WITH JESUS AT BETHLEHEM
Text: Luke Chapter 2
A) The story of Jesus at Bethlehem is an old and familiar one….
1) We can never say the last word on it.
2) Jesus' birth into the world was unique
B) Jesus was “IS” the God-man..
1) Not God indwelling man or a man defiled
2) GOD & Man, in 1 Personality & 2 natures.
C) Genealogical tables in the Gospels
1) Matthew’s list is proof of the Messiah's connection with ABRAHAM and DAVID.
2) Shows Him as the True & Final successor to the Throne of the DAVIDIC Kingdom
D) Jesus of is the last in Jewish history whose descent is from Royal line
1) Nothing any Jew now on the earth can say to prove from which tribe he springs
2) No tribe of Judah, or Davidic family now
3) The True King of Israel is a Son Of David
4) ONLY record preserved proving Jesus' descent from David are preserved in N.T.
E) Clear He was born in Ancestral Home
1) The INN was known in the days of JEREMIAH as the INN Of CHIMHAM
2) This was the house of BOAZ and RUTH, who on his death made it an INN.
3) To give an INN to a town was like giving a park or hospital today.
I) THE TOILERS SEEKING JESUS. Lk 2:8 And there were in the same country SHEPHERDS abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
A)
1) SHEPHERDS represented the working class
2) Jesus honors the LOWLY and the HUMBLE.
(a) Lowly MAID selected as the mother of Jesus.
(b) Town of BETHLEHEM selected as the birthplace
THE SHEPHERDS WERE IN THE DARK. Vs 8 "Shepherds…Keeping Watch Over The Flock By NIGHT."
B) SHEPHERDS GOT INTO THE LIGHT. Vs 9 Glory Of The Lord Shone About Them
1) A Light from above fell upon them.
2) Come to the One who proclaimed Himself the "Light Of The World” & that Light will fall on us
3) It was a Glorious Light that fell about them.
C) THE SHEPHERDS WERE FULL OF FEAR. Vs 9 "They Were Sore Afraid" (TERRIFIED)
1) Light from Heaven always produces fear in the heart of the unconverted.
2) FEAR is a result of Guilt of SIN…
D) THE SHEPHERDS HEARD THE GOSPEL Vs 10 "Behold I Bring you Good Tidings Of Great Joy… For Unto You Is Born This Day.. A Saviour, Which Is Christ The Lord"
1) The Gospel was preached by angels…
2) Angel Declared "Good Tidings Unto YOU"
3) Angels Didn’t Say UNTO US - But UNTO YOU
E) THE SHEPHERDS OBEYED THE GOSPEL. Vs 15 "Let Us Now Go Even Unto Bethlehem, And See This Thing Which Is Come To Pass."
1) They determined to See for themselves..
2) Gospel to be Obeyed as well as to be Believed
F) THE SHEPHERDS FOUND THE SAVIOUR. Vs 16 "They Found Mary And Joseph And The Babe Lying In The Manger."
1) All earnest seekers Seek After The Lord.
2) Mt 7:7 Ask, & it shall be given you; seek & ye shall find; knock, & it shall be opened unto you
G) THE SHEPHERDS REJOICED GREATLY. Lk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
1) All who find the Saviour will Glorify God…
2) Lk 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, & leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven
II) THE THINKERS SEEKING JESUS. Mt 2:2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, & are come to worship him
1) The greatest THINKERS the world has ever seen have been humble followers of The Jesus.
2) Bible full of Wisdom & is True source of wisdom Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
B) WISE MEN WERE IN A FAR COUNTRY. Mt 2:2 There Came WISE MEN From The East To Jerusalem."
1) We too are in a Far Country…….
2) WISE MEN Must Have Come From a far Country
C) WISE MEN SAW GOD'S MESSENGER. Mt 2:2 We Have Seen His Star In The East
1) That was a sign of Real Wisdom.
2) Some Don’t See Because They Don’t Look Up Num 24:17 "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.."
D) THEY WENT FORTH TO FIND & WORSHIP JESUS
1) Purpose of the Star not to amuse but to Lead.
2) The purpose of the Church is not to Entertain but to Lead us to Jesus.
E) THE SHEPHERDS SEEM TO HAVE MADE A MISTAKE Where Is He That Is Born King Of The Jews
1) They took their eyes off the star and were leaning on their own wisdom.
2) Soon came to Jerusalem before King Herod. Mt 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled…
3) Surely they thought The Great One Would Be Born In Jerusalem The Capital City.
4) Look at the disastrous result that followed.
(a) Massacre of the innocent babies at Bethlehem
(b) Far better to be guided by the Lord.
F) SOON THE WISE MEN FOUND JESUS. Mt 2:11a "When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother.." Notice it says House
1) This is as all REAL Seekers Do.
2) What satisfaction that find brings to our hearts and lives.
G) THEN THE WISE MEN WORSHIPPED. Vs 11b They Fell Down & Worshipped Him
1) They Presented Their Costly Gifts. Vs 11c "When they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
2) Many TAKE all the Lord Jesus Has To Give..
3) Then they forget to GIVE a Gift To Him, The One Who Gave Us Everlasting Life.