Sunday message · Among Us – A Christmas Story series
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Message Summary
In this Advent message, the third in the Among Us series, Drew Fernelius turns to John 1:9–13 and 29–34. He recalls his wife pulling him out of bed at one in the morning to chase the northern lights until a stranger on a bench pointed the way. Light guides us, but sometimes it has to be pointed out. That is John the Baptist’s message as Christmas approaches: don’t miss Jesus.
First, the light came for everybody. Jesus is the true light, not one light among many philosophies and religions. Though the world rebelled against God, he loved it, and from the start the gospel is for everyone. Success and money are not bad, Drew says, but none can drive away our darkness. Second, not everyone recognized or received him. Light can be uncomfortable because it exposes and asks us to change. Drew recalls a man who attended at Christmas and Easter for the warm feeling but was not ready to rearrange his life. But Jesus is no seasonal decoration; he is the light of the world, inviting us to follow.
Third, those who receive him become children of God. Receiving him is not about performance; it means opening our hearts and admitting, “Jesus, I can’t save myself.” Believing means trusting who he is, so Christianity is not a try-harder campaign. God gives the right to become his children, a legal, secure status, not reluctant tolerance. This new birth is God’s doing, not ours, so anyone who feels like a spiritual failure can know their Father is not giving up on them.
Fourth, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. To first-century ears a lamb meant sacrifice, atonement and rescue, and Israel’s whole story pointed toward a Lamb who would suffer so sinners could go free. The deepest human problem is sin: selfish thoughts, sharp words, addictions, bitterness and hidden shame. Jesus came to take it away, along with the wounds others have caused us, not to manage it but to remove it completely. Forgiveness is at the heart of Christmas.
Fifth, Jesus is the one history was waiting for. John was six months older, yet says Jesus came before him, because Jesus is the eternal Son who stepped into time. Though they were relatives, John now sees him for who he truly is. Christmas was never plan B. Finally, Jesus can change your life. John baptized with water, but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He does not just wipe the slate clean; he comes into us and empowers a new life.
December gets loud, Drew says, and it is easy to miss Christ at Christmas. As a coach, he has seen that teams succeed when everyone knows their role, and John the Baptist knew his: to be the witness who points to Jesus. Drew closes by explaining that to behold the Lamb is to look honestly at our hearts, remember that we need him, look expectantly for the Spirit to work, and look outward as witnesses, because no one is beyond his reach.