Unwrapping Christmas, Part 3: Unwrapping the Power

Type: Sunday Morning Service

Series: Unwrapping Christmas

Sermon: Part 3: Unwrapping the Power

🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Tom Van Kempen

Christmas reveals the true power of Jesus through the meaning and purpose of His names. Humanity’s deepest problem is sin, and Jesus came not just to comfort us but to save, restore, and transform us from the inside out. Through salvation, God’s presence, sovereign rule, and anointing, lives can be changed forever.

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Additional Info

The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.

The Power Behind Christmas

Christmas is more than tradition, decorations, or nostalgia; it is a declaration of power. The names given to Jesus reveal who He is and what He came to accomplish. Each name carries meaning, authority, and purpose, showing that Christmas is not sentimental but transformational.

Jesus: God Who Saves

The name Jesus means “God saves.” This reveals humanity’s greatest need and God’s decisive response. While the world points to poverty, division, or disease as the core problem, Scripture identifies sin as the root issue behind every form of brokenness. Jesus did not come to improve human behavior but to bring dead hearts back to life.

Emmanuel: God With Us

Emmanuel means “God with us,” signaling a radical shift in how humanity relates to God. God is no longer distant or hidden behind a veil. Through Jesus, God stepped into human experience, bringing comfort, relationship, and personal presence to everyday life. This presence assures that no one is ever truly alone.

King: Sovereign Over All

Jesus was born a King, lived as a King, and will return as King. His sovereignty means that history, authority, and power ultimately rest in His hands. Even when human leaders believe they are in control, God is directing the greater story toward His purposes.

Christ: The Anointed One

Christ means “the Anointed One,” pointing to Jesus’ power to heal, restore, and set people free. The same anointing that healed the sick and freed the oppressed continues to work today. Christmas reminds us that joy, peace, and hope are not manufactured but flow from a living Savior.

Christmas That Changes Everything

The true power of Christmas is transformation. Chaos can become peace, captivity can become freedom, blindness can become clarity, and sorrow can become joy. This power is not found in products or performances but in the person of Jesus.

• Discussion Guide

  Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.

  • Discuss how names shape identity and why the names of Jesus matter.

  • Reflect on which name of Jesus feels most significant in your current season.

  • Talk about areas where you need God’s saving, presence, authority, or healing power.

  Action Step

  This week, intentionally pray using one name of Jesus that speaks to your need.

• Historical Context

  Matthew 1:22–23 and Isaiah 7:14 connect Jesus’ birth to ancient prophecy, emphasizing that Emmanuel fulfilled Israel’s expectation of God intervening in history. In first-century Judaism, God was understood as holy and distant, accessible only through the temple system, which made the idea of God dwelling among people revolutionary.

  Matthew 2 and Luke 2 place Jesus’ birth within the political realities of Roman rule. Herod the Great ruled Judea under Roman authority, while Caesar Augustus controlled the broader empire. God used imperial decrees, census requirements, and even hostile rulers to fulfill prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

  Luke 4:18 reflects Isaiah 61, a messianic passage describing God’s anointed deliverer. When Jesus read this text in the synagogue, He publicly declared Himself as the fulfillment, signaling a mission of spiritual restoration, liberation, and healing.

• Kids Lesson

  Introduction: Talk about names and what they mean. Ask kids if they know what their name means.

  Scripture: Matthew 1:21–23 explained simply.

  Craft: Create name cards for Jesus with titles like Jesus, Emmanuel, King, and Christ using colorful paper.

  Game: Name Match—match Jesus’ names with what they mean.

  Discussion questions: Why is Jesus called Savior? What does it mean that God is with us? How does Jesus help us today?

  Wrap-up prayer: Thank Jesus for being our Savior and friend and ask Him to help us trust Him.

