save you! How does Jesus save you? Your family, your work, your life, everything—Jesus can save it. That is what it means to be a Savior.
Many people think of Jesus as terrifying, always preaching messages of judgment: If you do not believe in Jesus, He has a thousand ways to destroy you, to take everything from you, to make you sick, to make you lose your children, to make you lose your job, to make you lose everything... When we hear this, we think, "You must believe!" Can you not believe if I take everything from you?
But this is fear-based belief, not true belief. He is the Savior. He came into the world to save us and to serve us. Jesus also wants to ask you today, "What can I do for you?" You say, "I have cancer." Jesus says, "Come, believe in me. I can save you. I can give you my life, my health, and my peace." He is the provider, brothers and sisters. That is why we call Him: Savior! Because in the city of David, a Savior was born for you, which is Christ the Lord. Amen! This child has a characteristic.
Verse 12: "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
We often say, "The babe born in a manger is the Savior." A few years ago, there was a Christmas message about why Jesus was born in a manger. You can listen to that sermon. What we want to tell everyone is that He came because people have no peace. The manger where Jesus was born was originally for animals to give birth. All the animals were to be taken to Jerusalem to be sacrificed as lambs. Jesus was born in that manger to tell us that in the past, you could not find peace or redemption through sacrifices, but today this baby is born in that manger so that you no longer need to offer sacrifices to obtain peace because you cannot obtain it.
The sacrifices in the Old Testament made people constantly remember their sins, but today, when you offer Jesus, knowing that Jesus is your Savior, He will remind you of His peace and His salvation. Hallelujah. It is important to ensure that on Christmas Day, what you hear is the gospel, the message of the Savior, and not to remind you of how many sins you have. The issue of sin, Jesus says, "I will bear it; I will solve it. What you need to bear is my peace." Amen!
We call this day: Silent Night, a day of peace. Christmas means this because we are celebrating what Jesus has done for us, which brings us back to the gospel we often preach, telling the world about Jesus and what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Isn't this what we often talk about?
Many times, during Christmas, we hear the pure gospel in almost every church. What is preached and released from the platform is all grace. God no longer remembers your sins. Today, God has given you the best gift, Jesus. No matter who you are, you can come and accept Jesus. Isn't that wonderful?
Why do we not talk like this on other days? God hopes we will often talk about the message of salvation. Everyone must remember: Jesus came to bring us peace and salvation. He did not come to give us more laws that make us suffer; He came to bring us peace so that we can see hope in His grace. Hallelujah!
Verse 14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
This God who sits in the highest glory came to earth and brought peace to the earth. This is what we celebrate on Christmas Day. We can tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The second point of sharing: Jesus is the Savior, the Sun of Righteousness.
2 Timothy 1:9-10:
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Brothers and sisters, through this passage, we see that God saved us. He called us with a holy calling, not because of our good behavior, but because His mercy has come upon us; His grace has come upon us. Before I believed in Jesus, every year on Christmas Eve, I would go to church. Do you know why? Because there was food and drink, and they would give gifts when leaving—all for free. At that time, I did not believe, but people love to receive gifts, whether in China or abroad. Isn't it the same? Everyone loves surprises and loves to receive a little gift. No matter what it is, the moment you unwrap the gift, you feel happy, regardless of whether the gift is expensive or cheap. But the feeling of unwrapping a gift is always good. This is what God initially placed in us, making us expect gifts.
God has given you the best gift in the world, Jesus. What should our attitude be when receiving this gift? Willingness is enough. Gratitude comes later when you unwrap the gift and realize, "This is so precious!" You start to feel grateful. When receiving a gift, all you need is willingness.
Just like today, I do not know everyone. If I say, "Now I will give you a gift," and give her a gift, you only need to say, "Okay, I am willing to accept it," and that is enough. When you unwrap the gift and see how good it is, you can then be grateful to God.
When we accept Jesus, we do not feel that Jesus is good. But as we continue to know Jesus and experience Him, we begin to have a grateful heart. Just like a small child, when you give him food and drink, does he have a grateful heart? No, but he does one thing very well: he thinks it is natural to eat. We should have this attitude when receiving God's grace.
