The Lamb of Heaven Prepared for the World
Heaven on Earth • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 7 viewsChristmas is not the story of God reacting to a broken world but God executing a redemptive plan established before the foundation of the world. In Bethlehem, the eternal Son did not begin—He arrived. Through the incarnation, God prepared the Lamb for the world He came to save. A virgin was prepared. A body was prepared. A manger was prepared. And in every detail, Scripture reveals that salvation is entirely God’s work. Because God planned redemption before time began, believers can live with confidence and assurance today—my salvation was planned before my struggle ever began.
Notes
Transcript
Subtitle: The Incarnation of the Lamb
Series: Heaven on Earth
Opening Paragraph
Most people think of the virgin birth as a seasonal detail—something we sing about once a year and then move on from. But the virgin birth is not a footnote to the Christmas story; it is one of the load-bearing walls of the Christian faith.
It matters because it tells us who Jesus really is—fully God and fully man.
It matters because Jesus entered our world without inheriting Adam’s sin, taking on our humanity without taking on our corruption.
It matters because God keeps His promises, fulfilling what He spoke long before Bethlehem.
It matters because Jesus is the rightful King, heir to David’s throne without the curse of fallen humanity.
It matters because salvation is not something we help God accomplish; it is something God does for us by grace alone.
And it matters because the incarnation was not the creation of a new person, but the eternal Son taking on flesh for our redemption.
And here’s why that matters for everyday life: when we struggle with guilt, fear, weakness, and doubt, Christmas reminds us of this unshakable truth—my salvation was planned before my struggle ever began.
Transition from Week 1 to Week 2
Last week, we looked at The Lamb of Heaven Revealed—the eternal Word who was with the Father before time began. Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem; He existed in glory long before He was seen in flesh. Today, we move from revelation to incarnation. The Lamb who was revealed in eternity is now prepared for the world. What heaven revealed before Bethlehem, God prepared in Bethlehem—so that sinners like us could be saved.
Road Map
Today, we will see how God prepared the Lamb for the world in three deliberate ways:
A Virgin Was Prepared
A Body Was Prepared
A Manger Was Prepared
And in every step, we are reminded: my salvation was planned before my struggle ever began.
A Virgin Was Prepared
A Virgin Was Prepared
Text: Luke 1:26–38 (ESV)
A Promise Kept
A Promise Kept
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The Preparation of Mary
The Preparation of Mary
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
She was a virgin
She was a virgin
She was betrothed (Engaged) but still pure.
She was betrothed (Engaged) but still pure.
She had never been with a man.
She had never been with a man.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
She found favor with God
She found favor with God
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
She was willing
She was willing
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
A New line of Righteousness
A New line of Righteousness
Mary was not immaculate (sinless)
Mary was not immaculate (sinless)
Not logical: Some religions teach that the only way Mary could birth a sinless Son of God would be for her to be sinless herself. But this logic doesn’t hold water. For Mary to be sinless would mean that her mother and father would also need to be sinless.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
In other words, God didn’t need a sinless mother—He needed a sinless Son.
In other words, God didn’t need a sinless mother—He needed a sinless Son.
Jesus is born of the Holy Spirit
Jesus is born of the Holy Spirit
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
Through the virgin birth, Jesus receives true humanity from Mary without inherited corruption from Adam. He is fully human, yet without sin. This is not theological trivia—it is the bridge between holiness and redemption. A sinful Savior cannot save sinners.
The Virgin birth is God’s work of Grace.
The Virgin birth is God’s work of Grace.
Mary could never produce a Savior for she also needed redemption.
Mary could never produce a Savior for she also needed redemption.
Only God could produce a Savior for the world.
Only God could produce a Savior for the world.
Application:
If God didn’t leave salvation up to Mary’s ability, He’s not leaving your future up to your ability either.
If salvation begins with God’s work alone, then spiritual growth continues the same way. Dependence is not weakness. Dependence is discipleship.
A Body Was Prepared
A Body Was Prepared
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The writer of Hebrews pulls back the curtain on Christmas with a shocking statement from the mouth of Christ Himself:
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me.”
God did not send an idea.
He did not send a philosophy.
He prepared a body.