• Full Transcript

  You are going to see something today that I'm sure you have never seen before. In the history of Christmas sermons, a can of pork and beans has never been prominent. I want you to pay close attention to the name on the top of that can. Can anybody see that? Van Camps. Do not call me Van Camps Pork and Beans, all right? That was my nickname in junior high because nobody could spell or pronounce my name. And so as evil, mean-spirited junior highers back then, I know they're not like that today, okay? But back then, they would take your name and butcher it. Who has a similar story? Does anybody have a similar story? Yep. Yeah, they take your name and they just ruin it in some way, shape, or form. give you a nickname. Well, did you know there are no nicknames in the Bible? That every name, every title is given on purpose and for a purpose. A name told you not only who someone was, but the authority that they carried and what they were probably going to do in their lives. So when Scripture keeps piling names onto Jesus, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, King, Christ, those are not incidental to who he is. They are specific. They are on purpose. They are precise. So that rather than thinking of Jesus as just a baby in a manger, you can understand who this baby is sent to be. He is sent to literally change the world. Who can say amen? Christmas is about how Jesus literally changed the world for you, for me, and literally for everybody. And so in this last unwrapping Christmas message, today we're going to unwrap the power of Jesus, the power that is supposed to be found in this Christmas and holiday season. I'm going to use scriptures from Matthew and Luke primarily for today's message. The first one is Matthew 1.22. This is what it says. You shall call his name Jesus. Say Jesus. You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. When I was young and in the church a long time ago, 70s, maybe the early 80s, we sang a song that went like this. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Let all heaven and earth proclaim Kings and kingdoms will all pass away But there's something about that name. Thank you for the assist. I appreciate that. Jesus' name literally means God saves. It means Jehovah is salvation. So when the angel instructed both Mary and Joseph to name this baby Jesus, the angel was trying to communicate to Mary, Joseph, and the entire world the true nature of the child who is to be born into the world at this time. Not only would he be called Jesus, but he had the power, say power, he had the power to save. Now again, some of you have been in church so much that you've lost the wonder of salvation. Some of you have heard the Christmas message so many times, you're Like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I know, I know, yada, yada, yada, and all that kind of stuff. And because of that, when someone says, what is the greatest problem faced in humanity, you might echo what the news media says. The news media will shout out, oh, the greatest problem is poverty. If we could just solve the poverty problem, everything would be okay. Others shout that the greatest problem is racism. We've got to get rid of racism. Others say, no, no, no, no, no. There's all these scientists out there, and there are going to be these superbugs, and they're going to wipe out the human race. It's not going to be here any longer. There's divisiveness. There's divorce. There's drugs. There's alcohol. We can name a million different symptoms. Did you hear me? All those things are bad. I get it. They're horrible. They're evil. but they're simply symptoms of humanity's real problem. Humanity's greatest problem, real problem, is something called sin. Merry Christmas. Doesn't sound like much of a Christmas message there, Pastor Tom. It is the Christmas message because sin is the root of all poverty. it's the root of all war it's the root of all division it's the root of even the sicknesses and the diseases we experience on a day-to-day basis and you and i are both sinners that's what the scripture communicates in romans chapter 3 all have sinned and come short of the glory of god it goes on to say that the price the wages the the consequences of our sin is death now listen to me I know you've heard this before but the problem is much worse than you thought it's not that we're going to die someday although that's true we are going to die someday these physical bodies the problem is without Jesus we're already dead did you know that? Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 2 that we are merely walking zombies, spiritually speaking. That we walk as dead creatures. We're not alive if we are not connected to God himself through Jesus Christ. But there's hope. God took decisive actions. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Who can say amen? You see, God sent Jesus, not as a life coach, not to make us better in our humanity, but to literally raise us back to life. He came as a spiritual EMT, bringing dead hearts back into existence. He came as a sacrifice to take our place, to die a horrible death so that we could change our destiny and live forever with God. Who can say amen? you see that's the true story of christmas and yes it's the story of easter and yes it's the story of communion and yes it's the story of every message that i ever preach it is jesus jesus jesus jesus and then some more jesus if me or an angel preaches anything else may they be a curse the scripture says it's all about jesus christ and salvation is the beginning of a brand new life a brand new story that each and every one of us can live and that's why it's so important for us to understand all of the other titles and all of the other names because they show the facets of what