Christmas; It's All About Jesus ~ 20161225 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

12/25 Christmas Day; Revelation 5; Its All About Jesus Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20161225_all-about-jesus.mp3

It's All About Jesus

Today is Christmas day. Christmas is all about Jesus. Christmas is a time we celebrate Jesus' birth. Christmas should be all about Jesus. But in truth, it's bigger than that. It's broader than Christmas. Christmas is all about Jesus, but really everything is all about Jesus. Everything. Jesus is the beginning, the means, and the goal of everything. Llterally everything. Paul says of Jesus in Colossians 1

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Jesus was before all things. Jesus eternally existed. He is the origin of every created thing, both visible and invisible, material and spiritual. All things were created by him, all things were created through him, and all things were created for him. He is the origin, means and end of everything. It is all about Jesus. He is preeminent in everything. He holds first place.

Philippians2 tells us of Jesus

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

This is a great Christmas text. Jesus, being eternally in the very form of God, took on the form of a servant. He stooped down to be born in the likeness of men. Jesus, eternal God, at a point in history was born as a human baby. He took on flesh and became one of us. Deity clothed in humanity. This is Christmas. But Philippians moves immediately from Christmas to Good Friday, the reason why he came.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christmas was the necessary precursor to Good Friday. Christmas happened so that Good Friday could. Jesus came to die. God the Son humbled himself, wrapped himself in human flesh, so that he could take our place. So that as a man he could take our sin and die as a legitimate substitute. But it doesn't end there. Christmas points beyond Good Friday. Because it's not all about us. It's not all about saving us. It's much bigger than that. It's really all about Jesus.

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Yes, Jesus came to save us. But in saving us, Jesus came seeking the glory of his Father. And the Father was seeking the glory of Jesus in sending him. It involves us, we benefit immeasurably, but it's really much bigger than us. Christmas, Good Friday, all things, it's really all about Jesus. Jesus' name is above every name. Jesus holds supremacy. Every knee will bow to Jesus in every realm. Every angelic knee, every human knee, dead or alive, every demonic knee will bow to Jesus and acknowledge his supremacy. Jesus Christ is Lord, YHWH, sovereign. It is all about Jesus!

We see a picture of this ultimate goal of everything in Revelation 5.

Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

The question is 'who is worthy?' Who is worthy? No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth. No angelic being, no man. No created thing. No one was found worthy.

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Jesus is worthy. Jesus is the only one who is worthy. The Lion who is a Lamb. The promised King, the one who existed before David, who came to be a King greater than David. Jesus is the conquering King. Jesus has overcome. How? He conquered by dying. He humbled himself to become a slave, to die as a sacrificial Lamb. He is the Lamb standing as though it had been slain. He gained the victory over death by dying. By laying down his life.

Revelation 5:7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! The living creatures and elders around the throne fell down before the Lamb in worship. They pour out as an incense offering before the Lamb the prayers of the saints. He has purchased people from every people group to be worshipers of God. The Lamb is worthy!

Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Innumberable angels join in worshiping Jesus who is worthy. It is all about Jesus!

Revelation 5:13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Every creature that exists exists to worship Jesus. We were created for worship, because it is much bigger than us. It is all about Jesus! Christmas, and every day should be all about Jesus, for he alone is worthy!

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org