What A Time To Be Born!!!

Matthew 2:1-3 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Luke 2:1-4 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Luke 2:5-7 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

We are given a number insights into the World and Local Political Situation that Jesus was born into. It was not pretty.

One of the things I pray you will see this morning is that God was ruling, overruling and working through the situation of Christ's birth. This is one of His Ways. He works in our lives in a similar way. So often we look for escapes, for solutions and He desires to bring us through it and actually accomplish His Will through the things that are against us.

We look at the less than perfect or adverse situations in our lives and ask God to improve the circumstances to change them, when often He rides out His purposes upon them! I love this verse: Galatians 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. The time and circumstances were just what God wanted.

We know about this Census.
Caesar Augustus: the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.

While the empire enjoyed peace under his rule it was an empire. Citizens had rights. Occupied territories such as Israel had little rights and they were subject to taxes which is part of what this census was all about for them. We also know now that it was used by the LORD to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so Jesus would be born there to fulfill the scriptures and God's purposes.

I have talked, texted and Skyped with family and friends over this Christmas Week. I have been with family and friends, to the the city, called friends, had friends call me, planning on going to watch the seals out in Hampton Beach. It has been good to see on Facebook the connections of families at this time of the year... It has been a pleasure.... but for Joseph and Mary especially this trip was a hardship. It was also God's will. 2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship...

That first Christmas was glorious and for Mary and Joseph it was difficult to say the least! And it was for the purpose of registering to pay taxes... or was it? The immediate often does not give the whole story. Take a few steps back, let some time pass and we see God's purposes and even if we still do not see them we have His peace. Often the very things against us are tools God uses to accomplish His purposes.
Fanny Crosby's view on her blindness:
"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."
If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour."

And what good can we say about that scoundrel Herod? Under the pretense of worshiping Christ he has a plan to kill Him. When he is outwitted by the Wise Men he goes on an infanticide rage and kills all the baby boys 2 years of age and under in Bethlehem and the vicinity. Horrible! Beyond words/ beyond comfort...
Matthew 2.13-18

The Birth of Jesus Christ came in God's Perfect Will, Timing and Way.

1. There are times when His Perfect Will Is Perplexing.
Terminal Disease
Losses
Governmental Edicts Mao separating all the Christians scattered....
Acts 8.1,4
Even hardships can be ordained of God! Jesus' death certainly was!
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days,and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

Stop trying to make your situation better. Embrace it for what it is! In doing so you will embrace God's will and His way through it. Jesus embraced the cross. We must embrace ours.
We have been influenced by the popular theology of America. It is not biblical.
Sometimes life is difficult. I spoke to dear friend who is going downhill this past week and he said so... but what awaits him in heaven.

2. There are times when His Timing makes no sense!
For Mary, of all times to have to travel, when she was within a week of given birth. My daughter gave birth to her youngest child, 12 days after my Dad died. She had to get special permission from her doctor to travel to her Poppa' funeral.

I remember when I held that little bundle in my arms, just hours old. The wide mixture of emotions of just having lost my Dad less than two weeks before and
holding my new grandson. It was perplexing. God's timing is not ours and sometimes we are perplexed by it.

How about when pain comes in bunches. How about when it is said, "How much more can he take?" Beware of the well meaning words, "No one is going to blame you..."

God's ordaining of our times are not always to our likings. "My times are in his hand..." David said.


3. There are times when His Way seems strange.
That was certainly true of Mary and Joseph fro the time of the annunciation and through the first few years of Jesus's life on earth.

When we have never passed this way before.

When someone you have helped and been there for turns on you.

When we are trying to do His will obstacles come.

When He asks us to stretch our faith in new ways.

I think many of our struggles are against our flesh and they should not be. Our flesh needs to be crucified. Our struggle is to be spiritual. It is in the spiritual realm. If Satan can defeat us in our flesh then we never get to the real battle where there is victory.

Jesus was born at the perfect time! It was far less than perfect by human standards but we do not measure things the way the world does or even our own feeble understanding. God help us today.