else we can experience because of Christmas. Matthew chapter 1 verse 23, they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is translated God with us. Did you hear that? Emmanuel, God with us. This isn't just another name. This is a theological bombshell. It is a theological earthquake in the Jewish tradition because they only knew God as distant. The mighty God of Israel. That's how they knew him, okay? He was behind a curtain. He was so holy you could not even mention his name or you'd be in trouble for it. But when Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us showed up, the veil was torn in two. Who can say amen? God arrived in the form of a baby, and we had a brand new power, something that we didn't fully understand in the Old Testament, and that's the power of presence. In Emmanuel, Jesus becomes personal. He now can be our teacher, our counselor, even our friend. It amazes me that the God of the universe literally comes down from heaven and he starts making friends with people like Thomas and Peter and James and John. He is heartbroken over the death of his friend Lazarus. He comforts Mary and Martha and goes into their homes on numerous occasions. He showed women the same honor that he showed men, and that was completely different back then. And the reason is, is because God loves everyone who can say amen. He loves everybody. And he wants the exact same deep, intimate relationship with every single one of you here today. And I know sometimes it doesn't feel like it. I know sometimes, maybe even during the holiday seasons, when you're missing someone who's who's died in your life, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter. Maybe they're distant and far from the Lord, and you feel like during this season, everyone else has family all around them, and I'm all alone. Remember what Jesus said in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 5, I will never, say never, I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you. Emmanuel is both a comforting term and a confrontational term because it confronts the lie that as a Christian you're alone because you are not. You are never, ever, ever alone. God is not watching you from a distance. He is with us. Whether we're in a hospital room, whether we are watching online and we think we're all by ourselves, whether we're at work, whether we're at school, whether we're worried, anxious, grieving, or lonely, God is always with us in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Listen, listen. The power of Emmanuel is not that God shouted from a million miles away, hey, I'm going to be with you. No, he literally stepped into our world. But Christmas doesn't stop just with us feeling good. Yes, we can be comforted. We can be confronted. But his presence in our lives is really about life transformation. It's about changing the brokenness inside of us and making something new in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't just come to save us. Jesus became like us so that we could become more like him. We should be more like him. 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. You know what that verse is saying? I talked about the veil that was torn in two. That has to do with the temple. The Ark of the Covenant was behind the veil. The veil, which was about six inches of fabric, was torn in half from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross. That's so that we would all know that there's no secrecy any longer, that you can go directly to God, that you have instant access to God. You don't have to go through a priest or anything like that. It is instantaneous. Well, this veil is referencing the veil of Moses that he placed over his face after he had seen the glory of God. And when he came down from the mountain and he is talking to some of the Israelites, there was so much glory still residually on his face that it was too bright for them to look at. So he put this veil on his face. But in Moses' humanity, the glory soon dissipated, and his anger came out, his humanness came out, and so he still had the veil on, even though the glory had disappeared. And in this scripture, Paul is saying, hey, everyone sees there's no veil on your face. Everyone can see that you're a human being. But listen, in this scripture he says, and the Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. In other words, hear me, hear me. Moses had an external experience with God so that the face shown for just a short period of time, we have an internal experience with God. And because of that, we can shine from the inside out and it never says never. It never has to go away. We can actually shine the love, the joy, the peace, the gentleness, the goodness, the faithfulness, the meekness of Jesus Christ more and more and more simply by walking with him and abiding with him on a regular basis. Who can say amen? The next title that was given in Matthew chapter 2 by the wise men was, where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? I've said this before. I think it was on a Wednesday night that as Americans, we don't understand royalty. As Americans, we don't really understand what it means to have a monarch in our lives who can make every single decision, not only for himself, but for each and every one of us. Sovereignty is what this third title is all about. The power of sovereignty. I had to look it up because I don't fully understand sovereignty. In the dictionary, I think this was definition number two. This is what it says. Sovereignty is supreme power and controlling influence. So let's begin with supreme power. God has supreme power over the entire universe. The wise men, when they asked the city of Jerusalem, and who knows how they did it? You know, a lot of times we think they went directly to