Why Christmas? To show us the Father

Dec. 15, 2024

Do you ever need some reassurance? Things might be going bad, like you lose a job, or you suffer a broken relationship. At times like that you look to people, the people close to you, to help you know things will turn out ok.

Kevin and I came back from dermatologist in 1990, who just told me I had cancer on my back. When coming home and in our apartment building, the next-door neighbor said, “Hi, how are you?” I decided it was not the time to say fine, if I didn’t feel that way. I said, “Not that good, I just found I have a malignant melanoma!” It helped me that my neighbor, said she was so sorry. I needed some reassurance, and it helped to know someone cares!

Sometimes a leader helps us feel better. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, during the depression in the 1930s, started fireside chats he gave on the radio. He started giving fireside chats to explain a new policy he was putting into place. But pretty soon the chats became a source of hope and assurance, that in an economic depression, and then during WWII, the president said, things were going to be ok.

We look for reassurance from God. We can’t see God. We need to know he’s there. We were talking in Bible study this week, about God in the OT, versus God in the NT. God seems nicer in the NT. What is God really like? We want to know who he is, that he cares.

So today we’re talking about another reason Jesus came. Why Christmas? One reason Jesus came is to show us what the Father is like.

It’s easy to have all kinds of ideas about what God is like. And we can be wrong! We can get wrong what God is like. Paul was a great Christian missionary, who taught and encouraged Christian churches. His letters are now books in the New Testament. Surprisingly, Paul wrote about how for so long he got God wrong!

Before he met Jesus, Paul was sure he knew God, and certain he was right with God. But after Jesus spoke to him, Paul realized he was not right with, and did not know Him.

Paul said in Philippians 3:6 that in the past, he thought as far as righteousness, I’m faultless. Paul thought he was right. But he learned, he was not right. He called his past thinking garbage! Paul says he wants to be found in Christ and have the righteousness that comes only from God based on faith.

We can get God wrong. That’s why God decided to reveal himself in the clearest way in Jesus, as a real person on earth, to show us what he is like.  

We’re not the only people who need some reassurance from God. Jesus’ disciples did, too! They were at the last supper with Jesus. He was troubled and said, “One of you will betray me.” Everyone became upset. Jesus indicated Judas would betray him, and told Judas to go do what he was going to do. Judas got up and left. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I’m going away, and you can’t come with me.”

They’re all worried trying to figure out what is going on?! Why did Jesus bring them to Jerusalem, if all these terrible things are going to happen! The disciples thought Jesus came to Jerusalem to become king of Israel! They thought victory and glory were ahead. But now Jesus says, “Don’t be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.” Jesus is comforting them, saying, I’m God! Believe in me!

Jesus says, My Father’s house has many rooms, and I’m going, but later I’ll take you to be me with me. And you know the way to the place I’m going.

Philip says: No, we don’t know the way. The disciples don’t understand what Jesus is saying.

Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus is saying, “Don’t look past me. You want to understand God? Look at me. You know what the Father is like, because you know what I’m like. Apart from me, it’s hard to figure God out. Jesus is the one who clearly shows what God is like and that he loves you!

There are ways we can get God wrong. For example, when circumstances are bad, like it was for the disciples as Jesus is about to be betrayed, we can get God wrong. When things look bad, we might think God doesn’t care. But God did care, and that was why Jesus was going to the cross. Believe in Jesus and don’t look at the circumstances you’re in and trust in them.

If you’re looking for God anywhere else than Jesus, you’re looking in the wrong place. Jesus says, look at me, listen to me, watch me. And from your experience of me, you know God.  Jesus is the one who clearly shows what God is like and that he loves you!

Some say what Jesus said sounds exclusive, that Jesus is saying, I’m the only way to know God. But it’s not exclusive. It’s not boasting. It’s clarifying. Jesus clarifies who God is. When Jesus’ disciples don’t understand God, don’t understand what God’s plan is, they can look at Jesus. In Jesus, they can see how God acts, what God wants them to do, and who God is. Because of Jesus, God isn’t invisible. Jesus says, you know God, and you have seen him, because you know and have seen me.

Philip still doesn’t know what Jesus is talking about. He says, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Just show us God!

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 

Well, the disciples still don’t get it. When Jesus is arrested, they run away. But after Jesus’ death and resurrection, they get it! They finally understand that Jesus and the Father are one. They believe that Jesus IS the best explanation of God. Jesus is the one who clearly shows what God is like and that he loves you!

The disciples could give us some advice. Don’t make conclusions about the love of God, or the wisdom of God, based on your circumstances. The disciples could say, We did, that’s why we ran away when he went to the cross.

Also, don’t get too attached to traditions. Don’t miss what’s behind the tradition, what is most important. They thought the tradition of a coming Messiah military king was most important. But later they realized God is more important than a tradition.

And don’t look within for answers. Sometimes our fear or our hurt gets the best of us. Look to God instead. The leaders of the early church had to get over some hard feelings they had against the gentiles, and realize God loves the gentiles too. They had to trust, not in their fears, but in God. The had to look to God, not within.

My homework for you this week, is to read some of the gospel of John, and ask, “What do I learn about the Father from the son?”

Because that’s how we know God: by reading the gospel and seeing what Jesus says, what’s important to him, and how he acts toward people.

Why Christmas?! Whey did God send Jesus to earth? At Christmas, Jesus came into the world, which means we don’t have to guess what God is like and if he loves us. Jesus showed us God is good, He is with us, and He loves each of us. Let Jesus words assure you, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” God cares for you! Amen.