We have cheapened the word “great.” People talk about a great game, a great dress, a great vacation or a great song. I remember when Mohammed Ali announced to the world, “I am the greatest.” Hockey players know that Wayne Gretsky was called “The Great One.”
Greatness speaks of unique accomplishments that go beyond the ordinary and common. There are men and women who are considered great for what they have accomplished.
THE WORD GREAT DESCRIBES JESUS CHRIST
What did the angel say to Mary about the child that would be born? The angel said, He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:32 33).
Every mother would like to hear those are words. Your child is going to be great, your child is destined for greatness, your child is going to have influence and power and authority, your child is going to rule and reign – forever.
However, few mothers have ever heard those words as Mary did. These were not words imagined by Mary; she heard them from God’s angel. The messenger of God said her son would be great!
We still celebrate the birth of the heavenly Great One. That’s what Christmas is about.
In a moment of time, the spectacular occurred. God became a man. While earthly creatures either went about their duties or slept through the night, the divine took place in Bethlehem. Heaven opened itself and placed its most precious possession in a human womb. The Omnipotent made himself breakable. He who had been spirit, became flesh and blood and bones. He who was larger than the whole universe, became an embryo. The creator of life became the newborn. God arrived as a baby.
That night, God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys and a spleen That night, God came near. The baby was Immanuel: God with us!
There was no hype to promote his arrival or party to celebrate the birth. There was no public relations reception to herald history’s most astounding event. There was no press release for the Jerusalem media.
But months earlier, the angel had prophetically told Mary, He shall be great. Mary had pondered those words in her heart and had wondered what they meant. She knew that in God’s own way and in his timing, the child born to her that night in Bethlehem would indeed be great.
Looking back over 2,000 years, we can see the marks of his greatness. We can see the great impact he has had on human history. We can see the great effect his words have had on all men and women. We can see that this one great person changed everything about our world.
Consider the greatness of the one whose birth we celebrate. In what ways is he great?
1. HE IS A GREAT TEACHER
Throughout his life, Jesus was called “Rabbi” or “Teacher.” The Bible says, They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. (Luke 4:32). They said, No one ever spoke the way this man does. (John 7:46).
Both in what he taught and in the way he taught, Jesus was the greatest teacher who ever lived. Jesus didn’t have to quote other authorities to prop up his ideas; he was the final authority in all that he said and did. There was an intrinsic authority in all he taught. Jesus confounded the experts with his wisdom and knowledge. His teaching could be understood by both the illiterate and by scholars.
Jesus taught the people the way to God. He taught us how to build lasting relationships and how to have strong families. He taught people how to get rid of their guilt and how to have peace of heart and peace with God.
2. HE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
Whether we want to admit it or not, we’re all influenced by others. We follow the examples set by those we admire. Often, celebrities become role models.
What greater role model is there than Jesus Christ? What greater example is there for living a fulfilling life? Not only did he teach a high moral and ethical standard, he practiced what he preached. He had no guile, no impure motives, no hidden faults and no skeletons in the closet.
His words were truth. His behavior was honest. His intentions were loving and kind. He was tempted but he never sinned. At the end of his ministry, his enemies paid people to lie about him as they testified. Yet Pilate, his judge, said: I find no basis for a charge against this man. (Luke 23:4). Pilate said, I’ve examined his life and everything you have to say about him but I can’t find a single fault in him.
If you are looking for a role model, if you are looking for someone to model your life after, look no farther. Jesus Christ is the greatest example you can find.
3. HE IS A GREAT SAVIOR
The greatness of a man is determined by the cause he lives for and the price he is willing to pay to achieve it. Jesus had a cause to live for and he let nothing deter him.
Jesus came to grant forgiveness and provide eternal life. Jesus willingly and gladly paid the price to accomplish his cause when he gave his life to purchase our salvation and give us hope.
We know why Jesus came. It wasn’t just to teach us. It wasn’t just to provide us with a good role model. Jesus Christ came to save us. Jesus came to die. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15).
Jesus’ birth was the path to Calvary. He was born to die and become the great Savior. In order to be the Savior, he had to die, absorbing and paying the price for our sins.
Here’s the way Paul described it. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6 8).
No death can compare with his execution. His death was the greatest, not just in the way it happened but in what it accomplished. An angry mob shouted for his execution. The jealous Jewish leaders plotted his crucifixion. The treasurer of the disciple’s band betrayed him and sold him. Yet no person took his life. He was delivered by God into the hands of sinful men and he laid down his own life. He volunteered his life to be sacrificed as an offering to God.
What man had a greater death? The consequences of his death revolutionized world history. His death and resurrection proved his mastery over sin and hell and the grave. His death provided salvation for all those who would accept him as Savior and Lord.
His death made him the great Savior. No other person provided such great salvation.
4. HE IS A GREAT KING
When the wise man came, they asked Herod, Where is he who is born king of the Jews? (Matthew 2:2).
They acknowledged him as king. They worshipped him as king. They gave their gifts to the king.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus constantly referred to himself as king and said he was establishing a kingdom. Initially his kingdom would be in the hearts of men and women, but, the day would come when that kingdom would be a reality in the affairs of men.
This is what the angel had told Mary. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:32 33).
Jesus came to rule and reign in the hearts of men and women. He still wants to rule in our lives. But the day is coming when Jesus will come again to rule in righteousness over all the earth and his kingdom will never end
No one has ever been or ever will be greater than Jesus Christ. He was born in the privacy of a humble stable and died in public on a cross. He was born a naked baby and died a naked man. At the end of his life he was branded a blaspheming revolutionary.
Yet today, after 2,000 years, it is clear that no one has had such an impact on human history. Yes, many in our world try to take Christ out of Christmas. Yes, for many, Christmas is nothing more than an excuse for a wild spending spree and partying.
But those who know the truth have been set free by his presence. For those who have chosen to follow him with devotion and dedication, there has been a beautiful relationship marked by divine companionship. For those who have personally invited Christ the King into their lives, he has given great joy, great hope and great peace.
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