Jesus Christ

Good morning Church and Merry Christmas. I just love this time of year and telling the story of Christ. Well we have seen the message acted out by the Children, sung by the Choir and now we are going to see the story of Christ in the Word. If you would please go ahead and turn to we are going to start in verse 1. This is the story of the Birth of Christ, the one whom the OT foretold and the one who would save us from our sins. Beginning in in verse 1 it says:

Luke 2:1–20 NASB95

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:1-

Pray

Do you hear it? Do you? The crowds at the stores, the rush of busy people, the stress and fear this time of year brings people? I was at Wal-Mart yesterday, feeling the pain. Parking lot was packed. People were being rude, cutting each other off. People jumping the line at the registers. All the business and fuss of the holiday season there in my full view. Can you hear it? Or, do you hear what I heard in the middle of that busy store, the cry of the baby Jesus? That’s right, right there as my blood started to boil, I hear Christ calling through the madness and giving me peace. Reminding me what Christmas was all about. So as an older gentleman cuts in front of me in the line, I deny my flesh to lash out and calmly invite him into the line. I confess, I could not do this on my own. My flesh was crying out for justice and restitution, but Christ in me cried out for calm and patience. You see Jesus understands what it means to be vulnerable and laid bare before all the world, before all the chaos. You see he did not come as a superhero or Rockstar, no he came to this world as a babe. This morning I want to talk about that Baby born to us this day and why he came in such a vulnerable state. And finally, I want to talk about our reliance upon God the same as Jesus and His and it all started with the birth of a baby, one who’s name would be Jesus.

I. As a Baby –

A. Why

1. Prophesy

a. , , - Coming of Jesus

b. – come from woman

c. – Come from Bethlehem

d. 312 prophesies of His coming

2. Law

a. Fulfill the command of God

a. God gives penalty of sin

b. penalty for disobedience

B. Same as any sacrifice

1. Fulfill the Law

a. Jesus was born as all sacrificial animals are

b. Had to be unblemished

2. Unblemished

a. Without spot or stain

b. From the birth until death

c. Only perfection could close the gap

d. Problem with animals is they had no choice

e. Jesus did

II. Vulnerable

A. Small

1. Had to rely upon Mom and Dad

2. Didn’t come with super powers

3. Fully vulnerable

a. Sickness

b. Death

c. Anything, we could suffer He could suffer

B. Had to be fully man

1. Demanded by the Law

b. Only a man could pay the price

2. As one man broke it, only one man could fix it

C. Fully Reliant upon God –

1. Had to rely upon the Father’s Plan

a. Would have known the plan

b. The father and son are one

2. Knew it was perfect

a. Knew the plan from the beginning of the world

3. Knew it would succeed

a. Do we believe that?

b. God’s plan always succeeds

c. What the story of Jesus is about

III. Fully Trust in God’s Plan –

A. Vulnerable

1. A babe in God’s plan

2. Fully trusting

3. Talk to Him about our weaknesses

4. Share those with others

5. Let people know its OK

B. Fully trusting – Hearing Christ in the Chaos

1. Believe in the plan

2. Understand who God is

a. In your Bible

b. Praying

c. Watching His response

C. Faith – Doing something about it

1. Not the same as trust

2. Belief in action

3. Step out

4. Do what He is calling you to do

a. Be what He is calling you to be

Conclusion:

This Christmas, make the change; become like the babe Jesus, lying in the manger, trust in God’s plan. He came as a babe to fulfill the Law, but not just to fulfill the Law, but to provide us an example to live by. Showing us, that God’s plan is perfect and that even He would trust the plan as He came to the Earth as a baby. Through this He also proves that being vulnerable is truly strength because when we become like the baby, we rely on God’s strength not our own. We become fully reliant in God’s purpose and that give us strength beyond our understanding and freedom beyond our ability to comprehend. Hearing the voice of Jesus is as simple as letting go of yourself and your own understanding and let yourself be laid into the arms of the savior, just as Jesus lay in the arms of Mary the night He was born in the manger.

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