God S Rescue Mission

GOD’S RESCUE MISSION

GOD’S RESCUE MISSION

December 18, 2016

Sermon in a sentence: God’s divine rescue mission for humanity came to life in a manger in Bethlehem.

Congregational reading: Matthew 1:18-21

Scriptures: (NKJV unless otherwise noted) Matt. 1:18-21;

Matthew 1:18-21 NKJV Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

On June 27, 1976 Air France flight 139 departed Tel Aviv for Paris, via Athens. Two Palestinian and two German gunmen boarded the plane in Athens and hijacked it shortly after takeoff, directing the crew of 12 and 248 passengersto Entebbe, Uganda. Once there, President Idi Amin received the hijackers with open arms and the hostages were held captive at the Old Terminal of theEntebbe International Airport by the terrorists and a contingent of Ugandan soldiers.[1]

The terrorists demanded the release of 53 of their colleagues who were (for the most part) in Israeli prisons and warned that if their demands were not met by July 1st, they would kill the hostages.

Negotiations were made to extend the deadline to noon on July 4, 1976. As diplomatic efforts continued, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began the task of seeing whether there was any possible way of launching a military operation to free the hostages. The planning and command of field operations for a possible raid were entrusted to a young soldier; 30-year-old Lt. Col. Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu.

Even at this young age, he was already the commander of Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s elite commando unit and had distinguished himself during the “Six Day War” (May 1967) and the “Yom Kippur War” (October 1975). As an example of his service record, his unit participated in capturing the Golan Heights from Syria – an amazing military conquest against overwhelming odds.

To make a very long story very short, Yoni convinced his Chief of Staff that the hostages could be rescued. He then convinced the troops under his command that it could be done. With the confidence gained from Yoni, the Chief of Staff convinced the Israeli Cabinet that it could be done and they unanimously voted in favour of the raid being conducted.

Operating an incredible 4,000km away from their home base, the IDF conducted the raid and rescued 102 hostages. Only one member of the IDF died, none other than their commander Yonatan Netanyahu, who was shot as he led his troops into battle. However, he had prepared them in such a meticulous manner that they were able to complete the task with perfect precision (and the help of God!) in spite of his loss.[2] Immediately, he became a national hero in Israel and you may well recognize the name of his younger brother Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu. As a young man, he also served in Yoni’s unit and currently serves as Israel’s prime minister.[3]

The main point of this history lesson is to highlight the fact that there are those who are willing to undertake tremendous risks and perform audacious assignments to secure the safety and wellbeing of others. Yoni and his crew became the ‘saviours’ of the Israeli hostages.

Israel’s international profile and standing was irrevocably changed by Entebbe. The actions and tactics used to free the hostages have been celebrated, studied and emulated by many other nations. After Entebbe, terrorists stopped using hijacking as a tactic, realizing that Israel would go anywhere and do anything to protect its citizens.

Reading and hearing Yoni’s story brings up many similarities between his life and the life of the Saviour whose birth we are celebrating in this Christmas season.

-Each of them came from a privileged background with highly accomplished fathers. (Yoni’s father Benzion Netanyahu (1910-2012) was a noted Israeli historian and professor emeritus of history at Cornell University.)

-Both demonstrated academic giftedness at a young age

-Either could have parlayed their academic prowess into safe, non-combative, respectable careers

-Both exhibited exceptional leadership skills, being able to spur performance and inspire tremendous loyalty from their followers

-Both led from the front, stating “follow me”

-Both devised careful and successful plans to rescue those in grave danger

-Both were willing to put their own lives on the line in orderto save others

Of course, there are also tremendous differences between the two (as you would expect).

-The key to the success of Yoni’s plan was secrecy and surprise, whereas Jesus prophesied and broadcast His plan from the Garden of Eden onward.

-Yoni could only provide deliverance from physical death. Jesus provides deliverance from eternal death, damnation and separation from God.

-Yoni’s deliverance was localized, for a specific group of people. Jesus’ deliverance is global and all-inclusive for whoever will receive it.

-Yoni is still dead, buried in a prominent military cemetery in Israel. Jesus had an impressive entombment, but subsequently had the power to raise Himself back to life!

God’s rescue mission for humanity actually began before the Earth was even formed,before the foundation of the world.

-The apostle Paul said:

• Eph. 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

-And the apostle Peter said:

• 1 Pet. 1:18-21 … knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

He knew from the very beginning that it would cost His life. He was delivered to death by crucifixion through the “determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23)

It was impossible for anyone else to do the job. When God looked, there was no man, no intercessor or intervener. Therefore, “His own arm brought salvation” (Is. 59:16).

Even though humanity continues to be blissfully unaware of its desperate condition and attendant consequences, Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

The birth of the baby in Bethlehem was the beginning of the physical manifestation and actualization of God’s rescue mission for humanity. Gabriel revealed His name as Jesus, the one who would save His people from their sins.

Let us now finish the story; the end of the beginning of God’s rescue mission:

Luke 2:21-40 NKJV And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

For anyone who is looking for redemption from the plague and penalty of sin, Gabriel, Simeon and Anna have a message for you. God has sent a rescue mission to find you and save you. His name is Jesus.

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[1] See and accessed Dec. 13, 2016.

[2] For an excellent documentary on his life, see the DVD “Follow Me – The Yoni Netanyahu Story.”

[3] As of the time of this writing: December 2016.