Herod, but the implication in Scripture is they were asking everybody, every street vendor, hey, where's the new king of the Hey, and nobody knew. Herod was greatly troubled by this news. And so he called for these guys to come on in and say, what is this new king of the Jews thing? What are you talking about? And they said, well, we saw his star in the east and we have come to worship him. Well, when Herod heard this, he panicked. He actually sent soldiers to go and kill all the baby boys who had been born two years and under. A horrible thing that was prophesied in the Old Testament. But Jesus, the baby, was sovereignly whisked away just in the nick of time. In Luke chapter 2 verse 1, a decree goes out from Caesar Augustus. Now, if you don't know who Caesar Augustus is, Caesar is Herod's boss. Caesar is now the ruler of the entire known European, North African, Middle Eastern world at that time. He is literally large and in charge. So he issues a decree that the world needs to go back to their heritage home. And for David, it was Bethlehem, so that they would register and be taxed on a regular and consistent basis. But listen, did Caesar really give that order? Or did God give that order? And the reason I ask is because God has controlling influence over both time and history. God strategically arranged this moment to fulfill Old Testament prophecy about the specific location of the birth of Jesus Christ. Herod thought he would take matters into his own hands and control the situation. Caesar thought he was large and in charge. but God was arranging history to fulfill his promises. Who can say amen? He does the same thing today. Even when people think they're writing their own story, even when people think they're captains of their own ship, God is still directing the plot, sometimes even down to the minutest detail. So where does that take us today? Jesus is the current monarch of the world. Jesus is now the king of the universe. Luke chapter 1 verses 32 and 33, the Lord God will give Jesus the throne of his father David. And of his kingdom, there will be no end. In the gospels, it says that Jesus' kingdom is a never or an always increasing kingdom. It gets bigger and bigger and bigger. So 2025 years ago, Jesus was born in a manger as a king. 30 some years later, standing in front of Pilate, when Pilate says, are you a king? Jesus says, I am a king. And here's the good news for Christians. He is returning as the soon coming king. Amen. So the smartest thing you and I can do this Christmas season is to submit our lives to Jesus Christ. Submit to his rules, submit to his authority, submit to his sovereignty, because Jesus is the king. That takes us to the last name we find for Jesus in the Christmas story, and that's the title, Christ. Now, I use the phrase title here because I think a lot of people believe that Christ is Jesus' last name. It's not. It's not Jesus Christ as in name. It's Jesus the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah, because Christ means anointed one. It communicates what Jesus was going to do, not just while he was on this planet, but what he continues to do this day, and that is the power of anointing. What everyone here needs to understand is that anointing breaks chains. Anointing heals sickness. Anointing changes lives. That's why Christmas should always be a time of hope, peace, love, and joy. Christ, the anointed one, is the reason for the season. Christ is the power behind Christmas. Christ is the beginning of the word Christmas. And this Christ for whom we celebrate this glorious season is anointed to make a difference in our lives. Listen to this last scripture I have for you today, Luke 4, 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Two verses later, this is what Jesus said. Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. I'm here to tell you, today, this scripture is still being fulfilled in people's hearing. God still heals. He still remedies. He still supplies. He still makes a difference. The anointing is still active 2,000 years later. Who can say amen? I mean, he proved it during his three years on this planet. Healing bodies, healing lepers, casting out demons, creating something out of nothing, calming storms. So let me tell you a couple of things as we wrap this up that I think God can do in your life today. Number one, Christmas has the power to turn chaos into peace. I get it. I have not been living the most peaceful life over the last three weeks. And if any of you have ever moved from one home to another, you know what I'm talking about. So out on top, moving the accumulation of 40 years of married life from one house to another, out on top of that, the busyness of the Christmas season where we're going to parties and going to people's homes. Add on top of that the responsibility, and I'm not wanting anyone to feel sorry for me. I'm just wanting you to understand that I know what you're going through, and I have fallen prey to some of the temptations of the devil too, and just getting all wound up, and on Friday, I was at my wits end. But Saturday morning, I spent time with the Lord, and I said, God, I need Jesus this morning. I need the Prince of Peace to so fill my mind because I have a message to give this Sunday. I have people who need Jesus in a real dramatic way, but if I don't get some of Jesus, there's no Jesus to give away. So I want you to know that no matter what you're going through, God can calm the storm supernaturally in Jesus' name. That the peace that passes understanding that Paul talked about is real and it's available for you during this chaotic season. Who can say amen? Don't lose hope. Number two, Christmas has the power to turn captivity into freedom. My family is no different than yours. It's rocked by addiction