The Gift Of Christ

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:1-20

OPENING:  We all know the story of our Saviors birth … No birth in history can compare to that of a baby boy who was born in the village of Bethlehem … At that time, the Roman Empire ruled most of the known world … Very few people cared about the tiny town of Bethlehem, much less the birth of a Jewish infant named Jesus … God saw things differently … This small baby would grow up to one day die on a cross for the sins of all mankind … God inspired Luke to record the facts about Jesus' birth and His purposes for coming to earth …

     The Gift Of Christ:

          2 Corinthians 9 :15  Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift! … Paul who was a scholar and very versed in the scriptures describes an infant and gift from God that was indescribable … The word is not seen in the Greek language until Paul uses it … Such a gift that their was no word to describe this wonderful gift we received …

          Luke 2:  Why doesn't Luke start at Vs 6? … Luke's purpose … He didn't want anyone to miss out on Jesus’ lineage … Cesar wrote a decree that everyone would return to their county seat to be accounted for … This was done to gain in finances and have all the men accounted for in case they were needed for war … God had different plans … Mary and Joseph needed to be in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus … Our God was preparing the world for the gift of Christ just as he had promised in the scriptures …

          Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee to Bethlehem … Joseph was from the line of David and that is where his family was from …

          Micah 5:2-4  "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans  of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. " Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

          Augustus thought he was in control but our God had a plan … To place our Lord and Savior in a little town born of peasant parents … The Israelites were looking for a glorious king to lead them from the Roman rule … They didn't see or imagine that our Savior would be born in that tiny town … Imagine Bethlehem filled with people who didn't want to be there but had to be because of this decree … No place to stay because the town was full and all rooms were taken …

          The time arrives and Mary cries out in pain … Joseph is notably absent from Vs 6 and 7 but Luke gives us the physicians view of the account … How did Luke know? … A friendship between them existed and Mary may have given him her account of Jesus birth … God, for the first time, was now in human flesh …

          Cesar thinks he had the world fully under his control but how many know the linage of the Cesar's? … How many know the story of our Lord and Savior? …

          Vs 9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.   The light of God showed around the shepherds … what a glorious sight these shepherds saw … Imagine the reaction of these men as this great light shows down upon them to deliver the wonderful news of the birth of a Savior …

 

          Vs 10  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people … In God’s grace he calms the shepherds so they do not miss the message … The shepherds listen to the words that amaze them …

          Vs. 11  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  … Today … For you … For all mankind … a Savior is born … What a wonderful gift for all who will call upon the name of Jesus Christ … A universal message …

          Vs 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." … A sign given to the shepherds of where to find the baby Jesus … Many babies may have been born that night but only one was laying in a manger wrapped in swaddling cloths …

          Vs 13-14  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." … Just as the angles praised and sang songs when God created the earth … They came and praised and sang for joy … God has been born on earth …

          Vs 15  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." … What if these shepherds were like many of today? … Jesus is in a manger? … God with us? … It’s doesn't make sense … It must be a trick … Shepherds were not scholarly or educated they were poor men trying to make a living, searching for hope … Look at their response … "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about …

          When they had seen the child they had no doubt that the messiah was before them … The first evangelists, shepherds, not professionals, shepherds … No gifts were brought to Christ … Magi came from the East and brought gifts to Jesus … He didn't need these gift’s, He was the gift … It was an expression of their worship …

CLOSING:  As prophesied, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem … Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection … There are some prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus has not yet fulfilled … The second coming of Christ will be the return of Christ to fulfill the remaining prophecies … In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant … In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King … In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances … In His second coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side … We all know the story of Jesus Christ’s first coming … Do you have Christ in your heart as your Lord and Savior? … The gift of eternal life is free, if you haven't accepted Jesus into your heart don't let this opportunity slip away … The second coming of Christ is near and we need to be prepared in our hearts for His arrival …