Jesus Amidst Junk

Introduction

One thing you really need to think about, but so often you do not when you buy a house, is who your neighbors are. You know, you ought to be able to interview your neighbors before you buy your house. One thing you do need to do that you can do is sort of observe what’s going on in the environment of your neighbor’s house, because nothing devalues a home and your home next door any more than the neighbor who has junk everywhere in their yard. I mean, car parts, old tires, old appliances, sometimes sitting on the porch. There was a house like this in Louisville, Kentucky, when I preached there 20 years ago, that we, if we took that particular route, would drive by, thankfully it was not next door to me.

We would drive by their house and observe the junk every time we went to services. And sometimes in the summer, because mowing wasn’t really big on their agenda, it more resembled a jungle habitat. But we were driving to services one Sunday morning, and something struck our attention as we drove by that was unusual. It was the December morning, and there it was, a nativity scene. To which my very witty wife, in shock and laughing, simply observed Jesus amidst junk. And I thought that was very apropos. I mean, it’s not that they’d cleaned up the rest of the mess. They had just constructed a nativity scene because it was December, in the midst of all the junk in their yard. Jesus amidst junk. That’s all I thought about the possible applications from what Sherry had said so succinctly.

1. A Virgin Will Be With Child

And of course, this particular time of year, people, you’ve probably seen several nativity scenes at this time of year. And it’s because that many people have connected December 25th with the birth of Christ, though they’re not getting that from the scripture. Certainly, it was a momentous occasion in the history of the world when Jesus entered this world and was placed in that manger in Bethlehem. The promise of that event is found in Isaiah chapter 7. I want to look at this text with you this morning as we introduce this subject. Talk about some of the misconceptions that people have about Jesus and about this manger scene. I would not take away at all from the significance of the occasion that we read about in the gospel narratives when Jesus made his entrance into the world.

It was a glorious occasion. I mean, you had visitors come and offer gifts. You have a declaration from heaven at the event. And this was the fulfillment of prophecy, a very dramatic prophecy, one of my favorites in the Old Testament, some 700 years prior to its occurrence. One of the things that I’ve always enjoyed about this prophecy is that God instructs a king of Judah, not a good king, mind you, but a bad king, Ahaz, to ask for a sign. And he says, you know, you can go as deep as you want to go with this sign that you ask for, make it as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven. Of course, God probably know he knows what Ahaz is going to say.

But Ahaz said, Oh, no, I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord. Ahaz, when God tells you to ask for a sign, you ask. Oh, no. I’m not going to put that something too difficult at God’s feet. But he said, Ask. Then he said, Listen now, O house of David. Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men? That you will try the patience of my God as well. Therefore, okay, you won’t ask for sign, so I’m going to give you one. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son and shall call his name. Emmanuel.

As you go on to read, of this sign that will be given a son that will be born to a virgin. It says, He will eat curds and honey at the time he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread, Syria and Israel to the north, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken. Now you’re going to have to read the whole context of chapter 7 to know what he’s referring to. So there is a woman, a young maiden, perhaps a virgin at the time of this prophecy, who is eventually going to bear a son, and he’s going to be a symbol to the people, and that symbol is God’s going to take care of your enemies.

Syria and Israel. And that seems to happen in chapter 8, when the prophetess conceives, give birth to a son, may her shall alhashbaz. And even the reference to Emmanuel is found in the next chapter in verses 8 through 10. Verse 8 in particular. So there’s an application in the days of Ahaz, but this prophecy, in its richest and deepest and fullest fulfillment, comes in the story of Mary, who would literally be a virgin and would conceive by the Holy Spirit. That is the greater reality of this sign. And how remarkable. Again, I would not diminish Jesus’ entrance into the world or anything. We sing about it all the time in this particular song. What a wonderful thought. God incarnate. God in human flesh. God incarnate can it be?

Swaddling robes for deity. I have more questions about the incarnation than I have answers. But it happened. And it happened in the fullness of the time. Paul says in Galatians chapter 4, all history was pointing to this event. Again, this particular manger scene is perhaps overglorified. It is actually a barn. It is actually a trough from which animals eat in which Jesus was placed. But it was this very common, very less than royal entrance that our Savior had in this world. It was the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise that ultimately through your descendants, Abraham, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. But this is the question that I raise about this particular time of year. I’m just glad if people do erect a nativity scene, though the Bible doesn’t tell us to celebrate the birth of Christ, and we’ll talk more about that in just a second.

