Why Christmas? The King

Why Christmas? The King
  • Dan Haakenson
  • Dec 20, 2009
  • Series: Why Christmas?
Further Reflection, Discussion, and Application
  1. Last week (Dec 13) I encouraged people to read John 10 and spend time praying and journaling about relationship with Jesus. Did you do that? If so, how did it go?  
  2. Take time to read John 18 – try to imagine the intensity and the drama of these events unfolding.  What was going on for the Jews? Why were they in a rush? How did they have power and in what ways were they powerless? What do you think this was like for Pilate (v28f)? Did he want to play his part / use his power? Why or why not? (Carry on through 19:22 for more on Pilate in these hours.)  What do you see / discover about Jesus? How did the realities of WHY He came shape these moments for him (esp. v 37)? What is Jesus communicating here about Christmas (to Pilate and to us)?
  3. In our relativistic age, there has been much made of Pilate’s question at the beginning of v38. What do you think of the question? What do you think happens when we don’t believe in the truth (or that we could ever know it)?  What is the ‘truth’ that Jesus bears witness to here (in this context) and how does that relate to the theme of the kingdom?
  4. Take this King / kingdom theme a bit further.  Why was it such a big deal here (to Pilate, the Jews, Jesus)?  We see many pointers to this idea in the OT (Isaiah 9:6, 7 and Micah 5:2 are just two) – take a look at some of those and consider what the promise / expectation of a coming King / kingdom was like.  Note how the theme also appears in the original Christmas stories (see Luke 1:31-33 and Matt 2:1-18).  What do you notice here about the declaration that Christmas is the birth of a new King?  In your own words, what is Christ’s kingdom? What does Jesus mean that it is ‘not of this world’? How does Christ’s kingdom still touch and impact this world?
  5. Who is a part of Christ’s kingdom? How does one enter this kingdom? What are ways / places that you see evidence of God’s kingdom at work?
  6. How is Christ reigning now? What do you think his reign will be like in the future? What are you doing to be a part of the development of God’s kingdom?
  7. As you approach the final days before Christmas and look ahead to the new year, how can the realities of the inaugurated kingdom impact you? What difference will this make in your Christmas? What difference will it make in your new year?

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