Why Jesus Came

December 15, 2002 - Community Chapel, Nashua, New Hampshire

John 10:9-11

"I have come so that YOU may have life, and might have it more abundantly"

Introduction

I am this day 72 years old. I celebrate my birthday with you. The older I get the message I speak becomes more simple. It has come down to just two words: GOD IS GOOD! And GOD LOVES YOU! Everything I say simply tries to explain those two sayings.

EVERYBODY WANTS A GOOD LIFE.

We have different thoughts on what makes life good. I have 14 grandchildren. Sometimes I think what they do for fun is more like insanity. Loud music. Video games. But then I am 72 years old, and maybe my ways are old. But all the same there ARE some things that finally all would agree make life good.

There is PEACE. There is JOY. There is LOVE.

Through the centuries men everywhere have looked for peace and love and joy. They have sought for good life in many places. Sincere wise men have discovered many deep and wise truth. But something always has seemed to be missing.

In the Bible we have the Ten Commandments of Moses, and the words of the prophets. (Thou shalt have no other gods. Thou shalt not kill. Honor your father and mother. Thou shalt not steal. And so forth.) Some people think of God's commandments as simply ways to make us more miserable, saying "No" to everything that seems like fun. Maybe like I feel sometimes about my grandchildren? But even in the commandments, God is trying to say "I love you." How can Ten Commandments that mostly say "Thou shalt not" have anything to do with "I love you!" from God?

Let me tell you a short parable story: (The village that was cursed with land mines.)

Once in a faraway land there was a village that was cursed because an enemy had planted explosives, land mines, all around the countryside. People were being injured and even killed almost every day. They did not know what to do.

Then one night the village elder had a dream. In his dream he saw a map of his village. On that map he could see the location of every enemy land mine.

Quickly he rose up from his sleep and wrote down what he had dreamed. It was true! Now he knew where the bombs were planted. So he called his village together. He showed them the map. They were all very happy and thankful. Now they knew where NOT to go. They didn't need to be killed that way any more.

And that is something like what the Commandments of God are like. They are there to help us see where the "land mines of life" are.

But do you know what?

EVEN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CANNOT BRING LOVE, PEACE, JOY

As true as the Ten Commandments are, or as true as all the good wisdom of wise men of the ages may be, they still cannot really bring peace and joy and love. Even with a "map" people cannot resist temptation to go away from the way of Life.

God saw that a "map" was not quite enough. The Bible is absolutely true, and it is God's holy Word. But the Bible cannot by itself bring life. So God sent One to walk with us through the minefields of life. Jesus is God's gift to each one of us who will receive Him. By his Spirit Jesus comes not only to say "God is GOOD!" but to say to each one of us "God loves YOU!" He says "I know you!" I will walk with you through the minefields of this life.

Look at these words of scripture again:

I AM THE DOOR.

Jesus, Himself, is the entrance into a way of life that is forgiveness of all our sins. That is PEACE.

He is entrance into A FELLOWSHIP OF FAITH, for all who go through this Door become FAMILY. That is JOY.

Jesus brings us into HARMONY AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD the Father. We have a new LIFE that is eternal. It never ends. That life is LOVE. That is what we are created for!

Jesus is more than just a DOOR, he stays on to be our GOOD SHEPHERD.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

That is what Christmas is about- GOD IS GOOD! GOD LOVES YOU! To enter the door does not mean we know all the answers to life. We do not even know all the QUESTIONS. But it does mean that from now on, we do have One who will walk with us. If we stay near Him he will help us through the minefields of life. And we will know PEACE, AND JOY, AND LOVE.

Prayer: