Messiah-Sought After

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Many people know the story of Christmas and equate the birth of Jesus as Christianity. The birth was essential of course because He had to come in the form of a man to offer Himself as the One perfect and complete offering so we could have a relationship with God. Hebrews 9:11 “But Christ has arrived as a high priest of the good things to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent not made by hands, that is, not of this creation,” Hebrews 10:10 “by which will we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 ESV

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Jeremiah 29:13–14 ESV

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Proverbs 8:17 ESV

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Isaiah 55:6 ESV

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

The Event-The Birth

7 verses in Luke to speak of the birth, Matthew speaks that it took place in Bethlehem

The Proclamation

Something has happened is clear in the Gospels, but what Luke moves on to is not simply the event but the revelation- Something the Lord has made known. God had to reveal the meaning of this event for us to understand. God uses three ways to reach three groups of people

Angel-to the shepherds

Holy Spirit- to Simeon and Anna

Jesus Himself -to Mary and Joseph

Those Who Had No Clue/Missed it

God won’t let you miss it. It has been or will be brought to you today. registration- to get them to Bethlehem, no one there looking. God used a star to tell the wise men who told Herod, who wanted to destroy the Truth

Those Who Have a Symbol

the Shepherds were protecting their flock-not theirs

The flocks were the sacrifices to be offered but not the real thing

Those who Have a Desire

Simeon and Anna- waiting for the consolation of Israel, looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem

Serving God faithfully and wanting to see Him

Those Who Fear The Loss of Him

Mary and Joseph lost Jesus, well at least they thought they did. three days journey speaks to a life that has gotten caught up in the issues of life, travels. Return to Him, He is doing His work, return to His work