The Church of Eleven22

Episode Title: What Child is This? - Christmas Eve 2024 - When He Asks - Wk 6
Date: December 22, 2024
Host/Speaker: Pastor Joby Martin

Overview of Episode Theme

This Christmas Eve message centers on the question "What child is this?"—both as asked in the classic Christmas carol and as directly posed by Jesus in the Gospels. Pastor Joby Martin leads a deep exploration of the true identity and significance of Jesus, emphasizing that Jesus' arrival was prophesied, fulfilled, and central to the hope of Christianity. The sermon connects ancient prophecy, personal stories, biblical teaching, and a heartfelt gospel invitation, aiming to help listeners see Christ not only in the nativity scene but also in their own present struggles and messy Christmas seasons.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Context and Emotional Reality of Christmas

• Many experience Christmas as a difficult and even dark season, not the picture-perfect scene from commercials.
• Christmas often magnifies pain—grief, loss, brokenness, loneliness, or stress.
• The first Christmas was itself "a mess": unplanned pregnancy, travel hardship, no room at the inn (04:40).
  • Quote: "If your Christmas is a mess, then you’ve got a much more biblical Christmas than the Publix commercial." (04:30, Pastor Joby Martin)

2. The Christmas Carol and Its Origins

• The message ties into William Chatterton Dix, who wrote "What Child Is This?" from a place of illness and depression, echoing that God meets us in our dark moments (03:10–05:40).

3. The Child Prophesied Throughout Scripture

• “This child has been foreshadowed on every page of the Bible.” – pointing to Old Testament types: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, Passover lamb, Levitical sacrifices, Isaiah’s prophecies (06:00–09:00).
• Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7 highlighted: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive… and call his name Immanuel" (God with us) and "His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
  • Quote: "Pretty much the whole Bible can be summed up by that name, Emmanuel: God with us." (09:00, Pastor Joby Martin)

4. The Christmas Announcement: Angels and Shepherds

• The angels’ announcement to shepherds signified the universality and accessibility of Christ’s birth (13:50–18:20).
• God chose nobodies—shepherd boys, not religious elites—to receive the news.
  • Quote: "The greatest announcement of all time... is not made in the holy city of Jerusalem with the religious guys with the funny robes and the funny hats. No, the group of people that God decides to make this announcement to are the nobodies, the rejects." (14:45)

5. The Baby as the Perfect Sacrifice

• Swaddling clothes and manger echo the imagery of spotless lambs wrapped and laid in troughs before temple sacrifice; Christ is the true Lamb of God (19:00–20:50).
  • Memorable Analogy: The prophecy (like clicking 'Buy Now' on Amazon) is great, but the arrival (the doorbell rings) is even better. (13:20)

6. The Personal and Parental Perspective

• Pastor Joby shares honest, humorous, and moving stories of his own children’s births to illustrate a parent’s love and connect to God’s sacrificial love in giving His Son (25:00–34:20).
  • Quote: "I love you like crazy—I wouldn’t give up my kids for you for nothing... And yet God would love us enough to send his only begotten son..." (33:10)

7. Jesus’ Question: "Who Do You Say I Am?"

• In Matthew 16, Jesus asks, "Who do people say the Son of Man is... but who do you say that I am?"
• The answer to this question determines eternal destiny (35:40–44:30).
  • Peter replies, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
  • Quote: "Your answer to this question will... determine your eternal destiny. What you do with Jesus determines how you spend eternity, either with him or apart from him." (36:40)

8. The Gates of Hell and the Enduring Church

• Jesus proclaims, "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
• Powerful imagery: Caesarea Philippi (Sin City, "the gates of hell") is now a tourist stop, and the Church has prevailed (44:30–48:15).

9. The Singular, Exclusive Claim of Christ

• Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me."
• The sermon rejects pluralism and underscores that Jesus is not one among many, but the only Savior (48:30–51:00).

10. Christ’s Sacrifice and Resurrection

• The meaning of the cross: "Tetelestai"—paid in full (51:00–54:30).
  • Quote: "Every single time you said no to God and yes to your flesh... every single time you made much of yourself, every single time we tried to snatch glory for ourselves instead of God... Jesus says: it is finished. Paid in full." (52:50)
• Jesus’ resurrection assures believers they too will rise (54:40–57:20).

11. The Global Invitation and Personal Decision

• The message of Christ is for "whoever" (John 3:16)—no one is too far gone, and it’s not about merit but grace (1:00:00–1:03:00).
• C.S. Lewis is quoted: Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic, not merely a moral teacher (1:03:40).
  • Quote: "But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." (C.S. Lewis, 1:04:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "What child is this that we celebrate this Christmas... This child has been foreshadowed on every page of the Bible." (06:10)
• "If your Christmas is a mess, then you’ve got a much more biblical Christmas than the Publix commercial." (04:30)
• "God sent us exactly what we need... He sent Us a savior to save us from sin, from ourself, from the wrath of God." (16:50)
• "Your answer to this question will determine your eternal destiny... What you do with Jesus determines how you spend eternity." (36:40)
• "There is more grace in Jesus than there is sin in you." (1:02:55)
• C.S. Lewis: "Either this man was and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse." (1:04:00)
• "What God wants for Christmas is you... and He wants you." (1:06:30)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• 00:01–06:00: Christmas struggles, the reality vs. cultural ideal
• 06:00–09:00: The prophesied child, Old Testament foreshadowing
• 13:00–18:20: Angels appear to shepherds, gospel for all
• 19:00–21:00: Swaddling clothes, manger, Christ as sacrificial lamb
• 25:00–34:20: Personal birth stories, fatherly love, parallel to God's love
• 35:40–44:30: Matthew 16—Jesus’ critical question
• 44:30–48:15: Caesarea Philippi, the "gates of hell" and church’s victory
• 48:30–53:00: Jesus’ exclusive claim, atonement on the cross
• 54:40–57:20: Resurrection and global spread of the Gospel
• 1:00:00–1:03:00: The invitation—grace for all, regardless of background
• 1:03:40–1:05:00: C.S. Lewis quote on Jesus’ identity
• 1:06:30–1:09:00: Gospel invitation—Admit, Believe, Confess (A-B-C)

Structure of the Gospel Invitation

• Admit (“A”) - I am a sinner in need of a Savior
• Believe (“B”) - Jesus died on the cross and it counted for me
• Confess (“C”) - Call upon Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:13)

Final Reflection & Call to Response

The Christmas story is—at its heart—an invitation from God. Pastor Joby calls everyone, regardless of their background or the messiness of their circumstances, to answer Jesus’ question for themselves: Who do you say that I am? The real gift of Christmas is not religion, prosperity, or tradition, but Jesus himself—God with us, Savior of whoever would believe.

In Sum:
This episode is a stirring reminder that Christmas is for everyone, including (and especially) those whose holidays feel like a mess. The heart of Christmas is not sentimental perfection but divine intervention—God’s rescue and invitation in the person of Jesus Christ. The message’s climactic challenge: What child is this?—and its eternal follow-up: Who do you say that I am?—remains the question on which everything turns.