A Truly Hopeful Christmas
Bible passage: Luke 2:8-14
“8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! We celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. Merry Christmas! Today is a joyous day as we gather for Christmas Sunday worship. About 2,000 years ago, our Lord Jesus was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem, Judea.
Although He came as the Savior to redeem all humankind and as the King of Kings, He appeared in a very humble place in the flesh. However, at that time, those who longed for the truth - the Magi from the East and the shepherds tending their flocks - recognized the birth of the Messiah through the guidance of the star and the direction of angels. Among all humankind, they were the first to meet Jesus, offering Him precious gifts and the glory of worship.
In Luke 2:34 and the following verses, we see Anna, the prophetess who spent her life praying in the temple, and Simeon, who waited for God's consolation, recognize the infant Jesus as the Savior, even though He had not yet preached or performed miracles. Simeon was a man who had received guidance from the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Christ. Anna was a woman who spent decades in the temple, fasting, praying, and serving God day and night. They were neither people highly esteemed by the world nor those who pursued wealth, honor, or worldly pleasures. They were simply individuals who earnestly longed for the truth - spiritual things. Because of their earnest longing for the truth, the birth of Jesus brought them great joy.
I hope that all of you, by yearning for the truth in this way, will experience today’s worship as a joyful and blessed service. So, what is the true hope that God has given us through the birth of Jesus? People live with various hopes in their hearts. Each one strives for wealth, honor, or personal satisfaction to lead a happy life on earth. However, our Lord Jesus did not abandon the glories of heaven and come to this earth just to give us hope for material prosperity or a comfortable life here. Instead, He came to give us an unfailing and eternal hope - a spiritual hope, not a worldly one - amid this sinful world.
Though Jesus was born in a humble stable in the eyes of the world, from a spiritual perspective, His birth was filled with immense glory. Luke 2:13-14 says, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”” The phrase “Glory to God in the highest heaven” means that Jesus' coming to earth would break down the wall of sin between God and humankind, leading countless people to salvation and making them true children of God. This brings great glory to God. The phrase “and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests” signifies that, through Jesus' coming, those who understand the way of salvation, follow God's Word, and live accordingly, will experience peace in their hearts and be filled with the hope of heaven.
Thus, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.” As I share the three great true hopes that God gives us on this Christmas Sunday, I pray in the name of the Lord that you may fully make these hopes your own. May your hearts and homes be filled with God's glory, and may peace abound on this earth.
1. The first true hope that Jesus gives us through His coming to this world is the “hope of salvation”.
For lives perishing because of sin, the greatest hope and blessing is to be saved from eternal death. Romans 5:18 (first part) says, “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people...” Through one trespass, that is, the sin of one man, Adam, all people became sinners. And according to the words, “The wages of sin is death,” they were destined to face eternal death, which is the punishment of hell. Because of the wall of sin created when Adam sinned, humankind became estranged from God and became servants to the enemy, the devil, who rules this world.
So, from the moment people are born into this world, they live each day amid countless sufferings - illnesses, accidents, hatred, quarrels, sorrow, and loneliness. And they continue living day by day toward the inevitable end of life, essentially racing toward eternal death. It is like wandering ceaselessly in pitch-black darkness, searching for light but finding none, living a life devoid of hope. However, there is One who came to these hopeless lives as a ray of light to give them hope. Who is that person? It is none other than the central figure of Christmas, our Lord Jesus. Jesus, one of the Triune God and the Son of God, is exceedingly honorable.
Despite this, our Lord Jesus abandoned all the glories of heaven and came down to this earth, filled with sin, sorrow, and suffering. He was born in a humble stable, laid in a manger, and lived a life of hunger and thirst for the sake of souls. He also endured contempt, scorn, and persecution from human beings, His own creation. And in the end, He was betrayed and cruelly killed by the very people He loved deeply until the end. Through such love and sacrifice of Jesus, we have been given a solution to the problem of sin. Jesus did not come to this earth to live but to die - to share His life with us. John 3:14-15 says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”
Because there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood, Jesus died on the cross. With the blood that flowed endlessly, He cleansed humanity's sins, allowing them to be saved and to have the hope of living forever in the beautiful kingdom of heaven. Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In Greek, the term for "eternal life" is "zoe aionios". "Zoe" means life, and "aionios" means eternal or divine. Thus, "zoe aionios" means eternal life, or "the life of God." This means that we are people who possess eternal life - the very life of God.