As we continue to receive, we begin to feel grateful to God because we know that this blessing and grace are not earned by our own behavior. Many times, we mess things up ourselves, but God still wants to bless us. Sometimes it is because of our foolishness that we make things a mess, yet God is still willing to bless us. This is His grace.
As we go through one thing after another, our gratitude to Him will increase. Brothers and sisters, when you see Jesus, you are showing God's mercy and grace. He came to save you, bringing the incorruptible life to light through Jesus.
Let’s look at a passage: Matthew 1:21-23:
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Why is Mary a blessed woman? Because even when she did not understand these things, she accepted this. Many people say, "I will believe in Him after I understand everything about God." If you think like that, you may never believe. Some say, "I will believe in God after I thoroughly study the Bible." You may never believe. Our God cannot be fully understood, but that does not prevent you from believing in Him. When you believe in Him, you will come to know Him more and more. Amen!
Just like Mary, at that time, the angel told her, "You will bear a child, and you shall call His name Jesus." She said, "I do not understand how this will happen, but I am willing to let it be done to me according to your word." That is enough, brothers and sisters. If you have a very difficult thing to pray to God about, do not say, "Lord, tell me how you will accomplish this, how you will take away the cancer. Explain it to me first so I can analyze it." You will never be able to analyze it because God does not want to explain this to you. He just wants you to know that if you believe, you will see the results.
Mary believed like this, and her belly really grew. How did this happen? It was not what you did; it was what God did. We do not need to understand how it was accomplished. God does things in such a marvelous way; His name is Wonderful! Amen! Hallelujah!
At that time, the angel said to her, "You will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus." Do you know what the name Jesus means? The comma after it is His meaning: because He will save His people from their sins. This sentence has clearly stated what Jesus came to do in the world. That is God's expectation for Him and the mission given to Him. Amen!
Some people reflect their names in their children, hoping their children will be like that in the future. For example, a child with the surname Jin is named Jin Xin Xin, and what is the purpose? To make a lot of money. When they open their eyes, they see money everywhere. What does Xin mean? It is composed of three Jins. How many Jins are there in total? Seven. What does that indicate? His father has great expectations for him, hoping he will earn a lot of money. That is why they name him Jin Shan or Yin Shan, right? That is a parent's expectation for their child.
But our God named His Son Jesus for what purpose? To let Him die for you. This is the heart of the Father, to save you, to rescue His people from sin. God has already saved you, bringing your life out of death, and He is still saving you.
Why do we continue to talk about Jesus? Because we need Jesus to save us every day, not only to save our lives but also to save us in every aspect of life. He wants you to be victorious in everything. When you look to Him and pray, He will help you to be victorious in every matter. Hallelujah! That is why He is the Savior.
A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel. This is another name for our God. In the Old Testament, when God was prophesying, He said, "In the future, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be Emmanuel," which means God with us.
Brothers and sisters, have you thought about it? The birth of Jesus means God is with us. When God is with us, what can He bring us? First, He brings us life, light, and hope. Amen!
Some say, "Can the birth of Jesus bring me money?" Can it? During Christmas? Many people will perform a skit about the three wise men visiting Jesus, right? In fact, that is incorrect. The Bible does not say there were three wise men. It does not say that three wise men went to worship the baby just born in the manger. The Bible does not say that.
When the wise men came to see Jesus, it was about a year later. You must read the Bible accurately. Have you noticed that at first, Joseph and Mary's family was not wealthy? When they offered sacrifices, they offered turtledoves, the cheapest holy sacrifice. But do you know what the wise men brought when they came to worship the child? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh—these are the most precious gifts. This means that after Mary gave birth to Jesus, because of Jesus, the entire family of Mary experienced a turnaround, first seeing a financial turnaround.
So you must have this faith. When you receive Jesus into your heart, your life, your family, your finances, and your work will all experience a turnaround. Only when Jesus comes in will blessings come in with Him. This is a very simple matter. You will find that danger will soon come. The angel said, "Do not stay here; leave and go to that place." He will also guide them on the path they should take. This is our Savior. The place where He was born always brings hope and salvation to people.
