The Signs of Christmas

Pastor Phil Andrukaitis, December 3, 2023, 2nd Advent Sunday with Communion

Advent Theme for 2023:  Christmas, What’s It All About?

Sermon Title:  The Signs of Christmas

Sermon Text:  Selected Scriptural Passages

Dominating Idea:  The signs of Christmas reveal God’s indescribable gift! 

Definition of “Signs and Wonders”

Does the sermon title, The Signs of Christmas, intrigue you?  What about the concept of signs and wonders?  It seems that many folks in our culture have a fascination with the concept of signs and wonders.  Even to this day, evangelicals continue to debate passionately the issue of signs and wonders, wrestling with the following concepts:

    • The method of signs and wonders
    • The participants of signs and wonders
    • The proof of signs and wonders
    • The problem with signs and wonders
    • The place of signs and wonders
    • The results of signs and wonders

What are signs and wonders, anyway?  A quick survey through many good Bible dictionaries and other resources will reveal analytical definitions and lengthy explanations.  However, to avoid getting bogged down in the details and at the risk of oversimplifying the issue of signs and wonders, permit me to offer a broad definition for this sermon:  Signs and wonders are miraculous events that convey a divine message, direction, or instruction for those who witness them. 

Seven Signs in John’s Gospel

To illustrate this definition, turn to the Gospel of John.  Of all the signs and wonders Jesus performed, why did John only select seven signs for his gospel and what specific purpose did God reveal behind these signs and wonders?  Believing that John composed his gospel a few years before the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, let us confine ourselves for the next several minutes to the Gospel of John and discover his primary reason for composing his gospel.

 “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not  recorded in this book [the Gospel of John].  But these [the seven signs] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

Therefore, each of the seven signs in John’s Gospel reveals a divine, specific purpose to bring the reader into the saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  For example,

    • 1st Sign changing water into wine was designed to reveal the glory of God and to help His disciples grow in faith (2:1-11).  Jesus is Master over our needs.
    • 2nd Sign healing a nobleman’s dying son was designed to transform a father’s crisis of faith into confident faith, as Jesus healed the nobleman’s son, who was nearly twenty miles away (4:46-54).  Jesus is Master over distance.
    • 3rd Sign healing a lame man was designed to show the compassion and sovereignty of Jesus Christ (5:1-17).  Jesus is Master over healings.
    • 4th Sign feeding the 5,000 was designed to reveal The Prophet [Jesus] had come into the world (6:1-14).  Jesus is Master over our physical and spiritual hunger.
    • 5th Sign walking upon the stormy seas was designed to dispel the disciples’ fear because God was near (6:15-21).  Jesus is Master over nature.
    • 6th Sign giving sight to the man born blind was designed to reveal the works of God in the lives of others (9:1-5).  Jesus is Master over darkness, both physical and spiritual.
    • 7th Sign raising Lazarus from the dead was designed like the first sign to reveal the glory of God (11:4).  Jesus is Master over life and death.

Several NT Signs

In addition to John’s seven signs, a brief survey through the NT reveals God’s over-arching purposes for other signs and wonders:

    • Signs and wonders through Jesus Christ reveal the Father’s love for sinners (John 10:37-38; 14:1-3).
    • Signs and wonders of casting out demons from people’s lives reveal the presence of God’s kingdom on earth has come (Mark 1:15; Luke 11:20).
    • Signs and wonders revealed a new era of revelation authenticating the messengers and the gospel message (Acts 2:40 – 4:31).
    • Signs and wonders reveal the sovereignty of God.
    • Signs and wonders ultimately point to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as God’s messengers preach the gospel of Christ (Acts 2-4; 14:3).

Three Signs of Christmas

Therefore, having considered the many signs and wonders wrought by the Lord Jesus and other key individuals in the NT, we realize that God passionately delights to reveal Himself and His love for sinners through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Since it is the Advent Season, this pulpit is asking the question Christmas, what’s it all about?  Therefore, to further help us understand this blessed season, let us look at three specific signs of Christmas and discover their significant lessons for our lives, today.  After all, signs and wonders are miraculous events given by God to convey His message, direction, and lesson for those who trust Him.

I.  The first sign of Christmas was given by God to king Ahaz signifies the presence of God (Isaiah 7:10- 11; Matthew 1:23).

