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Love Came Down at Christmas

December 5, 2021

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 & Luke 9:51-56

I. The love of Jesus is patient with others.

A. Jesus gave the two brothers James and John a nickname in Mark 3:17: Sons of Thunder. These brothers were probably loud and hot-tempered like a thunderstorm! Notice how the sons of Thunder respond in Luke 9:54 when a Samaritan village rejects Jesus. They say to Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” James and John are full of vindictive violence. But Jesus rebukes James and John (vs. 55).

B. James and John were hot-tempered. But the word patient literally means long-tempered. We see the patience of Jesus in 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Jesus is patient with other people. He does not want them to perish. Jesus is patiently waiting for other people to repent and receive His forgiveness.

II. The love of Jesus is patient with you.

A. We see an example of Jesus’ patience with His disciples in another story regarding James and John in Mark 10:35-37. James and John are selfish. They ask for something for themselves that would exclude the other 10 disciples. They are seeking their own glory rather than the glory of God. They want to be famous when Jesus enters His Kingdom. They want to be great. But Jesus patiently corrects their thinking about greatness in Mark 10:43-45.

B. The great person is the one who serves. The great person is the one who sacrifices for others. The great person is the one who freely gives his life away for others. Jesus could forgive James and John for their behavior, and Jesus can also forgive you. Love came down at Christmas in the person of Jesus to show us that Jesus is patient with us. Jesus forgives us for our many sins, and He died on the cross to bring us that forgiveness. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for you.

III. The love of Jesus patiently changes you.

A. Jesus changed James. Acts 12:2 says that James was the first of the 12 disciples to be killed for his faith. James had become longsuffering with his persecutors. Jesus also changed John from a man who was full of hate (for the Samaritans) into a man who was full of love. 1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  Jesus will be as patient with you as He was with John. Jesus knows you are a work in progress.

Application:
Let us love one another as Jesus has loved us. And let us be patient with one another.

Sources:
The Gospels of Mark & Luke, the letter of 1 Corinthians
“Love Came Down at Christmas” by Sinclair Ferguson

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) Do you find yourself getting angry with non-Christians? How did Jesus deal with the Samaritans who opposed Him? How can we become more like Jesus?

2) What was Jesus’ response to the selfish request of James and John? What assurance can you have that Jesus will forgive you if you ask Him for it?

3) How have you seen Jesus change you since you put your faith in Him? How does Philippians 1:6 encourage you?