Why does a human become a human? Because they have the life of a human being. If one has the life of a lion, they become a lion; if one has the life of a donkey, they become a donkey. Receiving Jesus into your heart as your Savior means that the life of Jesus has entered into you. Here is a cup lid. If I place it inside myself like this, where is the cup lid? It is inside me. If this cup lid represents Jesus, then by receiving Jesus as my Savior, Jesus Himself - His life, the life of God - is inside me. This is why we become children of God who carry His life and can enjoy eternal life. Why is it "Merry Christmas"? Why is it merry? Is it because it’s a holiday?
It is because, through Jesus who came to this earth for us, we can have the life of Jesus - the life of God. Because we have the life of Jesus, we can overcome the enemy, the devil, just as He did. Because we have the life of Jesus, we can overcome suffering and sorrow and live in peace. Because we have the life of Jesus, we can triumph over death and enjoy eternal life. Therefore, Christmas is a day to resolve to live as those who carry the life of Jesus - as children of God. Christmas is not just a holiday; it should be a holy day, a day to commit to living like our holy Lord Jesus. So, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate Christmas and the coming of Jesus to this earth, may you be blessed with overflowing joy, gratitude, and awe for the salvation you have received, and may the hope of salvation abound in your hearts.
2. The true hope Jesus gave us by coming to this earth is the "hope of resurrection."
The year 2024 is already nearing its end, and soon we will welcome the new year, 2025. Then, we all grow one year older. Some people say that as they age, they no longer enjoy looking in the mirror. This is because, year by year, wrinkles increase, gray hairs grow, and the marks of time become more visible. Originally, however, the first man, Adam, was created as a living being, and he was not a being destined to age or die. Adam could have lived forever in a beautiful body in the Garden of Eden. But after he sinned, his spirit died, and he became a physical being that decays and deteriorates. Once his earthly life ends, his body returns to the dust from which it came.
Through the enemy, the devil, and the forces of darkness, falsehood began to enter Adam’s heart, along with evil. As falsehood entered, truth disappeared. As evil entered, goodness disappeared. With his spirit dead, the flesh came alive. Thus began the suffering of a decaying body, death, various diseases, accidents, and aging, which ultimately lead to death. However, when you accept Jesus as your Savior, the opposite occurs: falsehood and darkness flee, and truth and light enter. You begin to transform, moving from the physical to the spiritual. As this transformation occurs, the reverse happens. As falsehood and evil are cast out and replaced by the spirit, the body also becomes stronger. The blessings given before Adam’s sin begin to be restored. People who do not believe in God do not believe in heaven, so they try to live as long as possible on this earth. They also harbor a vague fear of death.
Many seek to extend their lives by taking various medicines and relying on advanced medical technologies, but no one can solve the problem of death. However, there is only One who can resolve this issue. That is the all-knowing and almighty God. God the Father allowed Jesus to die on the cross for us, who were doomed to spiritual and physical death because of sin. But our Lord Jesus, who had neither original sin nor personal sin, could not remain bound by death. Since “the wages of sin is death” but He was without sin, He broke the power of death and rose again on the third day. Likewise, when we believe in the Lord and resolve the issue of sin, death can no longer hold authority over our souls. Even if we face physical death as our lifespan ends, we will rise again and live eternally.
This is why Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die.” Among those who believe in the Lord, there are some who have already passed from this life and entered heaven after experiencing physical death. However, the Bible does not refer to these people as "dead" but rather as "asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” For believers, death is not merely a cause for sorrow.