The Greatest Birth Announcement of All Time

Luke 2.8-20

The Birth of the King of Kings was not announced in Jerusalem, not to nobility or rulers of Israel but to shepherds on the job. The Birth of the Son of God was not announced to the Pharisees but to the Shepherds. The Birth of the Great High Priest was not announced to the Chief Priests in the temple to shepherds in the fields abiding watching oer their flocks by night.

What an announcement it was!

My good friend, Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio, reminded me this past week of a line from Art Alexander's devotional a few weeks ago, "It was our party before it was theirs!" And what a party it is!!!

1. This was in sync with the rest of what was happening with Jesus' Birth.
Joseph and Mary humble people from a humble town
Bethlehem, least among the clans of Judah

The Birth Of Jesus was overlooked by the world event of the census but not overshadowed! There may have been a massive movement of people on earth due to the decree of Caesar Augustus but what was happening in the skies that night and in Bethlehem among the animals infinitely surpassed it. It forever changed human history and eternity.

Christ's birth was overlooked by almost everyone save Mary, Joseph and a handful of shepherds...

Yet
2. This was the event on which time itself hinges.
B.C.

Compare Caesar Augustus' decree for the world and this announcement.
The parchments are gone which the decree was written on. The Roman Empire fell.
The Gospel records stand and the kingdom of Christ is an everlasting Kingdom. Those in heaven already.
John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Luke wrote at the end of Jesus' ministry on earth, Acts 1:1-2 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

His Kingdom continues to move forward here on earth.

God's ways- confound the wise. Small and insignificant in beginnings growing everyday.

We measure time by Advent, this event!
Even unbelievers consent unconsciously every time they wrote the date!

3.The Most Humble of Men were Shepherds.

Not an desired position- youngest in the family David
1 Samuel 16:10-11 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

Despised by the Egyptians
Genesis 46:31-34 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”


Lowly tasks:
*The shepherd is an expert in care of each lamb.
*He had to often dig out a reservoir among a flowing stream.
*He would prepare the meadow for pasture, sticks, poisonous plants.
*The shepherd picks up the sheep when they are cast.
*The shepherd leads the flock.
*He kept the flock safe from danger.
*The shepherd would discipline the sheep when they needed it.
*He would take care of wounds and scratches and pests.

In Psalm 23 David proclaimed, "The LORD is my Shepherd!"
In John 10.11 Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Good Shepherd."

Good news of Great Joy: The Lamb of God, The Good Shepherd has come to lay Himself down for the sheep! Born that men may no longer die, born to free the sons of earth, born to give them second birth, Jesus Our Immanuel

Temple sacrifices- Some Bible scholars have suggested that these were temple shepherds, the ones who raised the lambs for the daily sacrifices and for the feasts.
I think in one way, more than all other people, the shepherds understood the severity and ugliness of sin. They would raise the little male lambs for a year. They would take them to the temple to be inspected by the priest at the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. They would scrub them in the Pool of Bethesda. He would pick the best, the one without any defects and then bring it in to be sacrificed. That little lamb would die.
We think about how dogs and cats get attached to us. All dog and cat owners know what I am talking about, but sheep and the shepherds are even more attached. Little lambs were cared for by the shepherd in special ways. Then he had to give him up at such a young age.

A perfect little lamb killed for man's sin. It is a picture of what sin does. It kills. It takes our best. It wipes out the best among us. I think back over the years to the beautiful women I have known who allowed alcohol to get a grip on their lives and destroy them, making the broken and so unattractive. I think the shepherds must have been broken hearted people. This was good news in part because the old sacrificial system was being done away with.

I think back on the strong men, handsome and talented who allowed themselves to cross lines with a woman. Proverbs 23:27-28 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Proverbs 2:16-19 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

Proverbs 7:21-23 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.

I cannot help think of those who tried to become rich by cheating others and ended up bankrupt in their lives and souls: Proverbs 1:19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;it takes away the life of those who get it.
I have seen people sell their souls for money only to be destroyed in the end.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

1 John 3:8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

The Shepherds:
Unclean under the law.

