THE FIRST CHRISTMAS RUSH(2)

The Christmas rush is on, many of you are rushing to finish up your Christmas shopping while others are rushing to meet deadlines to fill those Christmas orders. Either way its a hectic rush and we are too often leave Jesus out of the equation.

It reminds me of the two women who were having celebratory lunch in an elegant hotel, a mutual friend approached and asked the reason for their celebration. One of the ladies replied, “We are celebrating the birth of my baby boy.” “Where is he?” inquired the friend? The mother answered, “you didn’t think I’d bring him here did you?” And that's how we treat Jesus this time of year... He is no where to be found.

But this morning I want you to understand that the first Christmas Rush wasn't a dash to the mall, nor was it a race to meet a deadline, it was lowly shepherds rushing to see Jesus, the Savior who came into the world.

I. The Birth of Jesus (1-7)

The birth of Jesus is why we celebrate, and what a miraculous birth it was!

When the time was right God moved heaven and earth to insure Christ came into the world just as He had promised. He moved upon Caesar Augustus who claimed to be the son of god to take a census of the Roman world, ordering each person to register in their hometown so that the prophecy of Mic. 5:2 would be fulfilled.

He moved upon a young virgin named Mary who was engaged to a young man named Joseph both from the tribe of Judah to fulfill the prophecy of Is. 7:14. and to fulfill the blessing of Jacob Genesis 49:8-12

On that sacred day, God the Father stood on heaven’s threshold and said farewell to his Son as he stepped across the stars to Bethlehem! And just like that, the ancient of days and creator of our world was born into human flesh (John 1:14).

There wasn’t a world wide celebration, just a mother and her fiancés in a cave with a few sheep. The baby Jesus was wrapped in torn clothe much like burial clothing of the day and laid in a feeding trough. His earthly beginnings were humble so that we would no that He came for all of man.

ILL: Yes the birth of Jesus is quite miraculous, it fulfilled at least a dozen O.T. prophecies, and for the betting man, the odds of one man fulfilling just 8 of them is one in one hundred quadrillion. That would be like filling the entire state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars, marking one with red marker and dropping a man blinded folded in the middle of the state and telling him he has one chance to pick the marked coin.

Why would God go to such great lengths? Because He loved us and want to give us a great gift!

ILL: You’ve heard the story of the wise king who ruled in Persia a long time ago. He loved his people and wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. He Often dressed in working man clothes and went to the homes of the poor. No one knew that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, “I am your king!” The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!”

On that first Christmas day, Jesus became flesh, in order to identify with us and to give Himself to you and me.

II. The Announcement of Jesus (8-14)

On that night, there were some Shepherds alone with their sheep, when all of sudden an angel sent from God appeared beside them, and announced with the best news in time and eternity! He said “I bring you good news” that's the verb (euangelizō), it means to preach the Gospel. The angel said “for there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! The deliverer had been born into this world so that all mankind could be saved.

You know, God knows how to give good gifts (James 1:17), He has met sinful mankind's greatest need.

ILL: If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. Who the angel says is Christ the Lord, who had come to take away our sin.

And, with that news an angel band appeared praising God saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” Talk about an announcement, we use to put our newborn babies names in the paper, but God announced it among the heavenly host!

III. The Rush to see Jesus (15-20)

After hearing the Angels announcement they immediately went to Bethlehem. The Bible says they came in a hurry, that's the verb (speudō), it means quickly and eagerly. Those lowly Shepherds rushed to see Jesus and they found Him just as the angels had said, laying in a manger.

I wonder what it was like to look down upon a precious baby knowing that it was Christ the Lord, one this is for sure they never forgot about it and most likely never got over it and the Bible says they praised God for all they had heard and seen, and that's why we celebrate, to praise God for what took place that cold night in the Judean hills all those many years ago.

This Christmas, lets remember Jesus, lets remember all that He has done for us, with that we will now have Communion. (1 Cor. 11:25-29)