Long-Expected Jesus

RTL: It is easy to celebrate without thinking.

Luke 2:6–20 (ESV)

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger,

because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

1. A Priest Without Sin (Lev. 4:3)

What a priest was/did

Leviticus 4:3 “if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering.”

Why is it a bad thing if the priest sin?

hopeless and merciless

Stuck in you sin until…

Question 1: When will we have a priest who does not sin?

2. A Prophet Like Moses (Dt. 34:10)

Deuteronomy 34:10 “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,”

Moses, the great prophet who knew God “face to face.”

No prophet like him since.

Why bad?

There was no other man they could trust to know God or make Him known to them.

Question 2: When will we have a prophet who knows God like David did?

3. The Eternal King (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

2 Samuel 7:12–13 ESV

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

God’s promise to David was a son on the throne who will:

a. Build a house for God (temple)

b. Reign forever

This king came with the promise of peace and prosperity for Israel (2 Samuel 7:10 “And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,”)

And yet, the history of Israel shows:

No king who reigns forever

Solomon does indeed build the temple, yet still dies

And Israel does not know peace of many good kings at all

Question 3: When will we have the Eternal King?

God in the Flesh (Philippians 2:6-8)

Throughout the accounts of the Gospels, it seems clear that Jesus is fulfilling many prophecies, including some of these.

And so we are left with one final question.

Final Question: How can one man fill these prophecies?

Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV)

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

This makes the Luke encounter resonate:

For no other person has angels praise God and sing on Earth.

All the hopes and the former promises made to Israel are being brought to fruition in this baby.

They are met because only God can meet those standards.

The Angels marvel at His birth

He does build the temple - His church

He does reign forever.

We celebrate the miracle, not simply of all the prophecy of the OT, but that God came to dwell amongst us

cf. Psalm 8:4 “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”

More than that! To die and live for us!

We celebrate the humility of the God-man who humiliated Himself for the glorification of sinners like you and I.

Application:

Repent and Believe in Jesus, the God-man

Seek to honor Christ well this Christmas

Take advantage of the Gospel opportunity that is Christmas