Redemption requires flesh and blood.
Redemption requires flesh and blood.
Forgiveness demands sacrifice.
Forgiveness demands sacrifice.
Sin must be dealt with physically, not symbolically.
Sin must be dealt with physically, not symbolically.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The incarnation is not about proximity—it is about purpose.
The incarnation is not about proximity—it is about purpose.
From the very beginning, Jesus came aimed at the cross.
From the very beginning, Jesus came aimed at the cross.
Emmanuel is not just God with us but God like us so that he could die for us.
Emmanuel is not just God with us but God like us so that he could die for us.
Application:
If Jesus entered suffering on purpose, then suffering in your life is never meaningless.
A Manger Was Prepared
A Manger Was Prepared
Texts: Luke 2:4–7; Genesis 35:16–21 (ESV)
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.
God Prepared the Place
God Prepared the Place
Just outside Bethlehem stood a place known as Migdal Eder—The Tower of the Flock. Originally a watchtower from the time of David, it later became part of a region declared holy because of its connection to Temple sacrifice.
The flocks raised there were not ordinary flocks. They were set apart for sacrifice.
Rachel’s Story: From Sorrow to Glory
Rachel’s Story: From Sorrow to Glory
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
Rachel called him Ben-oni = Son of Sorrows
His father, Jacob, called him Benjamin = The Son of my right hand.
She died right outside of Bethlehem.
20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
Due to all the temple sacrifices, the area around the Temple in Jerusalem all the way the Migdal Eder was deemed holy to the Lord.
All the cattle and flocks of that area were set apart for the sacrifices of the temple.
The lower level of The Tower of the Flock served as a birthing chamber for the ewe lambs.
The area would have been cleaned and prepared for the births to make sure they didn’t have spot or blemish for sacrifice.
The Birthing Chamber of Lambs
The Birthing Chamber of Lambs
The lower level of Migdal Eder was used as a birthing chamber for sacrificial lambs. When a lamb was born without spot or blemish, it was carefully wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger—not a feeding trough, but a carved limestone cradle.
The purpose was protection.
The goal was purity.
The intent was sacrifice.
The world saw a baby in a feeding place. Heaven saw a sacrifice being prepared.
The world saw a baby in a feeding place. Heaven saw a sacrifice being prepared.
Application:
God prepares places long before people understand their significance. What looks like obscurity to us is often intentionality to God.
Conclusion
Bethlehem was not an emergency plan.
The incarnation was not God reacting to a problem He didn’t see coming.
A virgin was prepared.
A body was prepared.
A manger was prepared.
Every detail of the Christmas story tells us the same thing: God was already at work long before the world ever saw the Lamb. Long before Mary said yes. Long before the manger was filled. Long before the cross was raised.
And that means when you walk through suffering, doubt, temptation, or fear, you are not facing something God failed to anticipate. The same God who prepared the Lamb for the world has already planned your redemption, your forgiveness, and your future.
My salvation was planned before my struggle ever began.
Next Steps (C = D × V × F)
Next Steps (C = D × V × F)
Dissatisfaction
Where are you still living as though your spiritual life depends on your performance instead of Christ’s preparation?
Vision
What would change in your daily life if you truly believed that God has already done everything necessary for your salvation and sanctification?
First Step
This week, intentionally release one burden, your anxiety, your guilt, your control, and trust it to the Lamb who was prepared for you before you ever knew you needed Him.
Altar Call / Gospel Invitation
Altar Call / Gospel Invitation
For some of you today, the greatest struggle isn’t circumstantial—it’s spiritual. You’ve been trying to clean yourself up, prove yourself worthy, or earn God’s favor. But Christmas tells us something different. God did not wait for humanity to fix itself. He prepared the Lamb.
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, today is your moment. Repent of your sin. Believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for you. Receive the salvation that was planned long before this moment.
And for believers—some of you know Christ, but you’re still living as though everything depends on you. You trust Jesus for eternity, but not for today. The invitation is the same: come again in surrender. Lay down your striving. Rest in His finished work.
The Lamb has already been prepared.
The question is whether you will trust Him.
Final Line:
My salvation was planned before my struggle ever began.