2. Do You Know the Adult Jesus?

At least they’re thinking about Jesus. I’ll give them that. And this is an important scene in the Bible story. But here’s my question. How much do these same people know about the adult Jesus? Because in the testimony of Scripture, there is a lot more pertaining to who Jesus was as an adult. The things that he taught, the things that he said. And we might know a lot about the gold and the frankincense and the myrrh that was brought to Jesus when he entered the world. But what do we know about the things Jesus said? If we’re going to claim to be Christians, we need to know what he said. We need to know the claims that he made. We need to know the principles that he taught and encouraged his disciples to live as he says, if you don’t do these things, you cannot be my disciple.

It’s not enough to merely call me Lord. If you do not do the things that I say, Luke chapter 6 and verse 46. And so one thing that I would say about our culture as they want to remember the birth of Christ and the significant event in the Bible story, my greater concern is do you know the adult Jesus? How familiar are you with him and his claim on your life? Is this attention that we’re giving to Jesus merely seasonal? Is what you’re giving Jesus. Does it coincide with what he taught as our Savior and King? And it’s interesting that a lot of focus is given on exchanging gifts this particular time of year. And I have to admit, when I was a little kid, it was really about what I was going to get.

What was under the tree for me this year? I pulled a number on my dad. I found the presence every year. And so he didn’t like that very much. But I was snoopy like that. And so it was about what I was going to get. But even that is really not the principle that Jesus teaches, right? In Acts 20 and verse 35, it is more blessed to give than to receive. And we ought to learn the value of giving versus getting. So those are some thoughts about this particular time of year and the manger scene that we often see erected. But what is what is the focus that we should have? I mean, this story of Jesus in a manger, I think one of the reasons why it’s so popular with folks is that it’s a heartwarming story.

It’s a little threat to my life. But the adult Jesus.

I want you to notice 1 Corinthians chapter 15. I want you to see the emphasis of Paul and the New Testament writers when he talks about the very essence of what the gospel is about. He says, the gospel that I preached, the gospel that you received, the gospel in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold fast. It’s not enough to just merely admire some things about Jesus’ life. He says, if you hold fast the word which I preach to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And that he was buried. And then he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.

As significant as Jesus’ entrance into the world was, the greatest significance about that was going to be what he was going to do. As Mike read from Hebrews chapter 9, that he was going to give his life once for all for us. If you want to boil down the essence of the gospel marriage, the gospel story, it’s not this manger scene, it is the crucifixion. He died. He was buried. And he rose again. And that gets back to the claim that he now has the right to make on our lives. So many people honor Jesus with their lips. But where are their hearts? And so as I get back to the Jesus amidst junk, what was the purpose of his presence? Why did he come? And what an awful tragedy it is.

3. The Refuse of Spiritual Compromise

When, yes, the praises of Jesus are sounded among the unsaved. If I can think of one of the applications of Jesus amidst junk, the phrase that Sherry coined for me, I think about this. The refuse of spiritual compromise. The garbage of man’s tradition being exalted above the truth of God. The trash of tolerance for sin and for error. You realize how many times throughout Scripture, God is disappointed in those who are worshiping him. It’s not that they had left off in worship. It’s not that they had quit going to the temple. They had quit offering the sacrifices. They had quit engaging in the festivals that Deuteronomy talks about that we’ve been reading about. It’s not that they had stopped doing all those things. It’s just their hearts weren’t in it.

Their hearts were not in submission to him as their Lord and God and Savior. And Jesus addresses the same thing in the New Testament about those who would be his disciples. It’s not enough to merely show up at religious assemblies. It’s the truth that sets free those who abide in his word are his disciples, John chapter 8, verses 31 and 32. I think one of the things that saddens me so very greatly is how many people across this land worship Jesus today, but not in truth. Not in respect and submission to his will. How that must green our Lord. Douglas Webster made an interesting comment about preaching. He said, Biblical preaching, biblical preaching was God-centered. Sin exposing, self-convicting, and life-challenging. The direct opposite of today’s light informal sermons that Christianize self-help and entertain better than they convict.

