The Unclaimed Gift...

1. We're all familiar w/Christmas story in Luke.

- Shepherds & angels & a baby in a manger.

2. And every year the Christmas story is read in Matthew.

- The magi coming from afar bringing their gifts & then outwitting Herod.

3. Seldom do we read the Christmas story in the Gospel of John.

-The Christmas story in John is so brief in words yet so profound in its

depth & meaning.

READ…John 1:1-14…..repeat….. vs.14 & vs.11

A summary of the whole life & ministry of Jesus.

1. "He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him."

2. Pick up the theme in Bethlehem, "No room at the Inn".

3. Pick it up again in Nazareth-- No room for Jesus in His hometown--

they took Him to a cliff & tried to kill Him.

4. There was no room for Jesus in the religious establishment-

-you will remember their rejection of Him.

5. Lastly, there was no room for Jesus on earth, so they suspended Him

above it on a cross.

6. Theme that comes up again & again in the gospel story-

-"He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him."