II.  The second sign of Christmas was given by an angel of the Lord to shepherds watching over their flock signifies the humility of God (Luke 2:12).

III.  The third sign of Christmas was given by Simeon to Mary signifies the sacrifice of God (Luke 2:34).

Dominating Theme:  The signs of Christmas reveal God’s indescribable gift! 

I.  The first sign of Christmas was given by God to king Ahaz signifies the presence of God (Isaiah 7:1- 14; Matthew 1:23).

After the death of king Uzziah, his son Jotham became king and reigned sixteen years.  Jotham was not a godly role model for his son, Ahaz who ascended to the throne sixteen years later.  Even though Ahaz was a descendant of king David, king Ahaz chose to follow the ways of Israel’s kings.

When Syria and Israel attacked Judah, God sent Isaiah to king Ahaz to admonish him to have faith by trusting the LORD GOD.  In fact, God even went so far as to inspire Ahaz to have faith in God by encouraging the king to ask for a sign!  But the king refused to ask for a sign under the guise of false piety.  The real issue with Ahaz was his unbelief.  Clearly, the LORD and the prophet were frustrated with Ahaz.

Therefore, Isaiah wrote, “…the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

How does this sign given to Ahaz, who is at war with Syria and Israel, relate to Matthew’s reference regarding the birth of Jesus?  [Note:  Israel and Judah have been a divided nation for nearly two hundred years.  Thus, the ten northern tribes of Israel are not aware of it yet, but will soon be destroyed and be taken into Assyrian captivity, cc. 722 B.C.]

This sign has a double implication.  Futuristically, the day will come when the promised Son of God will be born of a virgin to take away the sins of the world.  However, during Ahaz’s reign, the promised child is a sign of God’s immediate presence with Judah, even as Judah stands against its enemies.  Moreover, the name of the promised Son is “Emmanuel” which means, God with us.  Therefore, Ahaz and the people of Judah have no need to fear their warring neighbors because God is with Judah.

However, Ahaz refused to trust God.  Moreover, Ahaz would not still and quiet his soul in God but continued to be fearful and faint-hearted because of the fierce anger of Judah’s enemies.  Instead of turning to God, Ahaz ignored Isaiah’s promise from God and placed his hope in a military alliance with Assyria (Isaiah 7:17-18), a decision that would soon prove to be a disastrous mistake for Ahaz and Judah  (2nd Chronicles 28:5-8).[1] 

Significant Lesson for Us

When we deliberately leave God out of our plans because we fear the impact of His plans upon our lives, are we not like Ahaz?  Therefore, turning away from God to lean upon our own understanding is a disastrous strategy for anyone.  The Lord’s call for Ahaz to trust Him is the same call for you and me; trust God because He is with us.

Contrasting Ahaz’s unwillingness to trust God against Joseph’s willingness to trust God, when it didn’t make sense to him to remain with the pregnant Mary, was an incredible act of faith.  The Lord called Joseph to trust messenger of God and not be afraid to take Mary as his wife was seen by Matthew as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

The child born of the virgin Mary and whose name would be called “Emmanuel” is God’s promise that Jesus is with us.  This marvelous miracle, a biological impossibility, reveals to us that the omnipotent God has entered the human family, once for all!

Therefore, what a comfort it is to know that the Spirit of Jesus [Holy Spirit] is always present with us; whatever the situation where we find ourselves, in the midst of our pain and sickness, loneliness or togetherness, joy or sorrow, doubts or fears, stress or rest, poverty or riches, rejection or acceptance, God is with us. 

Like His Word, the Lord is dependable and trustworthy.  Therefore, our confidence does not rest in our puny understanding but by faith.  We call out to Him because we know that He will hear us and help us in every decision we make.  We are not left alone.  God is with us.

Dominating Theme:  The signs of Christmas reveal God’s indescribable gift!

II.  The second sign of Christmas given by an angel of the Lord to shepherds watching over their flock signifies the humility of God (Luke 2:1-14).

Come with me to the throne room of God (Isaiah 6).  It is a magnificent picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory; the King of kings and the Lord of all lords.  Day and night the heavenly host and the four living creatures never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4).  “The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3).  One would imagine that wherever King Jesus would go, an entourage of heaven’s host would follow Him, singing and praising His glorious name.

