He Gave Himself for Me
CS Lewis wrote: "Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise"...yes you certainly might say that and much more!!!
Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being [a]a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is [b]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name [c]Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and [d]did not know her till she had brought forth her[e] firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if there is any [a]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Galatians 2:20b “…I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
“Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” C S Lewis, Mere Christianity
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Galatians 2:20b “…I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”
Sermon Discussion Questions:
How do you "anticipate" a big, scary event?
How did this inform what this sermon was about?
What did Jesus "take on" (6 things were talked about)?
What did He leave behind?
What impact should this have on us...including "wanted side effects"?
