This thought-provoking sermon compares the Christmas story of Revelation 12, as viewed in heaven, with the familiar Christmas story, recorded in Luke 2. Same story, different views. What Christmas looks like in heaven is much different than how it appears on earth. On earth, evil is as strong as ever, but in heaven, what is seen is only the last thrashings of a serpent/dragon with its head crushed in. On earth we perceive by faith that the poison of both sin and death has been undone. Though you die on earth, yet shall you live! And on the Last Day, believers in Jesus Christ will rise to new life, just as Jesus has risen. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The great, red dragon looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus wasn't afraid.

As the end of Advent approaches, and our souls beckon us to the birth of the promised Messiah, we hear Saint Matthew say: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way." Matthew clearly intends more for us than an historical account of the birth of Jesus Christ. This event is not a myth or a fairy tale, but it is history. It happened in the way Matthew records it, in a real place, with real people. But he clearly intends more for us and wants us to see and contemplate that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel, His chosen people. And as we listen to this sermon, may we be drawn to give heartfelt praise and thanksgiving, as we deepen our understanding of this miracle, the birth of the Son of God in human flesh.

"Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me." These are the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:6 in response to John the Baptist. John had sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was �the one who was to come, or shall we look for another?� Life was going very differently for John than he had expected, as he sat in Herod�s prison for denouncing Herod�s choice of a wife. In John's mind, life isn't supposed to go this way, bringing sorrow, pain and things being "off-track." Like John, we respond at times with despair and anger, asking God, "Why are things so wrong? Do You not care?" God's timing and ways are not ours. Life doesn't always go in a way we like. Yet God doesn't forsake us. He remains faithful. Both the good AND bad lead us to Jesus. -- In Him is a joy that runs deeper than our sorrows. In Jesus, what is wrong is being made right. He has forgiven our sins, born our sorrows, and by His wounds we are healed and receive everlasting life as His child. Rejoice! Always.

Without light, it's impossible to see. Therefore, God made light His first creation and gave human beings eyes to see all that He made.

But when our eyes failed to see their Creator through His creation, God sent His Son into our flesh to illumine our darkness with His uncreated Light, Jesus Christ. God dwells in unapproachable light, but He came to us in the human flesh of Jesus so that in Him we might see with our eyes the invisible God. Simeon is our example, for when He desired to see God with his own eyes, He didn't try to look into the heights of heaven, but took the child Jesus up in his arms, in Whose flesh he saw the salvation of God himself. So, we also look to Jesus to see the face of God. Although He comes to us now in words of Holy Scripture and hidden under bread and wine, there will come a day when we will see His unveiled glory face to face with our created and resurrected eyes.

This sermon speaks to both unbelievers and secure Christians.

If you listen closely, you can still hear the voice of John the Baptist calling out from the wilderness.

He shouts, �The King of Kings is near. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Do you hear it? Do you hear it NOW?

It is a call to recognize that this man, Jesus, is in fact God in the flesh, Immanuel. Jesus is God with us.

John does not point ahead to a distant and future kingdom but instead he points behind himself to the One coming after him, right on his heels. He is announcing that the kingdom of heaven has come down to earth.

John's call is a warning against complacency.

Now is not the time to put repentance off to another day.

The King is coming. He's looking for repentant hearts in both unbelievers and His children.

John shouts, �The King of Kings is near.� Do you hear it?

Eve was deceived by the serpent and sinned -- yet Adam was not deceived and still sinned by eating the fruit of death from the Woman's hand. Adam made a conscious choice, a deliberate decision to listen to the woman rather than God. Scripture tells us how the role of Woman is wonderfully reversed. From the womb of Woman, we now receive the Fruit of eternal life. Learn more in this insightful Advent sermon.