Sermon Notes - Seeing His Coming Clearly: A Christmas Message

Seeing His Coming Clearly: A Christmas Message, Mark 10:45
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended December 20, 2009

1. See Him clearly

He refers to Himself as Son of Man fourteen times in Mark. Eighty times throughout the gospels. It is His preferred description. Why?

Is it a reference to His humanity? He is both God and man, but He is not just a son of man but the Son of Man, so this is probably not the main reason.

Daniel 7:13-14 talks of someone coming “like a son of man”. It then goes on to describe how this “son of man” is given dominion and is a highly exalted sovereign king.

Jesus’ reference to Himself as the Son of Man is not referencing His humanity but His divinity. He is the authoritative king, the promised one of Daniel 7.

Those hearing this reference at the time would have known this prophecy of Daniel and the implications of this term. He is thus worthy of attention, affection, adoration and praise. This should be a celebration of the king who came to rule on earth.

2. See His coming clearly

The one prophesied in Daniel has come! This implies He was somewhere before He came. He already existed. In fact, He has eternally existed, before his birth, or coming, on earth. (John 1:14)

Psalm 123 describes looking up in our suffering. This is an acknowledgement of a reality greater than this world. Our biggest problem couldn’t be solved by just looking up though. He had to come down to solve our biggest problem – sin. We are looking, here on earth, at the One we were looking up to.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1) because what we needed most could not be taken care of from Heaven. He had to come to earth to accomplish our salvation.

3. See the reason He came clearly

He didn’t come to be served. This is an unbelievable statement when we see Him clearly. If anyone could have been served it is the One in Daniel 7.

He didn’t come just to be an example however, He came to serve – serve you. How is this king from Daniel serving me? How is that possible? Remember how the disciples felt in John 13:1-20.
Before you serve Jesus you must let Jesus serve you. How? A hostage is not free until something, a ransom, is paid for his freedom. Anyone who sins doesn’t just become a sinner but a slave to sin. They are unable to set themselves free. We have no authority over sin. He didn’t just buy us back He declared our independence from sin.

He got us out of a mess we got ourselves into. We are not innocent victims. We declared our independence. We didn’t want His authority. We did it to ourselves and He still came. He frees us from that which we deserve most. (Colossians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 16:22)

We must be served by Him not because we are greater than Him, but because it is the only means by which we must be saved.

He did not just come to reveal to us the character of God or to show us how to live as moral people. Jesus came to die.

4. See His calling clearly

His birth demands a response. By not responding, you are responding, and accepting the penalty of death. He is the only ransom.