TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this series, we have been learning about the Old Testament backstory behind the New Testament Christmas story. While most people are familiar with the various parts of the Christmas story at the surface level, many do not know the depth of Old Testament connections and fulfilment. Today, we’re going to learn that the Christmas story is the announcement that the main point of the entire Bible is beginning to take place. ‌ Luke 2:8–11 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” ‌ Why is the Gospel good news for us? Common Answer: Jesus was born to die so we can go to heaven when we die. ‌ Genesis 1:1–3 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ‌ Genesis 2:7–8 7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. ‌ God created humans to be with Him. Genesis 3-11 — Humanity runs from God. ‌ Genesis 12:1–3 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great people, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” ‌ The Abraham Story: Abraham was originally a pagan worshiper of sun and moon gods in Chaldea (later called Babylon). After the flood and the tower of Babel events, humanity had turned away from their Creator and were worshiping rebellious spirits masquerading as gods. So God chooses to reveal Himself to Abraham and create a new people of God. Abraham and Sarah cannot have children naturally, so God gives them a miracle and Isaac is born. Isaac then fathers Jacob, who is renamed Israel. Therefore, the purpose of Israel is to be a new people/family of God who will lead all nations back to their Creator. The rest of the Old Testament mostly describes Israel’s lack of faithfulness to their mission. But God does not give up on His mission to be with us. God will send His Son as an Israelite who will not fail. ‌ The Old Testament Backstory: - Adam & Eve were “born of God” - Israel was “a new people, born of God” - God wants all people to be “born of God” ‌ John’s Christmas Story Only Matthew and Luke give us a detailed Christmas story. Mark’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism. John’s Gospel begins by connecting Jesus with the creation story in Genesis and explaining why Jesus came. Instead of giving us details about HOW Jesus was born, John wants to tell us WHY the Son of God came into the world. ‌ John 1:1–5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ‌ The Word = In Genesis, we read repeatedly that “the Word of God appeared” to different individuals. This means that the Word of God is not a sound or even letters on a page. The Word of God is a person who is God in human form. ‌ All things were made through him = In Genesis 1 we’re told that God created by speaking. Therefore, the Word of God is the one creating the world. Actually, in Gen. 1:1-3 all three members of the Trinity are involved in creation. ‌ In him was life and light = In Gen. 1:3-5 the Word of God creates light and separates light from darkness. Darkness cannot overcome light. Light defeats darkness every time. ‌ John 1:9–13 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ‌ John 1:12–14 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed [faithful] in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but born of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ‌ All who did receive him = Many of the Jewish religious leaders did not “receive” Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. To receive Jesus is to believe in His identity as the Son of God and accept His teachings as true. To receive Jesus is to follow His way of life. ‌ Believed in his name = Grk. pisteousin eis auto onoma - In the Bible, to have faith does not mean to believe in your mind. The Greek word pisteou or pistis means “to be faithful” or “to practice obedient allegiance.” Simply believing in Jesus in this mind is not enough for salvation. James 2:19 tells us that “even the demons believe—and shudder!” Therefore, faith is about faithful obedience. ‌ Jesus came to make us “born of God.” What does this mean? How can we become children of God? ‌ John 3:1–3 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [Grk. anothen] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ‌ The Pharisee Nicodemus = Although Nicodemus was a famous expert rabbi in his day, in this story he is very confused. As a Jew, Nicodemus believed that God loved the Jews more than anyone else. Many Jews of that time actually considered the Gentiles to be unclean and unloved by God. They had forgotten that God’s purpose for Israel was to redeem all the nations through them. For Nicodemus, the family of God is limited to Israel. ‌ Born again = Grk. gennethe anothen - born again or born from above. The Greek word “anothen” can mean “again” but can also mean “from above”. In this story, Jesus intends one meaning and Nicodemus wrongly assumes the other. Unfortunately, our English translations wrongly follow Nicodemus’ assumption (born again) rather than the meaning that Jesus intended (born from above). ‌ He cannot see the kingdom of God = This line can also be translated “he cannot know the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God refers to the rule of God within us in this life, which brings us into eternal life. Therefore, those who are not “born from above” cannot inherit eternal life. ‌ John 3:4–5 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” ‌ A second time = Notice that Nicodemus assumes that gennethe anothen means “born a second time.” He thinks that Jesus is talking about a second physical birth. But Jesus is not talking about a second physical birth. ‌ Born of water and Spirit = Jesus tries another way of saying “born from above” by saying “born of water and Spirit” which refers to being baptized with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist had already told the crowds that Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11). Later in the New Testament, water baptism is described as our death and rebirth (see Rom. 6:3-4). ‌ John 3:6–8 “6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ‌ What is born of flesh is flesh = Humans reproduce humans. Humans cannot create spiritual things. Humans cannot solve their own spiritual problem. Something supernatural is needed to solve our sin problem. ‌ What is born of the Spirit is spirit = God is Spirit and has the power to create life and recreate life for the dead. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1 “you were dead in the trespasses and sins” which means that we need to be resurrected. We need a new Spirit to be alive again. ‌ The wind blows where it wishes = In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the word for wind and the word for Spirit is the same word (ruah). Just as we cannot see wind itself but can see its effects, we cannot see the Spirit but we can see His effect on our lives. ‌ John 3:9–12 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” ‌ John 3:16–18 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” ‌ God so loved the world = Literally, “God loved the world in this way” ‌ Whoever believes in him = Remember that faith is not believing a set of facts or doctrines in your mind. Faith is about being faithful and obedient to God. ‌ John 3:19–21 “19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” ‌ This is the judgment = The fact that the light has come into world to destroy darkness has presented all people with a choice. We can choose to stay in darkness or we can choose to come into the light. ‌ People loved darkness rather than the light = The reason many people do not come to Jesus is not because they do not believe the story. Many people avoid coming to Jesus because they do not want to repent. They want to hold on to their sins. They do not want to admit that their deeds are evil. ‌ So that it may be clearly seen = Those who want to be set free from slavery to sin come to the light and allow the light to expose their evil. This is the first step toward repentance. We must see our sin as truly destructive. ‌ Why is the Gospel good news for us? Jesus was born from above so we could be born from above into God’s family. ‌ What now? - Repent and join God’s family. - Stay faithful to Christ from now on. ‌ How to Respond Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in us. Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness. ‌