Even the believers who have departed from this world are not lost forever but will ultimately be resurrected. When we enter heaven, we will meet them again and live together eternally. Many of you have witnessed countless proofs of this resurrection around you. Through the works of his emeritus senior pastor, we have seen people who had stopped breathing and whose bodies had stiffened come back to life and breathe again through prayer. We have also experienced physical tissues that were entirely destroyed - whether by congenital degeneration, severe burns, or serious illnesses - being miraculously restored through the prayers of his emeritus senior pastor or through prayer handkerchiefs.
This demonstrates that the omnipotent God can fully resurrect even a body reduced to dust, transforming it into one that will never die. Therefore, as you celebrate Christmas, firmly believe that our Lord was indeed born into this world in the flesh, was crucified without sin, rose again, and became the first-fruit of resurrection. The Bible assures us that if we believe in Jesus as our Savior, even if we die, we will rise again. When the time comes and our Lord returns in the air, He will call us, and those asleep in their graves will rise with imperishable bodies. They will be taken up to meet the Lord in the air, as recorded in Scripture.
When our Lord descends with countless souls, the bodies of those who were buried in graves will be resurrected as imperishable bodies, reuniting with their spirits in the second heaven, the air. Thus, like the resurrected Lord, you too should fervently hope and strive to be transformed into a beautiful, imperishable spiritual body on the day of His return. Because of this hope, we do not fix our eyes on this world. We cut off what needs to be cut off and discard what needs to be discarded. Without this hope, we would live like worldly people, eating, drinking, indulging, loving the world, and seeking perishable things. But because we have this hope of resurrection, we abandon such things, live in reverence to God, and follow His Word.
3. The third true hope Jesus gave us by coming to this earth is the hope of being caught up when the Lord returns in the air and, afterward, entering the New Jerusalem.
Most people, at least once in their lives, dream of being the centerpiece of a beautiful banquet or a splendid stage. When the Lord returns with countless heavenly hosts, angels, and citizens of heaven, those who are alive to meet Him will be transformed into a beautiful bride and will ascend into the air to greet the Lord, the bridegroom. Imagine yourselves as the bride of a grand and beautiful wedding. The wedding hall is adorned with lovely flowers and jewels, sparkling brilliantly. Your dazzling white dress shines radiantly.
A few steps ahead stands the most handsome and gallant groom in the world, waiting for you with a warm and gentle expression. Guests who have gathered to celebrate the wedding look at the bride and groom with admiration, sharing in the joy. On the day when our Lord comes to take us on the clouds of glory, all saved souls will become His beautiful bride. This day marks the grand conclusion of human cultivation, the end of the age, and the beginning of the seven-year wedding banquet for the Lord and the saved souls. However, there is something unique about this seven-year wedding banquet: while all saved souls become the Lord's bride, not all brides are equal. There will be an order of rank among the brides, determining who is the most beautiful and who follows after.
Who will be the most beautiful bride, ranked first? Those who prepared themselves well as brides on this earth - those whose hearts are free from even the form of evil and who have completely shed the flesh to enter the spirit or whole spirit – they will have radiant bodies that shine brilliantly. The brightness of their radiance will make it evident that they are truly the most beautiful brides. By the brightness of the light emanating from the resurrected body, each person will recognize their rank as a bride. The level of radiance will reveal how much one received God's love and how diligently they prepared themselves as a bride.
On the other hand, those with faith at the 3rd, 2nd, or 1st level, who have not entered the spirit and remain in the flesh, will have dimmer light and lower ranks as brides. Therefore, preparing yourself diligently as a bride while on this earth is such a great blessing. We don't have much time left to prepare as brides. Don't assume we have plenty of time. Time is short. How quickly does a year pass? How fast did this year go by? It passes in the blink of an eye. So, do not waste these days; instead, work diligently to prepare yourselves as spotless and blameless brides. Only then can we welcome our Lord, the bridegroom, with the greatest glory. Would it be right to meet the Lord as a shabby bride? Now is the final time, very near to the day of our Lord’s coming. Therefore, for us living in these last days, we have been given the hope of being caught up alive to meet the Lord descending in the air.
