Don’t Miss God’s Son

Intro

Few people knew. In 1661 Queen Maria Theresa, wife of Louis Sixteenth King of France, gave birth to a beautiful child.

What made this birth special was the participation, from part of the King's courtiers, at the queen's labour.

The rooms of Queen Maria Theresa, in the 12 hours of labor, they were full of duchesses, princes, baronesses and nobles.

Nobody wanted to miss the birth of the future King of France.

Yet, in the account of the birth of the Son of God given to us from the Gospels, we find that few people were aware of this glorious event.

For example in:

Matthew 2:2–3 NIV

and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

There were no princes, dukes or countesses.

When Duchess Kate Middleton gave birth to the little prince, all over the world, TVs, Radios, Internet, broadcast the happy event.

Unfortunately no one was present at the birth of the King of kings, except a few shepherds.

I hope no one can miss this glorious moment;

Let no one be distracted because the King is here.

The 3 perspectives. We can look at the story of the birth of Jesus using 3 filters, 3 lenses that Luke uses in his account:

The Historical perspective;

The Earthly perspective;

The Heavenly perspective.

N. 1- The Historcal Perspective

Luke 2:1–2 NIV

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

Historical details. Luke provides us with the historical picture of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:1-2).

These historical informations reveal to us an important truth: our God is in control!

He is the Sovereign for 2:

God is sovereign over the mighty. Caesar Augustus, whose name was Octavian, was the nephew (adoptive) of Julius Caesar.

Many Romans considered Julius Caesar a god and, consequently, Caesar Augustus was considered the son of a god.

We are therefore talking about the most powerful man of that time.

Augustus promulgates a census over his entire empire.

In that order though, we don't need to look just at the power of an emperor, but to the providence of our sovereign God.

Indeed, God will use this imperial decree to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, at the center of His perfect will.

This is not the first time God shows his sovereignty over the mighty: Pharaoh, Ahasuerus, Cyrus the Persian, etc...

So don't worry about Wall Street, governments, etc.

God is on the throne and He is sovereign even over the mighty.

No Doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute Sovereignty of God.

The Sequel To Divine Sovereignty, Volume 58, Sermon #3284 - Psalm 97:1, 99:1

Charles Spurgeon

God is sovereign over the powerless. The distance that separates Nazareth from Bethlehem is about 130 km.

For a poor couple like Joseph and Mary, God's plan to reach Bethlehem it may seem like a difficult, painful, risky, almost cruel program.

But God is sovereign and gave strength to this couple to travel that long journey.

Joseph and Mary capsulized the mystery of grace—the King does not come to the proud and powerful but to the poor and powerless.

R. Kent Hughes

Our Lord is not only Sovereign over our strength, but He is also Sovereign over our weakness.

In the end He will keep His word:

Micah 5:3 NIV

Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.

N. 2 - The Earthly Perspective

Luke 2:7 NIV

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.

Humility. Through the earthly perspective I would like to note 2 aspects regarding the birth of Jesus:

The Poverty in His birth. Little, almost nothing. Luke uses only verse 7 to describe the birth of Jesus.

Mary had nothing: no midwife, no beautiful clothes for the child.

The God of the universe has chosen to begin his earthly life with nothing: just a humble piece of cloth.

The world in which we live praises success, well-being, luxury, prosperity.

Someone said that: “Prosperity" is a god with many worshippers.

But our Lord, our King chose differently:

2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

The Rejection at His birth. Jesus was not yet born and Luke already tells us that there was no place for him.

In fact, the prophet Isaiah also prophesies of this rejection:

Isaiah 53:3 NIV

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Jesus was rejected for us!

The Lord has decided to face misery and rejection in order to give us salvation.

The earthly perspective should fill our hearts with gratitude that Jesus, despite not receiving dignified treatment, decided to come among us.

G. Campbell Morgan (British evangelist, preacher, teacher)

G. Campbell Morgan was one of a hundred and fifty young men who sought entrance into the Wesley an ministry in 1888. He had passed his written exam but faced the test of giving a trial sermon in front of a panel. When the results were released, Morgan’s name was among the hundred and five who were rejected.

He wired his father with one word: “Rejected.” Then he sat down and wrote in his diary: “Very dark. Everything seems still. He knoweth best.” The reply to his wire was quick to arrive. It read, “Rejected on earth, accepted in heaven. Dad.”

As G. Campbell Morgan went on to prove, rejection on earth is often of little consequence. As his father wisely recognized, rejection on earth is of no consequence in heaven.

N. 3 - The Heavenly Perspective

Luke 2:10–11 NIV

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:17–18 NIV

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

The Heaven is in Paradise. Heaven is celebrating, the Heaven is in Paradise, because it announces the birth of Jesus.

The Celestial Perspective reminds us that the birth of Jesus can transform us for 2 reasons:

We participate in the Gift of God. The angel is clear with the shepherds in verse 10: "do not be afraid".

No need to have anymore fear and the reason is in verse 11: "To you a Savior is born...".

It is true that at His birth Jesus was alone: around him were just Joseph and Mary.

But by faith, together with those shepherds, we can participate in God's Gift and enjoy the arrival of our Saviour.

By faith we can enjoy His love and His forgiveness proclaiming together with the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We participate in the praise of God. The praise and worship to God can transform us.

Indeed, the army of heaven involves in praise these humble shepherds (Luke 2:14).

After ascertained with their own eyes the birth of Jesus, Luke tells us that those shepherds are no longer the same.

They begin to proclaim what they had experienced:

Luke 2:17–18 NIV

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Where are those scared shepherds?

They are forever changed!

God transformed them, because they took part in praising God.

If you too, like those shepherds, want to leave behind all fear and terror, this is the time to accept the invitation: join with us in praising God.

The Lord will transform you, God will change your life forever.

Conclusion

3 perspectives. We have seen 3 perspectives with which we can look at the birth of Jesus:

The Historical Perspective proclaims that God is in control of everything and everyone;

The Earthly Perspective fills our hearts with gratitude because the Lord has accepted the misery and the rejection;

The Heavenly Perspective transforms us if we participate in God's Gift and we are fully engaged in the worshiping the Lord.