But when King Jesus set aside His robe, stepped down from His glorious throne where a rainbow, emerald in appearance encompasses His glorious throne, and humbled Himself by adding humanity to His divine nature, we see the magnitude of Christ “emptying” Himself, “taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).

    • Jesus entered this world not as a conqueror but as a helpless baby, dependent upon a very young couple.
    • Jesus entered this world not with fanfare that accompanies royalty but as a servant whose humility concealed His divine nature before the eyes of fallen man.  Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
    • Jesus entered this world not through a king’s palace but in the most humbling of all human circumstances, a stable.

Therefore, when Mary gave birth to Jesus, an angel of the Lord suddenly and gloriously appeared to a group of shepherds, who were watching over a flock of sheep, and announced this wonderful news.  To help the shepherds recognize this remarkable Child from among all the other children. The angel said to the shepherds, “And this will be a sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).

And then, it’s as if the angelic host of Isaiah could no longer contain themselves.  A great multitude of angels suddenly appeared; a multitude of millions filled the sky.  What a sight!  And in unison all heaven erupted in praise to God!

Now I understand why the shepherds left their flock in haste; they wanted to go to Bethlehem to “see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:15b).

Significant Lesson for Us

The birth of Jesus reveals God’s heart and character.  God’s humility enables Him to identify with humanity in every way.  The fact that the exalted Son of God chose to be born a human without surrendering His divine nature enabled Him to enter this sin-cursed world through the most humbling circumstances; through a woman’s womb.  Consider these five overarching characteristics of humility:

    • Humility willingly surrenders one’s glory and honor, rights and privileges.
    • Humility willingly places self in a vulnerable position, being dependent upon others.
    • Humility willingly sets aside personal comforts to comfort the suffering.
    • Humility willingly identifies with the lowly, rejected individuals.
    • Humility willingly sacrifices whatever it costs to serve others [time, resources, life]. 

Therefore, humility will always precede honor and recognition from God (Proverbs 18:12b).  Remember, a Christ-centered life cannot be a self-centered life.

Dominating Theme:  The signs of Christmas reveal God’s indescribable gift!

III.  The third sign of Christmas given by Simeon to Mary signifies the sacrifice of God (Luke 2:34).

When the infant Jesus was brought into the temple to fulfill the law of Moses, the aged prophet of God, Simeon who was a righteous, devout, and man of great faith said to Joseph and Mary:  “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against…that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).  Read Luke 2:25-35 for the full context of this sign.

The sign to which Simeon refers draws images from Isaiah 8:14-15 and 28:13-16.  These OT passages are used in the NT to describe people’s reactions to Jesus, as Jesus is the Cornerstone over which many people will stumble [rejected Him] (Luke 20:17-18; Romans 9:33; 1st Peter 2:6-8).

Again, the sign to which Simeon points refers to the sorrow that Mary will experience as she witnesses the sacrificial death of her Son – for her sins and the sins of the world.  Yes, Mary knew Jesus as her Savior.

Sadly though, this sign also points to another piercing of one’s soul, when every unbeliever will stand before the “Great White Throne” to have the thoughts and actions of their life revealed as the books in heaven are opened, whereby the dead are judged according to their works.  And then another book was opened, the Book of Life, to see if a person’s name was written in the book.  “And anyone whose name was not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

Significant Lesson for Us

Here is the applicable lesson for all of us.  The Lord knows each of our hearts and everything that is in them.  Therefore, as we meet each day with its challenges and as we interact with our family, the people with whom we work, with neighbors, friends, Christians and unbelievers, strangers, and with one another, let’s ask two questions:

    1.  Will you acknowledge the Lord’s presence in every situation of your life? How?
    2.  Will you humble yourself before the Lord and others…
        • …by acknowledging your sins?
        • …by acknowledging His salvation He has given you?
        • …by receiving Jesus by faith? This is your moment to surrender your life to Jesus.  Please do not delay.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone, except to the Lord.  May the Lord open your heart to receive Him in faith and know the joy of His salvation. 

The signs of Christmas reveal God’s indescribable gift:  the presence of God, the humility of God, and the sacrifice of God, which gives eternal life to those who place their trust in Christ alone.  Will you receive this gift?

[1] John N. Oswalt, Isaiah, The NIV Application Commentary, (Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 2003), pp.139-142.