Introduction: Turn to John 3

______THE GREATEST GIFT

`INTRODUCTION: TURN TO JOHN 3 • Tonight we are talking about the GREATEST GIFT • As a kid, Christmas for me was all about giving and getting GIFTS • I could remember laying in bed, waiting for Christmas Day to come • I couldn’t sleep… a couple of times, I woke up in the middle of the night trying to catch Santa Claus putting presents under the tree • I loved getting GIFTS… except when I got Christmas socks… I hated Christmas socks... they were ugly and they were always the wrong size

Truth is… People have been giving gifts for centuries… • BUT what do you think the greatest gifts in history have been? • How about… The Statue Of Liberty o Many people don’t know that the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France in 1886… o Given to honor the U.S. after the Civil War o Could you imagine getting that under the Christmas tree • How about the perfect white elephant gift o A Hand Carved Wooden Great Seal Of The United States… BUGGED o 1945 the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union gave the UN Ambassador to the Security Council a hand carved Great Seal of the United States as a gesture of friendship… only it was bugged o It wasn’t discovered until 1952… after 3 ambassadors o It was a gift that kept on giving… to the Russians • What do you give the guy that has everything? o During the Civil War, General Sherman sent a telegraph to Lincoln with the message… o I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, Georgia with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition and also about 25,000 bales of cotton… o It would be hard to top this gift • No gift is more precious than a gift hand made with love o Nothing says I love you more than an eagle made of beer can tabs o It protects the environment and it’s a tribute to the USA o 1976 a Kentucky Cub Scout group gave President Ford such a gift while he was in office

But the greatest gift ever given was God’s gift of love • It didn’t come wrapped in a box from Nordstrom or packaged in a overnight delivery from Amazon • It came wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger

We read in Luke 2 Luke 2:8–14 (NKJV) 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Now these shepherds were special… • They were in the fields surrounding Bethlehem where Jesus was born • Bethlehem was the place where the Passover lambs were raised • It was also the location of a Tower called Migdal Elder which is translated “the tower of the flock” • This is interesting because Micah 4:8 prophesied that the Messiah would be revealed from the tower of the flock • So here are these shepherds, who are commissioned by the temple to raise the sacrificial lambs that will become the sin offering for the Passover • They are in the fields around Midgal Elder – the tower of the flock • The angels announce… there is born to you in the city of David (Bethlehem – the place where sacrificial lambs are raised) a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord or God in the flesh • You will find this gift… wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger • In other words… you shepherds raise sacrificial lambs, but God Himself is going to provide the greatest gift He could ever give… God Himself is providing a sacrificial lamb, gift wrapped in swaddling clothes

• In the birth announcement for Jesus is the very purpose for His coming… He came to save men from the power of sin and death

John 3:16 gives us the clearest explanation of God’s Greatest Gift • John 3:16 is called "the heart of the Bible", "the gospel in miniature." • It expresses the true meaning of Christmas–the reason Jesus came into this world. Consider these simple, powerful words:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

GOD - the greatest Lover SO LOVED - the greatest degree THE WORLD - the greatest number THAT HE GAVE - the greatest act HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON - the greatest Gift THAT WHOSOEVER - the greatest invitation BELIEVETH - the greatest simplicity IN HIM - the greatest Person SHOULD NOT PERISH - the greatest deliverance BUT - the greatest difference HAVE - the greatest certainty EVERLASTING LIFE - the greatest possession

• This Christmas receive the greatest Gift there is–a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. • He will give you forgiveness of sins, joy beyond measure, and eternal life with God in Heaven. • At this time I am going to hand this off to Pastor Chris Smith from South Coast Church International • He is going to talk about how we can open this gift and apply it to our lives