Acts 1:11 says, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” Afterward, we will never be separated from the Lord, our bridegroom. We will participate in the seven-year wedding banquet together. Then, during His return to earth for the Millennial Kingdom, we will be with Him again.
After the Great White Throne Judgment, when we enter heaven, we will remain with Him forever. The moment you meet the bridegroom, the Lord, all the wounds and weariness of your heart from this world will melt away like snow under warm sunlight, and peace will fill you. The Lord will lead us, transformed into imperishable, immortal spiritual bodies, to the most glorious wedding banquet. After the seven-year wedding banquet, the Millennial Kingdom, and the Great White Throne Judgment, each person will enter the place our Lord has prepared for them. Especially for those who have triumphed in faith during these last days, become fully sanctified, and faithfully served in all God’s household as true children of God the Father, their souls will be granted a dwelling in the most beautiful New Jerusalem.
This very moment is the hope that belongs only to those of you waiting for the Lord’s return. Now is also the time when God the Father is urgently gathering the ripened harvest. You are precious workers called for this critical time. If you respond to this call, fight against sin, pursue sanctification, and serve faithfully with all your life, how could God the Father not lead you to the New Jerusalem? May you all come to deeply realize the love of God the Father and the Lord, who have given you such a precious hope. I pray in the name of the Lord that you may surely be caught up on the day of the Lord’s return and become the central figures who reach the New Jerusalem. At times, there are those who have been diligently living a life of faith but suddenly fall away and abandon their faith.
These are truly unfortunate people. Some are recognized as faithful workers and live devotedly to God, leading a good life of faith, but then fall into temptation, committing sins leading to death. One sin leads to another, and then another, until ultimately they sever themselves from this true hope. It is tragic to see people who were preparing as brides with the hope of heaven suddenly fall into temptation and plunge into ruin, even entering the path of the “seven years of tribulation.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I sincerely hope that none of you will end up like this. Such a life is utterly pitiable. Conclusion If you were to receive news that a long-awaited and precious guest was about to arrive at your home, how would you feel? You would likely check around the house again to make sure everything was in order and perhaps look at yourself in the mirror to see if anything was out of place.
Some might even go out to the front of the house or to the main road, pacing back and forth, joyfully waiting for the guest to appear. Your heart and mind would be entirely filled with thoughts of that guest. But now, you have already heard the news that the bridegroom, Jesus, is coming soon. How does that make you feel right now? Can you picture the image of the Lord who is coming? Does just imagining the moment of meeting the Lord make your heart race and fill you with joy? Today is not a Christmas like any other year; it is a Christmas celebrated at a time when the Lord is drawing even closer to us. When the Lord came as baby Jesus, the world did not recognize Him. However, as seen in Luke Chapter 2, Simeon, who earnestly awaited the Messiah, the prophetess Anna, the shepherds with pure hearts, and the three Magi from the East, recognized the baby Jesus as the Savior at just a glance. As we live our lives of faith, we must have pure hearts and earnestly long for the Lord, who will come to take us.
We must live our faith daily with hearts that eagerly await the Lord's coming in the air. Such people will stay awake and pray. Through prayer, their hearts will become purer today than yesterday, and purer still tomorrow and the day after, continually transforming to prepare themselves beautifully and with dignity as brides. Today, as we celebrate Christmas Sunday, I have spoken of the three true hopes that God has given us:
1. The first hope Jesus gave us by coming to this world is the hope of salvation.
2. The second true hope is the hope of resurrection.
3. The third true hope is the hope of being caught up when the Lord returns in the air and, afterward, entering the New Jerusalem. May you fully make these true hopes your own so that your hearts, your homes, and everything you do may be filled with the glory of God and His peace on this earth. Wishing you a joyful, peaceful, and hope-filled Christmas. Merry Christmas! - END -
