What is So Special About This Baby? (2)
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Intro:
This week we will focus on the central figure of the Christmas story, Jesus Himself come as a baby born to Mary and Joseph.
What is so special about this baby? He is the center of our history—even our calendar is based on the date of the arrival of our Savior. Through the event of Christmas, God divided history completely!
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. ()
What is so special about this baby? Let’s go to to find out.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ()
I- The Relevance of the Christ Child: God came to Earth!
(man landing on the moon doesn’t compare)
() You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Christmas is all about God invading the Earth!There are people who say that Jesus was a good man or a prophet. The problem is that He never claimed to be a prophet or a good man—He claimed to be God!Jesus is God. In fact, He has ALWAYS been God. ()
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
Jesus’ story doesn’t begin in the manger.He existed before all of creation. There has never been a time when Jesus did not exist. ()
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. ()
Jesus said: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
The reality of the Christ Child: God became a man ()
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
Jesus wasn’t just God, but he was also 100% human. How was He like us?He was born like us (He wasn’t a spirit that just appeared, He didn’t come down in a UFO, He didn’t come dressed as a King—instead He was born in manger in a humble village) He grew up like us () Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.He was tempted like us () This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.He suffered like we do () He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
The Reason for the Christ Child: Jesus Came to Die ()
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Why did He die?
Because He loves us. ()
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
To pay the price for our evil. () He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
The Result of the Christ Child: Jesus is the exalted King! ()
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He is King!() If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. What does it mean “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord”?Declare that Jesus is God.Believe that He has all authority.Give my life to Him. Philippians says that one day EVERYONE will see and recognize Him declaring Him to be Lord.On that day, some will declare that with joy, but others will do so with tears.The question is not will you do so, but when!