A night in Bethlehem.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
It was December 4, 2017. Our Israel travelers divided into two groups. One group would attend the Israel Spectacular Night in Jerusalem and a smaller group would attend the Christmas Tree Lighting in Bethlehem. This last group never imagined that they would be treated as royalty as soon as they arrived in Bethlehem. The streets, full of Xmas ornaments, and the Nativity Plaza were full of people trying to get entrance into the event. Our group was received by a guide that happened to had been city mayor for three days. Obviously, an important person in the city. While many city residents could not get in, the man led the group to reserve front row seats. Definitely, royal treatment! Although they were vassals, they were treated as kings .
Ironically, 2000 years ago, a king spent the night in Bethlehem, but he was treated as a vassal. That night in Bethlehem was a spectacular night!
A spectacular night.
A spectacular night.
A bright starry night.
A bright starry night.
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Many astronomers agree that, in 6 BC, there was a phenomenon called the Star of Bethlehem, a conjunction or alignment of stars (Venus and Jupiter) that made look like one bright star. That must be spectacular!
Mat 2:2
Many astronomers agree that, in 6 BC, there was a phenomenon called the Star of Bethlehem, a conjunction or alignment of stars (Venus and Jupiter) that made look like one bright star. That must be spectacular!
Because we live surrounded by the artificial lights of modern times, we seldom have the pleasure of contemplating starry nights. Only when we go to the mountains, we can delight in watching the starry sky.
As the Scripture tells, “the heavens are telling the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” () I think it was a glorious night!
A night of perplexity for all.
A night of perplexity for all.
The shepherds were the first to be perplexed by the appearance or manifestation of the angels. Something they had never seen before!
First, by the angel that announced the birth of Jesus. His appearance was accompanied by the the bright of God’s glory.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:13-14
,
Can you imagine the intensity of the light?
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Cab you imagine the intensity of the light?
And then by the angelical choir, something never seen before either.
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:13-14
There was someone else perplexed: Mary! When the shepherds arrived at Bethlehem and found the baby in the manger, they told Joseph and Mary about what they had just witnessed, even the surrounding people wondered about the shepherds’ statement.
There was someone else perplexed: Mary! When the shepherds arrived at Bethlehem and found the baby in the manger, they told Joseph and Mary about what they had just witnessed, even the surrounding people wondered about the shepherds’ statement.
Mary perplexed about the shepherds’ statement. 17-19
When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Pay attention to the last sentence: “Mary treasured all these things...” συντηρέω means “to keep in the memory”. What the angel told her before conception was being confirmed by what the shepherds heard from the angel.
A miraculous night.
A miraculous night.
The greatest miracle of all: incarnation.
The greatest miracle of all: incarnation.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Phil 2:5-7
Some may want to argue that the resurrection is the greatest miracle, but for the giver of life that’s not a great deal. He raised the widow’s son, the daughter of the official of the synagogue, Lazarus, and others.
That night saw the incarnation, the infinite God becoming finite in Jesus, God made man. That miracle happened only once and will not happen again.
The great promise fulfilled.
The great promise fulfilled.
About 800 years had passed since God, thru Micah, the prophet, a contemporary of Isaiah, announced or promised the coming of Messiah, but, more clearly, the Incarnation of God:
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”
Micah 5:2
Right before their eyes, the promise had been fulfilled, the Child was born, the virgin had been used to bring Him to human life.
That night in Bethlehem was also witness to the humble birth of the King.
The humble birth of the King.
The humble birth of the King.
The Son, the second person of the Trinity, worthy of all honor and glory, was born as a servant. Even having a birth that not even servants deserved.
In stable instead of a palace.
In stable instead of a palace.
One thing we must keep in mind is that, at that time, hotels were not part of the culture. The inn was only a shelter for people and their animals. A place where they could water, feed, and tie their animals, extend their coats on the floor and sleep there.
Hospitality was a duty and people showed good will to travelers. Since there was no place for them in the inn, someone allowed to stay in the stable, if we can call it stable.
The King of the Universe was not born in a palace, but surrounded by animals. Sometimes, we are more interested in building our palace, than in being humble.
On a manger instead of a crib.
On a manger instead of a crib.
When modern couples are expecting a baby, they prepare everything in advance: room, cloth, and, of course, a beautiful crib (or Moses) for the baby to lay.
Since Joseph was a carpenter, I would not be surprised if he had built a crib for the baby, but if that was the case, the crib had stayed in Nazareth. “She wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
A manger was a stone or wooden box where animals feed, a feeding trough. Manger were not in living quarters, but in stables.
Show Stone Manger
Instead of putting the new born on the floor, they thought the manger would be safer.
Surrounded by animals instead of nobles.
Surrounded by animals instead of nobles.
When a child of a king was to be born, the maids, the midwife, and the close royal family were close by.
The birth of the King of kings was so humble that instead of nobility, He was surrounded by sheep, a cow, and a mule.
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
John 1:11
That night received that who would give royalty to those who receive Him, to make them royal priesthood, a holy nation, acquired by God to proclaim the virtues of the King.
A bright starry night.
A bright starry night.
of perplexity for all.
of perplexity for all.
The shepherds perplexed by the angels. 9, 11
The shepherds perplexed by the angels. 9, 11
Mary perplexed about the shepherds’ statement. 17-19
Mary perplexed about the shepherds’ statement. 17-19