Three Questions for Christmas

Revelation 1:5 (KJV)

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood,

You never know how a baby will turn out. Parents and grandparents have been
wondering about babies since time began. It must have been that way when Jesus
was born.

Luke 2:19 tells us that after the shepherds visited Mary and shared what the
angels had said to them, Mary:

Luke 2:19 (KJV)

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

There was certainly a lot to think about:

Luke 1:33 (KJV)

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there
shall be no end.

Luke 2:11 (KJV)

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord.

Luke 2:35 (KJV)

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.

The last verse of Mark Lowry’s ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ poses the question:

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am.
You never know how a baby will turn out, do you? This one turned out to be the
Savior of the world. But not everyone knows that, understands it, or believes it.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, let’s remind ourselves once again who
Jesus is.

Revelation 1:5 offers a threefold picture of our Lord. This verse is part of John’s
introduction to his book where he introduces himself and wishes his readers
grace and peace.

Here is his description of Jesus Christ: “Who is the faithful witness, the firstborn
from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

These three phrases help us understand the identity of the baby born in
Bethlehem. Each one answers a question we would like to ask about Jesus Christ.

Question # 1: Can I Trust Him?

The first question is the most basic of all. The men and women of this generation
have heard the name of Jesus many times. What they want to know is very
simple, "Can I trust him?”

In a world of religious charlatans and fakes, this is where we must begin. We

discover the answer in John’s first title. He calls Jesus “the faithful witness.” A
witness tells what he has seen or heard. But, a faithful witness is one whose
testimony is reliable every time.

John means that Jesus Christ can be relied upon to tell the truth.

When he speaks, he speaks only the truth.

1 Timothy 6:13 speaks of “Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate,
made the good confession.”

What did he say when he stood before Pilate?

John 18:37 (KJV)
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou
sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth
heareth my voice.

Jesus Christ is the supreme truth-teller, and those who want to find the truth
must listen to him.

Every person must deal with this fundamental issue about Jesus, “Can I trust
him?”

Some people will answer yes, others will say no. Until this issue is settled, there is
no point in talking about anything else.

Many years ago Bob Harrington, the Chaplain of Bourbon Street, and Madeline
Murray O’Hair, the famous atheist, had a debate on the Donohue TV program.

At one point, someone in the audience asked Mrs. O’Hair what she was going to
do when Jesus returned.

What would she say then? With great confidence, she declared, “It won’t happen,
so I don’t have to worry about that.”

To which Bob Harrington replied, “The Bible contains 318 verses that speak of the
return of Jesus Christ. She just said he isn’t going to return. Over here you’ve got
318 verses in the book of God and over there you’ve got one verse from the book
of O’Hair. Now, who are you going to believe?"

That’s the key question.

Who are you going to believe?

Let’s suppose you don’t want to take my word for it. Read the record for yourself.
Take 30 days to read the Gospel account. Read the story for yourself and come to
your own conclusions. I will tell you what I believe will happen. If you read with an
open mind and an open heart, you will come to the inevitable conclusion that
what Jesus said is true, that he is the truth, and that his word can be eternally
trusted.

I am not saying anything to try to prove it to you. I simply challenge you to read it
for yourself. Make up your own mind. When you do, you will find that he is
entirely trustworthy.

Can I trust him? Yes, I can, for he is the faithful witness.

Question # 2: Does He Have the Power to Help Me?

That naturally leads to another question. “If I trust him, does he have the power
to help me?”

The answer is found in John’s second title for Jesus Christ.

He calls him “the firstborn from the dead.”

This refers to his resurrection from the dead. When he rose from the dead, he
was the “firstborn from the dead.”

What exactly does that mean? It means he is the first person who ever rose from
the dead never to die again.

During his earthly ministry Jesus raised several people from the dead, including
Lazarus who had been dead four days (John 11).

Each occasion was a remarkable miracle, but they had this in thing common.
All the people Jesus raised would eventually die again.

But not Jesus himself.

When he came forth from the tomb on Easter Sunday morning, he rose once and
for all.
When he left the grave, he left for good.

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead in the sense, that he is the first in a long line
of people, who will be raised from the dead never to die again.

I find great comfort in this.

Over the years, I have officiated many funerals. I know what it’s like to stand at
the graveside and try to say something hopeful in the calloused face of death. It’s
not easy to pray when someone you love has been taken from you.

No wonder the Bible calls death “the last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

In those moments, I find strength in one thing and one thing only.
Jesus has conquered the grave and done what no mortal man has ever done.
He has come back from the dead never to die again.

What happens to those who believe in him? Thank God, we are not left to wonder
or to speculate. God himself has spoken on that subject.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 (KJV)

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him.

“If we believe.” It is as simple and as difficult as that. You will never convince
yourself of the resurrection by camping out in a cemetery.

If you go to a cemetery and wait for a resurrection, you’ll have to wait a long time.
After all, the last one happened over 2,000 years ago.

But we do have the word of God which overrides anything we can see with our
eyes. Our faith in the resurrection of the dead does not rest in what our eyes can
see. Our faith rests in that act of God whereby he raised Jesus from the dead. If
God can do that, he can do anything.

Does Jesus have the power to help you? Yes, he does, for he is the firstborn from
the dead.
Question # 3: Will He Take Care of My Future?

“Suppose I do trust him, and suppose he does have the power to help me, will
Jesus take care of my future?”

The answer comes in John’s final title for Jesus Christ. It is breathtaking in its
scope. He calls Jesus “the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

The word for “ruler” means he is the ultimate authority over all the kings of the
earth. They are great, but he is greater. They are mighty, but he is mightier.
Millions answer to them, but they answer to God. He is not merely one of the
kings. He rules over them all.

When John Piper preached on this phrase, he put the matter this way:

If George Bush says to Jesus, “How can you be the ruler over me? I have my office
by the election of the people of the United States, a sovereign nation, and by a
constitutional inauguration and installation,” Jesus will answer, “I have my office
as ruler over you by God’s election and by my resurrection from the dead, my
indestructible life, and my installation at God’s right hand.”

and now we’ve got Barack Obama as our president.

The quote is still true no matter who occupies the White House. It’s as true for
George Washington as it is for George Bush. It’s as true for Abraham Lincoln as it
is for John Kennedy or Barack Obama.

In the first century, the mighty emperor Nero thought he was the ruler of the
kings of the earth. He held in his hands the power of life and death. It is said that
he ordered the burning of Rome and then blamed it on the early Christians.
He had Paul the apostle beheaded, thinking that the troublesome Christian
movement would die with him. But now 2000 years have passed, and the tables
have turned. We name our dogs Nero and our sons Paul.

Who are the rulers of the earth John is talking about?

They are political leaders in their offices; mayors and councilmen, chairmen and
governors, congressmen and senators, presidents and prime ministers, and
potentates of every variety.

There are small-time kings who rule tiny realms and mighty kings who rule vast
empires.

Their names are Obama, Putin, Netanyahu, Ahmadinejad, Harper, Blair, Singh,
Kim, Abdullah, Sarkozy, Karzai, Hu, Mugabe, Calderon, Merkel, Biya and Cameron.
And a million others just like them.

Jesus is ruler over them all. It’s true this world is in a mess. That’s why it’s hard to
believe this is true. All the evidence seems to move in the opposite direction. The
baby-killers are untouched, the politicians break the laws they write, the drug
dealers make their millions, and the nations arm themselves for destruction.
When you look around, you could make a good case that Satan is the ruler of the
kings of the earth.

But it only seems that way. Satan has no power except that granted to him by
God. In due time, Jesus will step back on the stage of world history. Think of it.
The hands that were nailed to the cross will someday rule the world. Though we
do not see it today, it is certain and sure of fulfillment. That’s what the book of
Revelation is all about.

Read it for yourself and see how the story ends.

In the meantime, right now and at this very moment, he is the ruler of the kings of
the earth.

By him they reign. By him they are restrained. By him they are replaced. By him
they will be judged.

Proverbs 21:1 (KJV)

1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it
whithersoever he will.
Will Jesus take care of my future? Yes, he will, for he is the ruler of the kings of
the earth. You’re in good hands when you are in his hands for those hands rule
the universe.

But that wasn’t evident on that first night in Bethlehem. A casual onlooker would
not have suspected the earthshaking events that were taking place, in a forgotten
stable, in a tiny village, in a remote corner of the Roman Empire.

The prospects for the young child didn’t seem very promising.

You can never tell how a baby will turn out.

But this one would surprise us all. And we are still surprised by him 2000 years
later.

What is the application? Grip fast to Jesus Christ. There is no security anywhere
else. Today, as yesterday, and tomorrow as today, he is the answer to the deepest
questions of life.

We all need him and we need him more than we know. This truth is worth
repeating: you’re in good hands when you are in his hands, for those hands rule
the universe.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.

Place your life in his strong hands and you will never be disappointed.