1. God’s Gift of Life
John 11:25-27

2. Christmas is God coming to our level

3. Leading to the Nativity
Mary about to give birth;
Edict from Caesar for everyone to go back to their place of birth to register,
Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to register;
No room in Bethlehem, went to a cave that served as a stable;
Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger, among the animals

4. Upon the Nativity
Angels announced the birth to shepherds and they came to visit
Wise men / magi came from the east to bring him gifts and to worship him
The eighth day brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. Simeon prophesied over him: “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

5. Most Celebrated Day in the World?
Propose: the birth of Jesus
Christmas second most celebrated – direct celebration of the birth
New Year’s Day most celebrated – indirect celebration of the birth

6. What year is this? 4714 / 2130 Chinese 105 Mingguo 5776 Jewish 1437
Hijri

7. Most celebrated day in the world
October 2016  Saudi Arabia decided to follow the Christian Calendar

8. Question is WHY?
Historical Answer
Spiritual Answer

9. The Story of Lazarus of Bethany
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

10. 7 Signs of Jesus in John’s Gospel
Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2: "the first of the signs"
Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54
Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15
Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14
Jesus walking on water in John 6:16-24
Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7
The raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-45

11. The Story of Lazarus of Bethany
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” Resurrection – eternal life Life – fullness of life

12. The Story of Kitty, March 1964
Catherine (Kitty) Genovese

16. Christmas
The God who cares!

18. Christmas, When the Word became Flesh
John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

19. Christmas is the celebration of life
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”

20. Christmas is the celebration of life
Born – Lived – Died – Resurrected

21. The Story of Curtese Walters

22. Story from Daily Mirror 23 Dec, 2016
Birmingham UK, 2015
Curtese Walters (30 y.o.)

23. Story of Curtese Walters
Curtese said: “It was a ­bittersweet feeling. I was feeling delighted and thinking it was a really happy event.” “But there was a family going through tragedy right at the same time.”

24. Story of Curtese Walters
She said she is “extremely ­grateful” to the person and their family for the generosity that helped save her life.

25. Story of Curtese Walters
Curtese recalled: “I woke up on Boxing Day and was so ­full of joy. I felt like it was a real Christmas miracle.”

26. What Christmas is not Christmas is not about warm feelings
Christmas is not about making your life more complete
Christmas is not God looking for people to bow down to him

27. What Christmas Is Christmas Is God’s Visible Love
Christmas Is God’s Vunerable Love
Christmas Is God’s Eternal Love

28. Christmas is God’s Visible Love
1 John 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.

29. Christmas is God’s vulnerable love
John 1 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

30. Christmas is God’s eternal love
John 3 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.