They went to Bethlehem.
They saw Jesus.
They spread the Word.
30 years before John came as a witness to the Light the shepherds were telling what they had heard and seen about Jesus.

Luke 2:16-18 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

John proclaimed just prior to Jesus' Baptism, "The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world."

The priest would cut the jugular vein of the lamb and drain out the blood.
Jesus Our Great high Priest, the Lamb slain from the foundations of the world, the Son of God suffered an agonizing death as He carried the sins of the world.

We are to be like John and the shepherds, a witness to the Light, spreading the word concerning Jesus Christ. Go tell the story!

The Most Miraculous Birth Ever

Luke 1.26-38

The way Jesus came into the world is wonderful.
Being Born.
There were numerous Christophanies, appearances of God's Son in the Old Testament. God could have formed a body like He did for Adam, made His Son come as an adult, but Jesus was born as a baby. He engulfed the whole human experience: from conception to death.

The Virgin Birth. God chose a young woman who had never given birth or ever known a man to be the mother of Jesus Christ.

Nazareth, an out of the way place, no prophet ever came from there, "Nazareth?! Can anything good come out of Nazareth?!"- Nathaniel

Joseph and Mary were betrothed. This upset all her plans. When the LORD comes into our lives He does that! When we let Him do that He does something more wonderful than we can imagine.


1. The Innocent Trust of Mary
Humility
It is easy to see the family resemblance with ancestor David. The way they both handled news of God honoring them, giving them the privilege of being His servant. It is beautiful. It is a not a small thing for God to call us. It ought to bring a sense of unworthiness and humility.
I am always concerned about those, especially the young who feel they are doing God a favor by serving Him. When it is spoken about what they could have done or what they were doing before they embarked on following His will always concerns me or what they gave up. You never heard Jesus speak of what He left to come to this earth! You never heard him tell of the sacrifice He was making to boost Himself up. I don't care if the President would step away from his office to preach the Gospel it would still be nothing in comparison to what Christ did for us in leaving heaven to come to earth!

So David, on his run from Saul, doesn't talk about how good he had it back in Bethlehem watching the sheep. Paul, the apostle, considers all he had going for him as a Pharisee, dung, rubbish, that he might gain Christ and be found in Him.
Mary doesn't complain. She treasures these things up in her heart. She ponders them but we seldom hear her speak at all. Would that everyone who has left the old life to follow Jesus would be of the same mind and heart as these.

Being Afraid
v.48

Wonder God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming.

At first she assumed (as did the whole town of Nazareth including Joseph at first) that this was going to be a natural ordinary conception and birth.


2. The Word From Heaven

The Angel Gabriel told her this conception would be like no other.

We are given some explanation into this miracle but it still a miracle, wonder and a sign.
Isaiah 7.14

This was one of the Messiah's coming.
The place was another sign- Bethlehem.

A Word from heaven often takes apart our preconceptions, alters our faith and puts us in the realm of great blessing. We ought to saturate ourselves in the Word of God! My friend whom I was witnessing to a few years back was honest when he told me that the reason he didn't read the Bible is that he was afraid what he might find in it.

This Word from Gabriel gave explanation to Mary's questions but also raised some issues.


3. The Submission to the Will of God

It meant trouble.
Look at their lives the first few years. Moving twice and two substantial moves at that!... one out of the country.

Luke 3.23 tell us that it was thought that Jesus was Joseph's son. They lived under condemnation by people while being approved and accepted and honored by God. Yes, this is possible, and happens more often than you can imagine. When you do God's will and are His servant as you follow Jesus you bear reproach as He did often.

Listen to the words of Simeon 2.35

Submitting to God's Will does not mean the absence of trouble. Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble!
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

As children of God and followers of Jesus we are tempted to believe the lie that we are to be healthy, wealthy and happy and successful. We forget the Word in Hebrews about men and women of faith.
Hebrews 11:35-40 There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

I was up early on Tuesday to see the funeral of Nelson Mandela, 4am there are some real wackies on TV... this guy was telling how he had a financial anointing on him. He could pronounce that blessing on others so they could become rich. He was clever too! He was telling about exploits they could do for God if they just had money. They could build orphanages, feed hungry children. He made it sound appealing but underneath he was appealing to greed. He was going against the scriptures that say if we have food and clothing we ought to be content with that! Interestingly I was just reading about Bob Pierce in the early days of World Vision, how he said he would rather 10,000 people each give a dollar than one wealthy benefactor give $10,000. He said that behind those little gifts are the prayers of 10,000 people where with the single giver there would just be one person praying for the work of God.

