What's In a Gift?

Introduction

• Why we give gifts at Christmas (Rom 3:23 the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.)
• Jesus was given to give us eternal life
• This meant dying for our sins (1 Pet 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, by his wounds you have been healed.)
• Does this connect with outsiders - why did this gift need to cost so much?

Four clues to the Question

• Law and Sacrifice
• The OT rehearsals
• Perspectives of Christ
• The nature of a god

Law & Sacrifice

• Rejection of God and His rule results in sin and death - Gen 1:17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
• Law is the basis of agreement, of understanding, of covenant - Ex 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey."
• Shedding of blood was the basis of reconciliation - Lev 9:7 Moses said to Aaron, "Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded."
• Blood of bulls and goats would never be enough : Heb 10:3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Rehearsals

• Saviour after saviour - Moses, Joshua, Judges, David - never endured
• Promised fulfilled on earth - did not endure (people, land, fame, blessing)
• We know that a military, teaching or revelatory saviour was not enough If Jesus was only that, eg a good teacher (Gandi, Buddah) it would not be enough

Perspectives on Christ

• sacrifice - Heb 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• saviour - Matt 1: 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
• ransom - Mark 10: 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The Nature of a God

• The capricious gods of the ancient world
• The uncertain gods of the modern world eg Allah
• Law and God - Prov 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.
• Law and God, which is first - Luke 18:19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.
• Why did God need to do this

Analysis

• We know that sin, death and suffering exist because God is rejected.
• We know that the relationship with God was expressed through God's law.
• We know that God promised a solution.
• We know that earthly saviours could not provide it.
• We know that the sacrificial system could not provide it.
• We know that Jesus came intending to give his life as the price of the gift.
• We know that something was not satisfied, what was it.
• Many theories, payment to Satan, payment to God, good example, because that is what happens to good people, to demonstrate love

Conclusion

• Jesus had to die because of the utter integrity of God himself;
• God was being true to his law, consistent and reliable;
• He is not like the other gods who change their minds at whim, not like those who provide no certainty but a vague 'hope so' - Muslims, JWs, Mormons etc;
• There is no other religion in the world with this level of elegant simplicity, completeness and continuity in its entire worldview;
• this places God completely beyond manipulation - you can do no more before this God but fall at his feet and seek his mercy
• yet in the gospel, God does not seek humiliation, nor punishment, nor suffering but openly offers to forgive all who turn to him and serve him as God

Isaiah 9

1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Matthew 20

17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them,

18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death

19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

21 "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered.

23 Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."