Christ The King And Saviour (12/12/1999)

Christmas for many means the joy of receiving presents. A little girl told her father she wanted a brother for Christmas. To her delight her mother returned from hospital on Christmas Eve with a baby boy in her arms. Next year when the time came round, her father again asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She replied: "If it wouldn't be too uncomfortable for Mummy, this year I would like a pony."

For many others Christmas means panic and stress in buying presents. I read an article entitled "Panic buying - without panic". And stress is now caused by the choices and the crowds - and men fare worse than women! Research shows that on average male stress levels soar (in respect of blood pressure and heart rate) when in crowded shops and choosing presents.

But real panic and stress today comes in more serious ways. Since last Christmas you may have lost a loved one; or you are having to face the stress of redundancy like the people working at Ellington Colliery, or the collapse of a business, or uncertainty in your profession. Or you may have fears for your health; or for your family and children; or for the future of a world that often seems so dark. But the good news of Christmas is that you need not fear. Its real meaning is that God is in control and light has come into this dark world in the person of Jesus Christ. As we heard in our 3rd Reading:

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light ... for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders" (Is 9.2&6).

That is why you do not need to be afraid. The message to Mary from the angel, in our 4th Reading, was:

"Do not be afraid, Mary, ... you will be with child and give birth to a son ... and he will reign ... and his kingdom will never end" (Lk 1.30-33)

The message to the Shepherds in our last Reading was:

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you" (Lk 2.10-11).

That is the Christmas message the world needs to hear as it enters a new Millennium - that Jesus Christ was born to be King and he was born a Saviour. So do not fear.

First, he was born to be King.

In our last carol tonight we are going to be singing: "Glory to the new-born King." The wise men from the East asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matt 2.2). Later in Jesus' life, on Palm Sunday, the crowds cried out: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 19:38).

But throughout much of his earthly ministry Christ's kingship was hidden, yet not completely. He spoke with authority. He challenged people's consciences. He denounced hypocrisy, greed, immorality and dishonesty. And he exercised miraculous power. Christ was no ordinary king. He was, and is, the divine King as his Resurrection that first Easter proved. God was in Christ. And the risen and ascended Christ now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords as the choir sang.

Yet millions live ignoring his rule and kingship even at this time of the Millennium - a two thousand year period that is reckoned not from the birth of the Buddha, or Plato, or Mohammed, or any other philosopher or religious leader, but from the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. And officially he is ignored. The architect responsible for the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome, wanted positively to exclude the symbol of Christ's Cross. It was good to read a report last week that she has been overruled. But in the official Millennium Commission's brochure, it says: "A new millennium ... is a moment ... to celebrate the most basic of satisfactions: that we have made it this far."

It's seen as a celebration of the human race. But Christmas says the human race needs not to be celebrated but forgiven - it is fatally flawed. Not only are there, and have there been, ruthless tyrants that kill and murder, like King Herod in Jesus' day. Also there are vast numbers less violent but equally selfish. They are like those who were willing to let Mary, a young woman in labour, stay out in the cold with no room for her in the Inn. And that,

Secondly, is why Christmas is goodnews, for Jesus Christ was born a Saviour as well as a king.

The world that ignores Jesus and rejects the Fatherhood of God and then looses the brotherhood of man certainly needs saving. So Christ was born to die. He was the king on the Cross. On his cross were the words: "the King of the Jews" (Luke 23.38). For the last 200 years we have been told that humankind does not need saving. Man is born perfect. Many still believe that education or the state will save you. The bible says, "No!" and common-sense says "No!"

Recent headlines were about problems in education and a North East school and its truancy figures. Another headline was about the state getting things wrong - a North East man was wrongly jailed for 13 years for a murder the court has decided he didn't commit. Education and the state are necessary but they will not save you - they too are flawed. Christ alone is the Saviour. You cannot save your self.