Submission to God's Will ...
It was fraught with uncertainty
Mary knew Joseph could have walked out on her or worse!
If he pushed it he could have had her stoned.
At one point he was going to divorce her quietly. Obviously he didn't believe her story.
She knew she would live under a cloud her whole life.
Being a pregnant unmarried teenager in Nazareth 2000 years ago was a lot different than today, a world of difference!

Mary saw the wonder, the privilege, the honor and the joy. These things do not always come apart from uncertainty. Often they are wrapped up in it!

God's blessing often come to us through difficulties. Many times His wonders come with great challenges to our lives an to our faith. We have to count the cost in receiving honor in God's kingdom. It is not handed out indiscriminately.

It was in God's Hands.

And so it must be with us. Our times are in His Hands... and even though we will have trouble in this world we can know the peace that surpasses all understanding and that He has overcome the world. Or we can be like Atlas across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral in the city with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Far too often in my own life I worry. I have to repent. I am learning.

You worry about things you cannot change. You cannot figure them out. The mental energy output leaves us exhausted. We become spiritually fatigued and wonder "Why am I so tired?" The answer often comes down to trusting the LORD wholeheartedly.

We need to hear this word about this most miraculous birth, this most wonderful conception ever: vs.37-38 For nothing is impossible with God. I am the LORD's servant", "Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said" Then the angel left her.

Nothing is impossible with God. Not the virgin birth or any struggle you may be facing in your life this day. Certainly the LORD did not work in Mary's life the way she could ever anticipated! This was not something she would have chosen for herself. To begin with she was way too humble! But God did do a wonderful thing for Mary and through Mary. When she asked how it would all happen she was given an answer but that answer gave her even more questions. She submitted and received the wonderful Word of God. For nothing is impossible with God. You can depend upon it!

Why not surrender your worries and troubles to Him today? Let the miracle of Christ's birth grip your heart. God works wonders. Luke 1:50-51 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm...

Light Shining Into Darkness

John 1.5
John 1.1-14

We are taken back to the Beginning in this morning's passage, before the creation of the world. At creation there was darkness. God created light. This illumination, this shining forth came from Him. He created all things, but this is what He is, Light.

God is light.
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

The Psalmist spoke of it:
Psalm 118:27 The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?


1.The Power of the Light
Darkness cannot overtake it.
It is its nature. A little light will show up in the darkness.
It will dispel the darkness. Small flashlight... Ray Toca, mine, Headlight.

Wherever believers go it spreads! The Church has never been knocked out of commission by persecution, on the contrary. It has however become lukewarm and distasteful to the LORD when its riches increase and it doesn't sense its need of Christ.

The light of God.
Let there be light.

The prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

The prophecy of Zechariah, John the Baptist's father:
Luke 1.78b- 79 by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

The Birth of Jesus. Angels in the sky.

The Transfiguration

Jesus's own words about Himself
John 9:4-5 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

No need for the sun in heaven. The Lamb of God is the light.
Revelation 21:23-25 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.


2.The Problem with the Light
Men's deeds are evil They don't understand due to stubborn refusal.

They have not been able to extinguish it, but neither have they been able to comprehend it.

I have to really work on not arguing with my atheist connections. They remind me of someone heading off a cliff while telling everyone they will be fine. They cannot see, they cannot comprehend the love of God. I pray for their blinded eyes to be opened.
Love takes away the blindness, not debating or arguing, even if we are right!

Light shining in darkness is an irritant to the eyes. Also to the soul.
John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

But the light also can be used to clean, light on a front of a vacuum...

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

I John 5.20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.