Let’s look at another passage: Luke 2:28-34:
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.
When Mary brought this child to the temple, the prophet Simeon gave a prophecy about Jesus and said some things to Mary. This is very important. Let’s see if these prophecies are still being fulfilled today. Simeon first prayed to our Lord, saying, "Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for I have seen the Savior's birth." He was an old servant who prayed to God, saying, "Lord, I will be satisfied if I can see the Savior's birth in my lifetime." He would not die until he saw Him. God accepted his prayer and said, "Okay, I will let you see."
When Jesus was born, the child went to the temple, and when Simeon took the child, God told him: "This is the child." At that moment, the Spirit of God moved him, and he said, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Brothers and sisters, do you know how Simeon recognized this child? It must have been the Spirit of God telling him, "Mine eyes have seen salvation." I hope you can have the same vision as Simeon. When you see Jesus, you see salvation. Hallelujah!
You say, "My family is hopeless; what should I do?" Your eyes need to see Jesus, and you will see salvation. You say, "My career is hopeless; what should I do?" Look to Jesus; He can save your career. Amen! Moreover, he said: "This is what thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles." Is this for us? We are Gentiles before the Israelites, but God's light today will shine upon us. In darkness, there are also people with hope. Amen!
"And the glory of thy people Israel." The birth of Jesus is not only the glory of Israel but also the light of the Gentiles. After hearing this, the child's parents marveled at what was said about Jesus. Simeon then began to bless them and said to Mary, the mother of the child: "This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel."
Have you ever thought about this question? Jesus is clearly the Savior; why does He still cause many to fall? Because they do not believe in Him. Not believing in Jesus and not believing He is your Savior means you choose a path you do not want to be saved from. If you fall, isn't that a pity? Just like we tell you to believe in Jesus and accept His grace, if people say, "I do not accept it; I do not believe," then you will live in sickness, pain, and accidents. What can you do? You have no way out. There is no way out except Jesus.
Some say, "I can go to the hospital." Yes, going to the hospital is one way, but can you be sure that all diseases can be cured by doctors? Can you say, "I can definitely be cured in the hospital"? What if they cannot cure it? But if you seek Jesus, He is the true Savior. He is the Savior!
Many people do not believe in Jesus, and they fall because of the truths spoken by Jesus. For example, the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees fell. Many will rise. Who are these people? Those who accept Jesus, those who believe in Jesus, are raised up by God. Those fishermen, tax collectors, and soldiers were raised up by Jesus. Perhaps without Jesus, they would have lived their lives in mediocrity, but because of Jesus, they were lifted up. Amen.
Do not lose heart or despair. You say, "I do not have a high position in the world, nor do I have great fame." You have an opportunity to proclaim the gospel of the Lord, and God will raise you up. God will lift you up. Many will rise because of Jesus. Then it says: "And for a sign which shall be spoken against." This is the attack of the devil. It means that when we faithfully serve the Lord and preach the gospel, there will definitely be people who slander you. Is this normal? Therefore, when you see such things, do not be surprised.
When you see people around you being persecuted for the gospel, do not be surprised. This is very normal. Simeon had already told Mary such things. Soon, Mary would experience this—fleeing with the child. Some say, "Why? Isn't Jesus God? Couldn’t He just say a word and those people would die? Why should they run away?"
Many people always like to get entangled in the truth of this matter. God has His perfect plan in the world. It is not that we can do whatever we want. We should live according to God's truth. Amen! Let’s look at the next sentence; it is very important. This is something that is still happening in this era: "And many hearts will be revealed." I want to say that this is an age of the Holy Spirit and an age of grace. Today, when grace is mentioned, many people start to panic, become flustered, and even many begin to speculate, saying, "You cannot talk like this. Look at how many people have lived in sin after believing in grace; their behavior has become terrible." Is this a fact? Yes, it is a fact.