Martin Luther wrote a famous book entitled The Bondage of the Will. By nature we all rebel against God and defy his laws - we sin. When you read of anti-Christian activities and ideas, they are "natural". The bible says we are by nature spiritually dead and deserve God's eternal judgment. But Christmas tells us that God, in his love, has acted to give us new spiritual life, to free our wills and to provide an escape from that judgment. Christ died to bear our guilt in our place on the cross and to rise again to give us new life by his holy Spirit.

So how are you going to respond this Christmas - to the one who was born a King and a Saviour? And remember, no one is too bad to be saved, or too good not to need saving!

Some time ago during the war, a famous American art collector learnt that his son had been killed in action saving the life of another soldier. The following Christmas the soldier who survived and who himself was an amateur painter, gave the art collector a simple portrait he'd sketched of his son. It was nothing like a master-piece but it became very special to the man in his loneliness.

Not long afterwards the collector died; and his paintings were to be auctioned, according to his will, on Christmas Day. To everyone's surprise the auction began with a painting on no acquisition list. It was this painting of the man's son. "Who will open with $100?" the auctioneer asked. Nothing was offered. It was suggested they move on. But the auctioneer said, "No! we have to sell this one first." Eventually a friend of the old man - not a collector, and not very rich - offered a small sum: "I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it."

"Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. There was silence. So the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." People sighed with relief thinking they could get on with the real business. The auctioneer, however, then looked at the audience and said the auction was over. There was stunned disbelief. "It's very simple," the auctioneer explained, "according to the will of the father, whoever takes the son ... gets all."

The bible says (2 Cor 9.15) that Jesus Christ, God's son, is our heavenly Father's "indescribable gift" and if you receive Christ you receive all (Romans 8.32):

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

Who needs to receive Jesus Christ for themselves this Christmas as Saviour and then submit to him as King? Then you will receive God's "all" - peace with God, a purpose for living and hope for eternity. And you need not be afraid in life or in death, for Christ will be with you - Christ the king, and Christ the Saviour. Amen.

Christ The King And Saviour	12/12/1999 at 6.30pm
No references given	Jesmond Parish Church

A sermon preached by David Holloway
Christmas for many means the joy of receiving presents. A little girl told her father she wanted a brother for Christmas. To her delight her mother returned from hospital on Christmas Eve with a baby boy in her arms. Next year when the time came round, her father again asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She replied: "If it wouldn't be too uncomfortable for Mummy, this year I would like a pony." For many others Christmas means panic and stress in buying presents. I read an article entitled "Panic buying - without panic". And stress is now caused by the choices and the crowds - and men fare worse than women! Research shows that on average male stress levels soar (in respect of blood pressure and heart rate) when in crowded shops and choosing presents. But real panic and stress today comes in more serious ways. Since last Christmas you may have lost a loved one; or you are having to face the stress of redundancy like the people working at Ellington Colliery, or the collapse of a business, or uncertainty in your profession. Or you may have fears for your health; or for your family and children; or for the future of a world that often seems so dark. But the good news of Christmas is that you need not fear. Its real meaning is that God is in control and light has come into this dark world in the person of Jesus Christ. As we heard in our 3rd Reading: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light ... for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders" (Is 9.2&6). That is why you do not need to be afraid. The message to Mary from the angel, in our 4th Reading, was: "Do not be afraid, Mary, ... you will be with child and give birth to a son ... and he will reign ... and his kingdom will never end" (Lk 1.30-33) The message to the Shepherds in our last Reading was: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you" (Lk 2.10-11). That is the Christmas message the world needs to hear as it enters a new Millennium - that Jesus Christ was born to be King and he was born a Saviour. So do not fear. First, he was born to be King. In our last carol tonight we are going to be singing: "Glory to the new-born King." The wise men from the East asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matt 2.2). Later in Jesus' life, on Palm Sunday, the crowds cried out: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 19:38). But throughout much of his earthly ministry Christ's kingship was hidden, yet not completely. He spoke with authority. He challenged people's consciences. He denounced hypocrisy, greed, immorality and dishonesty. And he exercised miraculous power. Christ was no ordinary king. He was, and is, the divine King as his Resurrection that first Easter proved. God was in Christ. And the risen and ascended Christ now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords as the choir sang. Yet millions live ignoring his rule and kingship even at this time of the Millennium - a two thousand year period that is reckoned not from the birth of the Buddha, or Plato, or Mohammed, or any other philosopher or religious leader, but from the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. And officially he is ignored. The architect responsible for the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome, wanted positively to exclude the symbol of Christ's Cross. It was good to read a report last week that she has been overruled. But in the official Millennium Commission's brochure, it says: "A new millennium ... is a moment ... to celebrate the most basic of satisfactions: that we have made it this far." It's seen as a celebration of the human race. But Christmas says the human race needs not to be celebrated but forgiven - it is fatally flawed. Not only are there, and have there been, ruthless tyrants that kill and murder, like King Herod in Jesus' day. Also there are vast numbers less violent but equally selfish. They are like those who were willing to let Mary, a young woman in labour, stay out in the cold with no room for her in the Inn. And that, *Secondly, is why Christmas is goodnews, for Jesus Christ was born a Saviour* as well as a king. The world that ignores Jesus and rejects the Fatherhood of God and then looses the brotherhood of man certainly needs saving. So Christ was born to die. He was the king on the Cross. On his cross were the words: "the King of the Jews" (Luke 23.38). For the last 200 years we have been told that humankind does not need saving. Man is born perfect. Many still believe that education or the state will save you. The bible says, "No!" and common-sense says "No!" Recent headlines were about problems in education and a North East school and its truancy figures. Another headline was about the state getting things wrong - a North East man was wrongly jailed for 13 years for a murder the court has decided he didn't commit. Education and the state are necessary but they will not save you - they too are flawed. Christ alone is the Saviour. You cannot save your self. Martin Luther wrote a famous book entitled The Bondage of the Will. By nature we all rebel against God and defy his laws - we sin. When you read of anti-Christian activities and ideas, they are "natural". The bible says we are by nature spiritually dead and deserve God's eternal judgment. But Christmas tells us that God, in his love, has acted to give us new spiritual life, to free our wills and to provide an escape from that judgment. Christ died to bear our guilt in our place on the cross and to rise again to give us new life by his holy Spirit. So how are you going to respond this Christmas - to the one who was born a King and a Saviour? And remember, no one is too bad to be saved, or too good not to need saving! Some time ago during the war, a famous American art collector learnt that his son had been killed in action saving the life of another soldier. The following Christmas the soldier who survived and who himself was an amateur painter, gave the art collector a simple portrait he'd sketched of his son. It was nothing like a master-piece but it became very special to the man in his loneliness. Not long afterwards the collector died; and his paintings were to be auctioned, according to his will, on Christmas Day. To everyone's surprise the auction began with a painting on no acquisition list. It was this painting of the man's son. "Who will open with $100?" the auctioneer asked. Nothing was offered. It was suggested they move on. But the auctioneer said, "No! we have to sell this one first." Eventually a friend of the old man - not a collector, and not very rich - offered a small sum: "I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it." "Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. There was silence. So the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." People sighed with relief thinking they could get on with the real business. The auctioneer, however, then looked at the audience and said the auction was over. There was stunned disbelief. "It's very simple," the auctioneer explained, "according to the will of the father, whoever takes the son ... gets all." The bible says (2 Cor 9.15) that Jesus Christ, God's son, is our heavenly Father's "indescribable gift" and if you receive Christ you receive all (Romans 8.32): "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Who needs to receive Jesus Christ for themselves this Christmas as Saviour and then submit to him as King? Then you will receive God's "all" - peace with God, a purpose for living and hope for eternity. And you need not be afraid in life or in death, for Christ will be with you - Christ the king, and Christ the Saviour. Amen.
For more sermon transcripts visit http://www.church.org.uk

Christ The King And Saviour

A sermon preached by David Holloway