The Journey to Bethlehem - Christ's Journey
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Introduction
Introduction
Today is Christmas Day! Throughout this entire month, we focused on Bethlehem. Specifically, we considered the journey of those involved in this magnificent event.
Mary and Joseph’s journey began when God abruptly interrupted their plans for married life. Mary’s pregnancy offered many challenges for both of them. However, in the end, they willingly submitted to the Lord as His servants. Thus, their journey to Bethlehem was a journey of willing obedience to Jehovah God.
As for the shepherds, we noted that their life was also abruptly interrupted by God. Again, they were doing what shepherds do; watching sheep. As they were doing the mundane chores of life, an angel of the Lord appeared to them. The angel announced that the long-awaited Messiah was born in their home village. Then, without warning, multitudes of angels appeared alongside the one angel praising God. As we know, they immediately headed back to Bethlehem. There they found the newborn child. They worshipped at the feet of the Lamb of God. Afterward, these shepherds began spreading the good news of what they had heard and who they had seen. Their journey to Bethlehem was witnessing the entrance of the Lamb of God.
Then, last week, we examined the journey of wise men. These men began a journey over mountains, valleys, and deserts. It was a journey that led them to Jerusalem and encounter with wicked King Herod. Although Herod’s intent was to destroy Christ, it opened an opportunity for all of Jerusalem to open the Scriptures once more as they thought about Micah’s prophecy. After learning the prophesied location of the Messiah, they set out on their journey as, once again, God’s special star led them to Bethlehem. It was there they found the babe with his mother, Mary. Their journey to Bethlehem was worshiping before the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe. As they came into His presence, they fell to their knees and worshipped Him as the King of Kings. Sacrificially they gave gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh.
We have one last person who journeyed to Bethlehem that we must consider. In fact, this person’s journey is the most important. Today, I want us to consider Christ’s journey to Bethlehem. As we will see, Christ’s journey to Bethlehem was so that He might do the work of atonement.
Let’s first consider this fact.
Christ’s Arrival in Bethlehem was Planned Long Before Men Sinned
Christ’s Arrival in Bethlehem was Planned Long Before Men Sinned
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
As we know from the context of John 1, these three verses speak about the Lord Jesus Christ. Long before Bethlehem was a thing, Christ was already living. Many would say He did not exist until He was born in the manger. That is not so. In fact, that is false news. The true reality is that Christ was in the beginning. He was with God, and He is God. And, as verse 3 states, everything we see around us was made by him. Without him, not one single molecule of our universe would exist.
You might recall from one of the earlier messages the prophecy of Micah.
2 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.
Even within that prophecy, it is clearly stated that Christ is one whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. That is the wonderful news of Christ’s birth. His journey to Bethlehem started long before the world was created, and men sinned. Part of that wonderful news is that Christ already knew our condition. God already had a plan. God’s plan was that His Son comes to die for our sins. He came to make atonement for us.
Throughout Christ’s ministry on earth, He testified to His preexistence.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
In Colossians, we read the following.
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
We also see in the great book of Revelations this fact.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
I share this thought with you for one primary reason. Nothing catches God by surprise. Our sin was not unexpected. Instead, God anticipated it and planned for it. His plan included Him coming as the Lord Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin in a small village called Bethlehem. For it would be out of that small village that the Ruler of all things would come.
Christ’s Arrival in Bethlehem Set the Stage for Atonement
Christ’s Arrival in Bethlehem Set the Stage for Atonement
For this point, I take you back to the angel’s announcement to Mary.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
You must understand the significance of Mary’s question. Remember her question was, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Scripture makes much of the fact that Christ was born of a virgin. It is a critical element of Christ dying for our sins.
Let me explain it this way. For God to be satisfied, a sacrifice must be made for our sins. No ordinary man could do this since all men are born sinners. Thus, the only way true atonement could be made was a perfect, sinless lamb’s blood had to be shed for you and me. Christ’s birth through a virgin ensured the taint of sin would not be in Him. Additionally, God’s only begotten Son was the proper sacrifice. Remember John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Had Christ been born of a union between Mary and Joseph, He would have been the son of man, not God. Therefore, Christ’s virgin birth was necessary for His future work of atonement upon the cross. He was born of a virgin. He born the spotless Lamb of God. He came into this world for one purpose. Christ himself stated that purpose during His ministry.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
For this reason, we find this truth.
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Here is the true reason we celebrate the Christmas season. We celebrate that God came in the flesh so He might go to the cross to die. He was born so that He might die so that we might live. That is why the angels sang at His birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” That day, Christ’s journey to Bethlehem became a reality. On that same day, Christ also began His journey to the cross. On that lonely hill called Golgotha, Christ willingly laid down His life for our sins. Subsequently, He took our sin upon Himself. He paid the penalty for our sins.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ’s Arrival in Bethlehem is Our Salvation
Christ’s Arrival in Bethlehem is Our Salvation
As I already stated, man’s sin did not take God by surprise. He undoubtedly had a plan already in place. And, as we have noted, Christ was the plan. He came so that He might make atonement for our sins. An action that He completed successfully with His death, burial, and resurrection. As a result, God gave the gift of eternal life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You see, we stand before God already condemned. All men are destined to spend eternity without God.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Here is a sobering thought! God knows us, and we are already recorded in the books. Our eternal destiny is set. We are already under God’s condemnation.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
There is a day when the books will be open along with the book of life. Your name is already in the books of condemnation. The more serious question is will your name be in the book of life. There is only one way your name will be in that book. You must believe that Christ died for your sin and commit your life to follow Him. Scripture is quite clear that we must repent. We must turn from this life of self and sin by turning to Christ, who died for us. He became the payment for our sins. Accordingly, if you want to escape (be saved from) an eternity without God, you must put your faith in Christ, for it is He Who possesses eternal life.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
For this same reason, we read in Romans 10 the following.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Christ’s journey to Bethlehem was the beginning of a grand rescue operation. He came to rescue us. If we will believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths who we are and what He has done for us, then God promises that we will be saved. At that moment, your name is written in the book of life. Having your name there is the most crucial decision of your life. You will not spend eternity with Him if it is not there on the day God reads those names. Instead, you will spend a lone dark eternity in the fiery, unquenchable flames of Hell. For this reason, Christ journeyed to Bethlehem. He came so that you might live eternally.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As I wrap up this message this morning, I do so with this thought! You are here right now for one specific reason. God has brought you here so that you might learn about His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants you to know how much He truly loves you. His love is the driving force for His journey to earth. He was born in that lowly manger so that you might know Him. Today is Christmas Day! What a wonderful time of the year to accept the greatest gift of all. Will you receive God’s gift of salvation this Christmas morn? It is quite a simple process.
Acknowledge your sin and its heavy price
Acknowledge that Christ paid for your sin upon the cross of Calvary
Believe it completely
Open your mouth and call upon Him for your salvation today
If you do that, God’s promise of salvation and eternal life will be yours today.