There are so many illustrations in today’s market-sensitive sermons that the hearer forgets the biblical truth being illustrated. So many personal anecdotes that the hearer knows more about the preacher than she knows about Christ. So many human interest stories that listening to the sermon is easier than reading the Sunday paper, and so practical that there’s hardly anything to practice. No wonder nominal Christians leave the building feeling upbeat. Their self-esteem is squarely intact. I think that’s a pretty good summary. Let us not be these people. I think of this text in Romans chapter 10 this morning, where Paul has a concern for his kinsman, the Jews. He says, brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is their salvation. And that’s the attitude we need to have about those who are locked into false religion, who don’t believe truth to the saving of their souls.

My heart’s desires for their salvation. He says, for I bear them witness. They have a zeal for God. It’s not that they don’t have any passion about what they’re doing, but passion doesn’t make it right. They have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness, either through neglect, either through willingly being ignorant or being misled by a false teacher, whatever the case might be, not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own. You know, I want to make the rules about what’s right for me, and about what’s the right expression to God. You know, I’m going to worship God at this season. I’m going to construct my nativity scene, and everything’s going to be well in my relationship to God.

You see, I get to make the rules. And seeking to establish their own. They did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. Let me tell you what, you’re going to hear at this place. And if you’re not hearing it, the elders are going to relieve me of my duties and send me packing. I’m going to be telling you about subjecting yourself and myself to the righteousness of God. Because that’s the only way we’re going to get to the prize. We don’t get to the prize by doing our own thing, making up our own rules, and being satisfied with where we are. We’re only going to please God if we subject ourselves to the righteousness of God because, you know, we understand that it wasn’t just a baby in a manger.

That it was a risen king and a reigning Lord, who’s going to be the judge of all the earth in righteousness. Acts 17, verse 31. I tell you, I can’t escape Act 17, verse 31. He is going to judge the world in righteousness, and God has furnished proof in raising him from the dead. So righteousness is going to matter. We’re going to need to subject ourselves to the righteousness of God. That’s what Cornelius was told, the first Gentile convert, was he not? In every nation, he who fears God and does what is right is welcome to him. So we need to know who this adult Jesus was, and not merely be content with, well, I’m going to have some nice platitudes and a nice little worship assembly, and I’m going to remember the birth of Christ.

And everything’s going to be great. What about death? What about just observing this memorial in the way he wants us observed? Some people can’t even do that. How much do you know about what Jesus said? I’m going to tell you, if we’re not there yet, we need to be moving toward being experts to the ministry of Jesus and the things that he said. That’s why we studied the Sermon on the Mount. You want to know what righteousness looks like? Start there. Matthew 5, 6, and 7. Those are the words of Jesus. It’s not enough to merely sound the praises to the king. Not just moving our lips, saying the right words. And that really gets to more application in regard to us. Oh, I decry what’s happening in the religious world.

4. Jesus Amidst Junk in Our Lives

It saddens me. I find it tragic that men in pulpits and sometimes women in our country are preaching a gospel that is not Jesus’ gospel. That really saddens me. But you know what? They didn’t invite me to come speak at their place today. And they’re not going to. So I can yell and scream about that all I want to, but they’re not here to hear it. But you are. And so let’s talk about us. And perhaps the problem of Jesus amidst junk in our lives. And we’ll have more to say about this next week about what is what is a proper response to God look like. But again, it’s easier to see the faults in others. In Romans chapter 2, verses 3 and 4. I really think this is what’s going on in chapters 1, 2, 3 in the book of Romans, that the terrible plight of chapter 1, we see the way men are thinking.

They’ve exchanged the creator for the creature and all of the kinds of immorality that are mentioned in chapter 1. He says, And do you suppose this, oh man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same thing yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? He says, look, it’s easy to sit here and see where others have gone astray, the Gentiles in chapter 1, but you know Jews are sinners too in chapter 2, and Jews are just as much in need of the plan of salvation as Gentiles are. That’s what’s going on in Romans chapter 1 and verse and chapter 3 when he says, all sin and fallen short of the glory of God, whether you’re Jew or Gentile.

