Christ is Greater

The story of Christ’s birth is familiar and well-loved by many. We have heard the Scripture verses many times! One of the most well-known verses is Isaiah 7:14.

Isaiah 7:14 KJV 1900

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

We know what the Bible says about how it all happened. But consider just a few of the unlikely, improbable, and impossible things that God accomplished in the birth of Christ.

God promised He would send a Messiah to Israel. How would He accomplish that? God chose to send Christ during a time of danger and suffering under Roman rule. How would that take place? How would God cause a virgin to conceive? How would Christ be born to Mary, who lived in Nazareth, but be born in Bethlehem? How would shepherds learn of His birth, and find Him in bustling Bethlehem on that night?

Tonight, as we examine the Luke 2 account, I want us to consider it with this theme in mind: Christ is greater. There were many impossible and unlikely things that had to happen for Christ to be born, but He is greater. And no matter what is going on in your life tonight, Christ is greater, and He can accomplish His purposes through it. He showed that even in His birth.

I. Christ is greater than human impossibilities

“A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.” It’s impossible for this to happen…yet, Christ is greater than the impossibilities of humanity. His name is Immanuel, and as Matthew 1 tells us, that means, “God with us.” Christ isn’t just a good man, or A son of God. He is The only begotten Son of God. He is the Saviour, and He is God. And He is greater than all the impossible things in your life!

II. Christ is greater than kings

Luke 2:1–2 KJV 1900

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Joseph and Mary were preparing for Jesus to be born in Nazareth, and then Caesar makes an unexpected decree! This would disrupt their plans! We can worry every day over how life may interfere with our plans! Joseph had no power over this seeming ill-timed decree from Caesar, but God did. And in fact, He was showing His power over kings by using it to accomplish His will.

Micah 5:2 KJV 1900

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Joseph had no idea, but this decree by Caesar would be a tool in the hand of God to take this little family to Bethlehem, to fulfill a prophecy made hundreds of years earlier. Who is greater than kings? Christ is…He is the King of kings!

Later, when King Herod tried to kill the young Christ, God led Joseph, Mary and Jesus into Egypt to escape, fulfilling more prophecy in the process. Kings are typically the most powerful people, but Christ is greater than them all.

III. Christ is greater than our difficulties

Luke 2:3–7 KJV 1900

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Joseph and Mary probably traveled by foot to Bethlehem, and the long trip could have been 90 miles or more. This isn’t ideal, especially for a woman with child! As inconvenient and difficult as it was, God was using their ancestral origin and Caesar’s decree to accomplish His divine will. Christ’s birth wasn’t stymied by circumstantial difficulties, because He is greater.

I’m assuming that Mary and Joseph regretted not being able to provide Jesus with better conditions. I’m imagining that staying in (likely) a barn, possibly a cave, was NOT the delivery room that Mary was hoping for! A peaceful, relaxing birth in a secluded rural town is probably not a good description of Mary’s personal experience! Yet when we view the event from the perspective of Scripture, we may see its beauty and God’s power on full display. Whatever difficulties you are going through, friend, Christ is greater! He is not hampered by them, though they are difficult to us!

IV. Christ is greater than our ignorance

Luke 2:8–11 KJV 1900

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

It was the night that a matchless baby was born to an unknown young couple, but a group of shepherds were unaware and ignorant of this world-changing event. They were busy minding their own business, completely oblivious that Christ had come.

Many people don’t know Christ; many people haven’t even heard His name before. They do not know who He truly is, they do not know that He loves them and died for them, and they don’t know that He wants to save them from the eternal damnation that their sin deserves. They are ignorant…but praise God, Christ is greater than our ignorance!

Take heart, friend: God’s grace to you isn’t dependent on your knowledge or abilities. He is greater than that.

V. Christ is greater than our confusion

Luke 2:12–14 KJV 1900

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

I imagine the shepherds having countless questions rush through their minds, and the angels answered the most important ones.

“A Saviour, who is Christ? How will we find Him?”

“How can we be sure this isn’t a dream? What if we’re seeing an apparition?”

The angels gave clear instructions on how to find Christ, and they gave a clear assurance that it was all from Jehovah.

The multitude of angels would have been a magnificent sight, but this phrase jumped out at me: “This shall be a sign unto you.” The shepherds were to look for a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Bethlehem was packed with people because of the taxation, and no doubt there were many infants in town as well. How could the shepherds find the Christ?

People today are overwhelmed by the multitude of false prophets and false religions, each telling them how to please God. It’s confusing. How can a person find the one and only Christ? Simply this: there is no one like Him. There was only one baby wrapped in swaddling clothes; that was the sign to the shepherds. There is no other person like Christ! He is the ONLY Saviour! He is the only one who has died for your sins! He is the only one to do and say what He has done and said. He is Christ the Lord, and there is no other! This is truly good tidings of great joy! You don’t need to be confused; you just need to look on Christ the Lord as He is revealed in the Scriptures. He is greater than your confusion.

VI. He is greater than all, and so we must seek Him

Luke 2:15–20 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

We’ve seen many ways in which Christ is greater, but His presence in Bethlehem and invitation to the shepherds didn’t ensure they met Him: they had to choose to seek Him. When they finally returned to their fields, they did with rejoicing, praising and glorifying God!

These men had sought to find Christ, and they did not go home empty. The angel had told them, “Ye shall find the babe...” Friend, when you seek after Christ according to truth, believing what God has told us in His Word, you WILL find Him!

Jeremiah 29:11–13 KJV 1900

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Christ is greater than anything—greater than human impossibilities, greater than kings, greater than your difficulties, ignorance or confusion. He is greater than all, and He may be found by all, if we will seek Him.

Christ is the Lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world, including yours. He shed His blood and died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again after three days in the tomb. He did all this, so that sinners could be right with God! His work in your life is not limited by anything—except your unbelief. If you will seek Him with all your heart, you WILL find Him. Have you found Him? If you’ve never met Christ, won’t you seek Him today? May we say with the shepherds, “Let us now go and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.” Seek Christ today! You won’t regret it.