For Unto us a Child is Born

Service Notes

Looking at Luke 19 from last week and moving forward

Luke 19:10-13 “10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

An unexpected light that comes from Jesus

Isaiah 9:1–7 (KJV)

1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Unexpected

Isaiah 9:1 “1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.”

Thought they would have started in Jerusalem, not Galilee

Galilee (of the nations) of the gentiles

No one expects this. Remember John 1 - Nazareth?

Always been a pecking order. People look down on Galilee / we look down on Alabama

Not a comfortable start

Not a middle class family

Surrounded by shepherds

Pregnant, unmarried teenage girl

None of the markers the world looks for

The world does not recognize greatness

1 Cor God chose the weak things of this world

What is the Spirit of Christmas?

Christmas announces: God, who made everything, has come to us in our flesh.

Ultimate Light

Isaiah 9:2 “2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

Idea of darkness and death

Psalm 23 the shadow of death

If the sun went out (1) we would be zero degrees at the end of the day (2) 100 below in a year (3) Level off at negative 400 - most of us would suffocate before we make means to create enough oxygen

Let there light then the sun would be created

When the city of God comes to earth there will be no sun

God and the Lamb will be the light

In that light nothing dies. Noting decays

Some gifts require humiity to receive