And yet it’s very easy to get on our high horse and look at all the mistakes other people are making without looking at ourselves. We need to make certain that our lives are not inconsistent with our calling. That we are, as Paul said, walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, Ephesians 4 and verse 1. And that has to do with certain attitudes, not just toward God, but toward others. Lowliness of mind and humility and forbearance, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. We have some very real responsibilities to model ourselves after the example of Jesus and not just offer nice little phrases from our lips once a week. Let’s make sure that it’s not Jesus amidst junk in our lives.

5. Living Stones Connected to the Chief Cornerstone

We are to be, as we’ve been talking about in Deuteronomy. A holy people. And that means something about our lifestyle. I want to look at 1 Peter chapter 2, and I’ve got to thank Daniel for this. I added this after the Wednesday night invitation when Daniel was going through his whole rock treatise. I really got concerned when Daniel put the rock up here, and he was talking about teaching the kids in class about what stuff were they actually doing a demonstration of stoning back in one of the classes? That would have been a little too far there, Daniel. Nice prop there with the rock. But then he was talking about how we need to build our lives in relation to the main rock, the chief cornerstone.

I said, Daniel, you just taught 1 Peter chapter 2. And I want to read that text with you, 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 4, make a couple observations building on what Daniel said. And coming to him as to a living stone. Rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God. Again, this is more than just the Savior’s birth. We’re talking about the stone which the builders rejected. You also, as living stones, are being built up. As a spiritual house for a holy priesthood. Again, I can’t deal with all of the false things in the world, but I’ll tell you this is what we need to be pursuing. A spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. It’s not even a part of our vocabulary.

Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. This is the fulfillment of Scripture. As he quotes Isaiah 28 Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in him shall not be disappointed. This precious value, then is for you who believe, but for those who disbelieve. The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, actually, going back to Isaiah 8. For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word. And to this doom, they were also appointed. Now, I wonder how many people who are putting up a manger scene know anything about 1 Peter 2 and verse 8. That the Bible indeed talks about a doom. A doom to which people are appointed.

Because they reject the chief cornerstone. He says, but that’s not who you are. You are a chosen race. Your servant, your priests, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who calls you out of darkness and into his marvelous life. For you were once not a people, but now you’re the people of God. You had once not obtained mercy, but now you have received mercy. He says, I urge you as aliens and strangers in verse 11 to abstain from fleshly lust, which wage war against the soul. And so what did Daniel teach us? He said, as living stones, we need to connect ourselves to the chief cornerstone in the appropriate way. What is that?

What does that look like? I’ve got to build my life in relation to him, and that affects the way that I think. I need to acknowledge him daily. I need to monitor my speech and my attitudes and my behavior and clearly demonstrate in my life that I’m connected to him.

That’s what living stones look like. And if we’re not living stones, the tragedy is that Jesus becomes to us a stone of a much worse kind. A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. So what is he for you and for me? Is he the chief cornerstone around which we’re building as his living stones, connected to him? Do we acknowledge him daily? Is he affecting the things that we value, the way that we treat people, the way that we think, the way that we respond to our circumstances? Is he are you allowing him to shape all of that and work on that? No, we don’t always do it perfectly, but that’s why we’re continually trying to bring ourselves into conformity with his image. Or have we settled into mediocrity?

Less than our best. What we can conveniently throw his way when it suits us. Are we taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? 2 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 5. We must not be content with Jesus amidst junk.

Conclusion

He’s worthy of more. He wants our all. Understanding who he is and what he has done, we should love him with all of our heart. With all of our soul and mind and strength. That is everything you’ve got. Because he is worthy. May we never cheapen who he is. We do that. He will be a stone of a different kind to us. May we give him his due. Not just because deity took on swaddling robes. Oh, that’s marvelous. That’s incredible. What amazing condescension for our wellness. But even more. Yes, he grew up in the despised town of Nazareth. Yes, he knew what it was like to live an ordinary life, but he also knew rejection. Persecution. He came to his own, and his own received him not.

The light shined in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. And he died. Though he was without sin to cover our sin. He became a curse for us. That we might be liberated from our junk and live holy lives unto Him. It’s not just about being religious. It’s not just about throwing some nice platitudes his way. It’s about being his disciple and being his servant and loving and serving his people and loving and serving all men as he did. And if you’re willing to sign on to his righteousness, he who believes and is baptized shall be saved. Then you can reap the rewards that he’s promised, his faithful and loyal people. And we want to assist you if we can. Come now as we stand soon.