Jesus' forgotten holiday sermon

[Kevin H]

I love the season, the Christmas movies, the Christmas hymns and music. A lot of them I have in Norwegian. Today is a sad day as it is 20 years ago today since my Grandma died. One thing I learned about the Christmas season that we have tended to over look is that in the book of John, Jesus has a sermon for this holiday season and we have forgotten that Jesus gave this sermon for this time of year! And characteristic of Jesus, at this time of Joy and family, Jesus's sermon for this holiday season is focused on our tears and the empty seats around the holiday table.

John has a group of stories; they don't all follow this order, but includes all these elements: A Temple Feast, Jesus saying something that focuses on a point of the feast, an "I AM" saying about the aspect of the feast and a sign or miracle on the same theme. Passover has 2, the feast of Tabernacles has a few, and Hanukkah has one. The theme of Hanukkah is that Antiochus Epiphanies tried to kill the worship of the true God, but God was able to raise that worship back up. Jesus applied it to how God will raise his followers. The I AM saying was "I am the resurrection and the life" and the sign was that even though Jesus did not come and heal Lazarus. Even thought he let Lazarus die, and let Lazarus rot in the grave, the resurrection and the life eventually came and said "Lazarus Come forth" and so even thought Grandma died 20 years ago today. Even thought we lost other loved ones, Jesus has promised to come again, and will raise them up and reunite us with our loved ones to never ever part again!!!

If any of you preach or speak for Sabbath school I hope that you will remember to include Jesus' forgotten holiday sermon in your celebrations.