struggles, anger issues. Oh, I wish that I lived on some mountain and all my family was saved and everything was good. It's just not true. But what is true is that anybody in prison can be set free in the name of Jesus Christ. that our Lord and Savior has that anointing and he will bestow it upon you to pray for your lost family members, to bring them in in the name of Jesus Christ, to change your life, your family dynamics in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. So we can't lose hope. We can't mourn. We can. I take that back. But I need you to know that God delivers the prisoner even today. Number three, Christmas has the power to turn blindness into sight. Life doesn't get any easier the older you get. Anybody ever figured that one out yet? I thought, man, I can't wait till my kids get out of the house. I won't have any tough decisions to make any longer. Their problems just got bigger and bigger. But my problems also sometimes get bigger and bigger. the more people involved in your life their problems get bigger and bigger and so we as Christians sometimes are wondering where do I turn where do I go in this moment Christmas is a great time for us just to reflect on the beauty of the message and say God maybe I've been running a little too far out in front of you would you just help me in in deciding what do I need to do how can I help my son, my daughter? How can I help my mom, my dad? How can I make the right decision for my family? Should I take this job or this job? The same way that God guided those wise men to the specific house in which Jesus lived, he is still doing the same thing to this day. Fourth and finally, Christmas has the power to turn depression into joy. Have you ever wondered why so many companies try and market and package joy? It kind of ticks me off. I mean, McDonald's, Burger King. Burger King actually made an advent calendar this year. It's got nothing to do with Jesus. It has to do with joy deals that you can get on their hamburgers. well let me tell you Burger King's burgers are not that great a deal steak and shakes are BMW every year the drive for joy event the drive for more bondage event you know I mean on television I saw for only 1049 dollars a month you can drive one of these cars who's going to pay $1,049 a month for a car? And that's a lease. You don't even own it. There's no joy there. I'm just letting you know. Coke says, pour me some joy. That's kind of true. Everyone's selling joy. Christmas reveals where it actually comes from. It comes from, yes, a baby, but a baby who grew up into the Savior of the universe, and he's willing to walk life with you every single day. And if there's something dead on the inside, he will revive it in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. There are some that are still not convinced. And I get it. Robin, her mom just died a couple months ago. And she was actually unpacking some of the Christmas china that her mother left her. And she said she would take out a plate and as she's washing it, she would cry over it. Because real sorrow and grief welled up in her soul. I mean, if you've lost anybody in the last year, the sorrow and grief is very, very real. It might not even be the last year. It could be five years ago. It could be 10 years ago. That doesn't mean you forget these people and the sorrow evaporates forever. Listen to this letter that a postal worker who was responsible for filtering out the dear Santa letters, this is one that she read. dear Santa we're very sad at our home this year little Charlie my brother went up to heaven just last week and when you come to my house can you get his toys and take them to him I'll leave them in the corner by the chimney his hobby horse his train and everything you see he might miss them in heaven especially his horse he loved riding that horse so much. So just take them to him and you don't need to give me anything. But if you could leave something for my daddy, that will make him stop crying. It would be the best thing you could do for me. I heard him tell mommy that only eternity can cure me. Could you give him some of that? Signed, Michael. Well, I'm convinced only eternity can cure a broken heart. And eternity stepped into time and space 2,000 years ago. And his name is Jesus. And what he has to offer is greater and more substantial and more glorious than any Hallmark movie, than any Coca-Cola, than any commercial on television. What he offers is the real deal. All you have to do is open up your heart. Would you stand with me, please? I'd like to ask prayer partners to come on down. Jesus saves. Emmanuel stays the king reigns and Christ can transform your life in this moment if you need just a little eternity in your life today would you raise your hand and say pastor would you remember me in prayer all across this house raise your hand please would you bow your heads with me heavenly father you can see life's not perfect but there is a perfect one that you sent to make an eternal difference in our hearts in our lives in our futures so i pray father god that if there are some who are struggling during this holiday season and they need a little eternity. I pray that, Father God, that this baby Jesus will be Savior, Emmanuel, King, and Christ in their lives. I pray that he would bring about what is needed, whether it's peace or joy, Father God, or faith or hope or even love. And Father God, I pray that we would not allow the distractions of the season to move us off center, but that we would stay focused on Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. And I pray this today in that beautiful name. And together, everybody says, amen, amen. If you need prayer, please come forward and allow one of these prayer team members to pray with you. And please sing along.