3. The Promise of the the Light
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


Shine before men
They will see your good works
Glory will go to Our Father in Heaven

Preach the Gospel always and when necessary use words.

Ephesians 4:1-3, 17-21, 25-26, 28-32 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


4. The Personal Aspect of God's Light
My light Psalm 27.1

The Word that was with God in the beginning, God's Son became flesh, dwelt among us, touched lepers, fed 1,000's, took children in His arms and blessed them and whenever He did a healing there was personal contact. He even stopped everything one day when He realized power went out from Him but He didn't know to whom.

Jesus did not do mass healing. Each person He called He called personally.

We need to pray more for people walking in darkness to come into the light. We need to pray for the LORD to shine His Light into their hearts through our lives.

Dear friends, if you and I know our real destiny, and are the servants of God, we are sent that men might, through us, believe in Jesus. John was a special witness; but we ought all to be witnesses to complete the chain of testimony. Every Christian man should reckon that he is sent from God to bear witness to the great Light, that, through him, men might believe. -Spurgeon

An Amazing Ancestral Line

Matthew 1.1-17

We have been studying David's life this fall. We had come to that place a few weeks ago where David wanted to build a temple for the LORD. The LORD gave David this promise:
2 Samuel 7:4-13, 16-17 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

These opening verses of the New Testament, these words of Matthew (whose name means gift of God) are the foundation of the fulfillment of God's Promise to David.

They are also the record of the fulfillment of God's Promise to Abraham, not of a kingdom like David but of descendants as numerous as the grains of sands on the seashore.

God keeps His promises. He weaves into the personal promises His plan of salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The New Testament opens revealing the LORD, Who is faithful to all His Promises.

We have records here of the ancestry line of Abraham to David and of David to Jesus Christ our LORD. Abraham and David were men who loved God deeply. Abraham was a friend of God. David was a man after God's own heart.

But David and Abraham had their faults and sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was a perfect man. He had no sin. He is the Lamb of God.

In His Ancestors there was a common thread- sin! As well as His descendants.

This is Jesus' legal line... through Joseph his "adopted" father on earth. Yes, that is correct Jesus knows what it means to have a mother who bore Him and have a man as His father who He is not related to biologically. All step dads can learn from Joseph, Mary's husband.

This brings up a second point. Jesus knows what it is like to be born and raised in a family where legitimate parentage is questioned. This was a deep dig when the Jews said to Him:
John 8:41”We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Let's look at the dark side of this family line:
Look at a few:

Jacob and His struggle with Esau

Judah and his brothers
Genesis 37:26-27 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

Rahab and her life of sin

Solomon from David and Bathsheba's union

Isaiah 53:10-11 But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul,He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

But beyond Abraham's mess up with Hagar and David's sin with Bathsheba, there are a number of characters in this ancestry line which tells us Jesus was numbered with the transgressors not only in His death but in His ancestral line!

The perfection of God comes through in the human race because of His grace: 14 is the numerical value for David DVD

God ruled and overruled in this ancestry line. His grace are greater than our sins! His purposes will be fulfilled. We should not go on sinning so that grace may abound. God forbid! But our sin doesn't destroy God's purposes. He Keeps On Working!


1. We have all sinned. Romans 3.23
The facets of sin are many. A person may be positive and seemingly patient but not a believer.

Sin separates us from God, puts us at enmity with Him. Have you heard a person protest when you try and witness? They tell you that they have been
a good citizen, that you don't need to go to church to be a Christian, that they never killed anyone...


2. We all need a Savior.
1 Timothy 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

We were helpless.
Our goodness was not enough.

Jesus took upon Himself flesh.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

He was the sacrifice for our sins.
Hebrews 9:26b now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.



3. Jesus takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!



4. Christmas is about the Savior, the Son of God, the Suffering Servant coming to earth to save men from their sins.

We need Him more than ever! Justin at Target telling me about Thursday night.

This is receptive season, a time where people's hearts are opened. Jackson, little boy in our nursery school at the Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, brought his whole family.

This descendant of Abraham, descendant of David, God's only Son, died on a cross to bring salvation to the world.