Many people become indulgent, reckless, and very unruly after receiving grace. For example, many people tell me, "Some people in our church, after receiving grace, play with their phones during meetings, eat sunflower seeds, chat, and have no order. What should we do?" Is this a problem with grace? Where is the problem?
Look at this passage; it gives you the answer: "And many hearts will be revealed." Let me give you a vivid hypothetical situation. Think about it. If Jesus came into the world not as a gentle and weak lamb but like Goliath, over three meters tall, holding a big club, standing there, who would dare to oppose Him? Have you seen that movie? Who would dare to be disrespectful to Jesus? Or if Jesus really came down from the temple's pinnacle like Satan tempted Him, floating down slowly to the ground, who would dare to despise Him? Even if someone does not respect Jesus in their heart, on the surface, they would say, "Whatever you say is what it is."
Do you see many people like this in the world today? When they encounter their boss at work, they say, "Boss, good," but in their hearts, they do not know how many times they have cursed. They smile on the surface but harbor resentment inside. Many people are like this now. But when grace comes, what happens? He appears as a gentle lamb, as a servant. Just because He seems like someone everyone can bully, as if He is not worthy of respect, people's true selves are revealed before Jesus.
What I mean is that if you truly accept grace and receive grace, you will live a better life than the world. This is the fruit, right? But some people can bear such fruit, indicating that their true selves were always like that; they just revealed their true selves. Under the law, they did not dare to do so because they feared discipline and the curses of the pastor. Under grace, all of that is gone, so they reveal their true selves, which is the true nature of humanity.
Just like this text says: "And many hearts will be revealed." Brothers and sisters, what happens after they are revealed? God still loves them. God hopes they will turn back. He just wants to tell us that humanity is like this. There is no hope in people. People can turn their backs in an instant, and they can be heartless. Amen! But there is one Savior who never changes. He is your gospel, your good news, your Savior. He wants to save you from sin. Amen! He already knows all the evil thoughts in your heart but still gives you a chance and is willing to save you. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, under grace, many people's true selves are revealed. It is not grace's fault. Even without grace, one day, under the law, they will still explode. So whether it is under grace or under the law, the outcome is almost the same. Some people just pretend. Under the law, they pretend. Under grace, people live out their true selves. Amen!
When you preach the gospel, people can praise you one moment and then belittle you and deny everything about you the next. Do not take these too seriously.
What does this mean? Focus your attention on Jesus. Hallelujah! God's affirmation of you is eternal. He is the Sun of Righteousness, illuminating the true nature of people's hearts. I hope everyone can live out their true selves, which is to love others freely in the love of Christ, to communicate freely with others, to serve others unconditionally. This is our true self, and our hearts' intentions are revealed.
Then Mary, "And your own heart will be pierced with a sword." This is because she could not accept it. As a person, the limit of what Mary could bear was this. Her son was exalted, yet suddenly, he was completely denied by people. This is unbearable for a person. I hope everyone can understand that no matter what you are like, I want to tell you a fact: He loves you. If you are willing to believe in Him and follow Him, Jesus will always open His arms to welcome you. For those who do not believe, the hypocrites will all be revealed under grace.
In the last days, the wheat and the tares will certainly be separated. This is a fact. Do not be surprised; it is very normal. In this era, please remember: The birth of Jesus is to save you. Let us focus our eyes on Jesus and always remember Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross.
Let us once again commemorate what Jesus has done for us on this grand day. He is our Savior, the Prince of Peace, the Sun of Righteousness. In Him, we always have hope. Thank you and praise the Lord. He loves us and is willing to accept us, even though He knows all our problems.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you! Thank you for leading us at this time to commemorate Jesus' birth to save us. We worship you because you are the Prince of Peace. We are willing to accept you because you are our light, and we are also looking forward to your return. We are all waiting for this day. Lord, while living in this world, let us make your word our standard every day and talk about Jesus at all times because you are the only unchanging one. You are willing to save me in everything. Please give me your salvation and let me live with your salvation. Thank you and praise you. Bless all the brothers and sisters who seek you. In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen!