Pastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, December 18, 2011

“Christmas Miracles” Part 3 of 4

The Most Incredible…

Luke 2 & Selected

Incredible – “So extraordinary as to seem impossible” 

Over the last two weeks we looked at…

Hundreds of prophecies, 400 “silent years”, Zechariah’s angelic encounter, Birth of John the Baptist, God encounters for Mary & Joseph, The Most Incredible Incarnation… Continuing our Christmas messages…

The Most Incredible…

1. 1. PLACE for the Birth of Jesus!

• There were thousands of towns in the days of Christ. But only one had been predicted as Messiah's birthplace by Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (The Birthplace of King David…)
• Micah 700 years BC… a very specific place: Bethlehem “house of bread”… Ephrathah “fruitful”

Luke 2:1-7 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to his own town to register. ⁴ 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.

• To fulfill the prophecy of Micah 5:2... Gov’t ordered census… Joseph returned to his “hometown”…
• In verse 3 “everyone went” — a strong Greek word suggesting hustle and bustle in travel — people going in every direction with haste. (Sounds similar to Christmas today)…
• The week long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was 70 miles – walking, donkey... very pregnant…
• Like from here to Allentown... what was she pondering in her heart... carrying the promised Messiah

⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ 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.

• The Roman taxation at that exact time, the perilous journey to God’s prophetic town – Bethlehem…
• Exhausted, wore out from traveling then not finding a place to unwind... (our trips are tiresome)
• With all the influx of people registering... the inn was full – a “no vacancy” sign was lit and flashing!
• A crowded inn like our crowded lives... space was filled with other guests... fill our lives w/ other things

• They were sent to the local sheep stable – often a cave in those days – not the best of smells
• The stables of Bethlehem was the birthplace for Passover lambs to sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem
• The swaddling clothes v7 were cloth torn into strips. The same Greek word was used to describe medical cloths and was also used for wrapping people when prepared for burial.

• In a forgotten corner of a forgotten town came the most INCREDIBLE news the world has ever heard. 

• Oh it was a wondrous night... An incredible place where Jesus the Messiah was born…

The Most Incredible… (Place)

1. 2. PEOPLE chosen to be used by God!

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

• In Jesus’ day the shepherds were the nobodies of society, the ceremonially unclean outcasts…
• They were the zeros, the snubbed and ignored, the despised and looked down upon outcasts of society because they were dirty… Banned from temple worship (kept out of church) – unclean & smelly
• They were not allowed in court because they could not be trusted...despised, looked down upon bunch
• Aren’t you glad God sees differently than man? God chose the most unlikely, He chose the shepherds!
• Oh, what a wondrous night it was 2000 years ago in the fields surrounding Bethlehem…

The Most Incredible… (Place, People)

1. 3. PROCLAIMATION made by God’s Angels!

Luke 2:9-14 ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

• The great announcement came to the least likely people... the lowly shepherds
  • God announced the birth not only to the most unlikely but also in the most unusual way
  • The angel (most likely Gabriel who stands in God’s presence) proclaimed the awesome news!
  • Glory of the Lord “shone” around them… to fully illuminate – spectacular, incredible… WOW
  • God’s host lit up the dark world of the shepherds... the night became as brilliant light
• A Savior has been born to YOU... not to Herod, Caesar, Chief Priest but to you the shepherds
  • Oh, wondrous night… GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY for ALL PEOPLE…
  • The Creator can be found in a cradle, in a manger in a stable... THIS IS GOOD NEWS.
  • Immanuel is born, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Savior… Jesus is born – Incredible NEWS!

Our Greatest Need

• If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
• If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
• If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
• If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
• But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior… He is Christ the LORD!

¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

• • He sent angelic host ‘stratia’ armies from heaven in the most spectacular way...
  • Good News that you can be born again, born from above, SAVIOR - your sins can be forgiven!
  • “Peace to men on whom God’s favor/grace rests”… Immanuel, The Christ, Savior, Lord… peace!

Read about a father and his son were taking a nature hike through the woods when they came upon some ants working furiously to clear a path. The ants were scurrying here and there trying desperately to provide a clear path for ant travel. They worked individually as well as a team, but to no avail. Father and son watched a long time in silence. Finally the boy looked at his Dad and said, "I wish I could help the ants." Father responded by telling his son that his presence would send them to hide for safety. After some more silence and some more observation the son spoke with much intent. "You know, Dad, if I could become an ant, become one of them for a short time I could help them."  (What Christ did for us)             (Autoillustrator.com, CHRISTMAS "I COULD HELP THEM")

The Most Incredible… (Place, People, Proclamation)

1. 4. PLAN to Reach the World for Christ!

Luke 2:15-19 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." ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

• The lowest class of society, the shepherd nobodies… said “let’s go check things out…” & see
• Quickly, they sought out and found the Savior… the Christ (Messiah)… the Lord (Yahweh, God)…
• They were quite familiar with the stables in the area… they sought and found baby Jesus!

¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

• It was all true… They spread the word, glorifying and praising God! Telling others good news!
• Are we sharing the Good News of Jesus?  Reaching others? The greatest message ever…

The Son of God began his life in a feeding trough for animals. Ironically his life would not end much better. It ended on a dirty wooden cross - used by those crucified earlier and rusty iron nails. From a manger licked by cattle to a cross stained with blood. And neither place: the manger of Bethlehem nor the cross of Calvary was really fitting for “Immanuel - God with us”.

The Most Incredible… (Place, People, Proclamation, Plan)

1. 5. PRAISE and Glory to Almighty God!

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

• The Shepherds were the First to Hear about the birth of Jesus! V11… First to Seek after Jesus! V16… First to Find Jesus! V16… First to Share about Jesus! V17… and then the First to Rejoice over Jesus! V20
• The non-religious shepherds were now truly praising and worshiping their Lord… Changed Eternally
• Their hearts were so moved by this event – they burst out in praise… “normal” lifestyle of a Christian!!

A mother and father went Christmas shopping one Saturday afternoon with their seven-year-old daughter. The Little girl was so thrilled and enthusiastic about the season. But her parents were just the opposite- - they were so grumpy, so tense and uptight, so worn out with all the traffic jams and lists and bills and long lines.
When the family returned home that night, the little girl was singing Christmas carols; but her mother and father were arguing and irritated with one another. Finally, the father, told the little girl to stop singing and go to bed.
The little girl started upstairs to her room; but she stopped on the stairway, opened the window, and looked out. "Why did you open the window and let in the cold air?" Her father asked. "Because I thought I heard the angels singing," she answered. Still angry and tired, the father said, "I don’t hear any angels singing, and neither do you. Now get upstairs, and get in that bed right now!" The little girl started up the stairs; but then she paused and said gently, "Daddy, if you want to hear the angels sing, you have to listen with your heart."

This Christmas, slow down and listen with your heart…

The shepherds heard, they saw, they believed, they went, they found, they told, they rejoiced!

The shepherds were changed!

Have YOU Experienced the Most Incredible Christmas Miracle?  JESUS