WE NEED A SAVIOR

Sermon Summary, 11/26/17, “We Need a Savior” (John 3:17)

When I was growing up, Advent wasn’t part of our church calendar. At some point the church Christmas tree went up, on Christmas Eve we had a children’s program, Santa arrived, brownbags were distributed.  No getting ready for “Christ is coming.”

So why do we bother?  It is intended to get us ready for Christ—not only the infant Jesus, but the second coming, the second Advent, too. Now I remember that.  Sunday School scared me to death.  I wasn’t ready.  I didn’t know how to get ready.  How could I ever be ready.  And know one knew the hour or the day!  Was this God’s gotcha’ thing?

I had no concept of Jesus as “Savior of the World.” I didn’t understand why the world needed a Savior. Maybe that would make all the difference.

In 1994, Ruth Bell Graham published a Christmas book, One Wintery Night.  She didn’t start with Luke 2 like most of us.  She started with the Creation story.  Her story began with “why we need Jesus.”  Remember that God placed Adam and Eve (and us) in a garden along with a tree that she called the “testing tree.”  We didn’t pass.  We need a Savior.  Then Cain listened to voices of pride and envy.  Even after God spoke to him, “Sin is lurking at your door, its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Ge 4:7b)  He still chose sin.  We need a Savior. Then Babel and the flood.  The whole world needs a Savior.

We would like to believe that we are more sophisticated today, but the 20th century had more wars, we did more harm to one another than in all the centuries combined.  The World needs a Savior.

And not just us, all of Creation.  Paul tells us, “All of creation groans.”  But he has good news, “in hope we have been saved.” (Ro 8:22-24)  The world needs a Savior, and here’s the good news: We have a Savior!

And in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we get a glimpse of what will be at the Second Coming: sins are forgiven, diseases are healed, storms are stilled (all of chaos is overcome), hunger is satisfied, and in his resurrection, decay is rolled back.  We have a Savior and we have hope! 

So, as we wait this Advent Season, let us bring a little heaven to earth as we pray “Thy kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven.”  Just as Jesus came and is coming to transform the world, let us be transformational in his name: Let us find those charities that truly change people’s lives, like clean water, aiding education in refugee camps, educating girls in third world countries.  Most are available through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.  You can’t go wrong.  Your dollars will be spent transformationally and efficiently if you give to UMCOR.  Give while you wait.  Be Jesus to someone, somewhere.  See a complete list at our website www.prairiechapelumc.com in the sermon link.