Christmas Eve

Introduction:

Luke 2:1–20 NIV

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 their 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. 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 guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 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. 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. 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.

Point 1: God is in control.

Many times we question why things happen the way they do.

We question God at times when things don’t happen the way we think they should, but I want to remind you that nothing catches God by surprise.

At first glance, it would seem like things were not playing out the way that they should had for Mary and Joseph.

The announcement is made to Mary and Joseph that they are about to have a baby, but they have to make the some 90 mile trip from Nazareth to the north down to Bethlehem in the south.

They get to Bethlehem and find out there is no place for them to stay because of everyone else who had to travel, so they are forced to stay in a barn.

This passage, which many people refer to as the Christmas story, tells us that while there were there Mary gave birth to her child.

She gives birth to her child in a barn, wraps him in clothes, and places Him in a manger.

Not the ideal place for the savior of the world to be born, but it was all part of God’s plan.

I found myself thinking about the fact that there was no room for them at the inn.

I was thinking that God being all-powerful and all-knowing surely should have known this would happen and absolutely could have made sure that there was a place for them to stay.

I have watched God line things up for us to be here at the church and the miracle of buying the home that we are in.

If He did that for us He could have had a place reserved for Jesus to be born.

I had already started on my sermon for this service so I already knew the direction that I wanted to go.

Kathy Herr came up to me this morning to share a poem with me that her Grandmother had written years ago.

It goes along with what I am speaking about so I want to read it.

Read Kathy Her’s Grandmother’s poem.

This was all part of God’s plan.

In Old Testament times, the priests would pick out a lamb that would qualify to be their Passover Lamb.

The lamb had to be a perfect male lamb without defect meaning that it could not have any broken bones or injury's.

They would take the lamb and wrap it is clothes so that it would not hurt itself and lay it in a manger—a feeding trough.

Jesus’ birth in a barn and then being laid in a manger was no accident, but was a picture that Jesus truly was our Passover Lamb.

We read in the Old Testament about the Passover Lamb being sacrificed and the blood applied to the doorposts of the Israelite's homes so that death would pass by them and there would be a distinction between God’s people and the Egyptians.

Jesus came as our Passover Lamb that whoever so believes in him, whoever puts their trust in Him, will move from death to life.

God’s plan with Mary and Joseph was not falling apart but falling into place.

Point 2:

Conclusion: