Unto Us
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This is a time of year
when many are thinking
about the birth of Jesus.
Though we don’t know
when Jesus was born
it is appropriate,
To talk about Jesus
and his birth
any time of the year.
Let’s be frank,
there is little
about “Christmas”
that is biblical.
Lights,
evergreen trees,
holly,
mistletoe,
carols,
Santa,
gift giving,
decorations,
and commercialism
are a far cry
from anything about
Jesus and His
first advent.
And we should
probably de-emphasize
these things in
our own homes.
Nonetheless;
It is wise to
take advantage of
this timing
While people are
considering Jesus.
Let us give them
the truth
the way
the truth
and the life.
Now lets look at
the Biblical story
Of Jesus first advent
to this world
The amazing incarnation
starts with a pregnancy
“Unexpected” preg...
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her:
Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Now listen:
You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you will call His name Jesus.
He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom will have no end.
Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”
The angel replied to her:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.
To say that Jesus birth
was an unexpected
pregnancy would be
an understatment
in many ways.
First,
The idea was a surprise
to Mary.
She was not planning on
being pregnant yet...
She was engaged but not
married yet...
To get pregnant now
would bring reproach
on both of them.
Of all the
unwed teen pregnancies
shotgun weddings
unprepared parents
this one was
the Most Holy.
Though she was surprised
by the news
she accepted it
by faith:
And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
“I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Although Mary is not
a sinless saint
as some have said;
She certainly exhibits
great faith & submission
to God’s plan here.
This is the response
all God’s followers
should have.
Come blessings
Come trials
may our words be:
“I am the Lord’s slave, may it be done to me according to your word...”
But Mary was not
the only surprised by
the news of her
recent pregnancy...
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
Joseph was shocked!
We are not told
what conversation
Joseph and Mary had.
All we know:
He knew that he
did’t get her pregnant.
He was going to
break off engagement
without making scene.
Until somebody intervened
But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name Him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.
Joseph was fearful
of what people would
think about them.
They were innocent
of premarital impropriety
But let’s be honest
To everyone’s eyes
They were fornicators
Jesus was a
Illegitimate Child.
The earthly parents
Jesus was given
were not sinless.
But they were
faithful.
When given instruction
from God
they
accepted
obeyed.
(not John’s dad)
Joseph and Mary
were not the only people
who were not ready
World’s Messiah.
The premarital pregnancy
and shotgun wedding
may have been
talk of Nazareth.
But this humble couple
went unnoticed by
the nation at large.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.
The Jewish nation
whose entire economy
was based on
coming Messiah
was not ready.
This helpless infant
born to humble parents
and doubtful origins
went unreconized
by the people
who spent their lives
looking forward
to him!!!
There was no red carpet
no entorague
no marching army
no trumpet blasts
no Israelite dignitaries
no newscasters
No welcome party!
Understatement!
No welcome at all!
To the simple request
for a room
Response given:
“no room here”.
True it was
no room.
Not just in the Inn
but in their hearts...
This was true of
the vast majority
of Israelites.
But God has always
had a remnant.
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people He favors!
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
There were a few
whose hearts - seeking
their Messiah.
Those to who,
the angelic herald came,
once again,
not favored
not exalted
not nobles
shepherds.
meek hearts.
Those who were ready
to worship the new king
were not
highly educated
afluent
Bible scholars
priests
scribes.
Those people were
too proud
preconceived ideas
self-important.
Not ready to
receive new light.
Shepherds were ready
to accept plain truth.
Those who worshiped Jesus
the first day of his
earthly life
were ready
to seek Him.
They say,
“Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
These are the type
that truly find Jesus.
In the business of
this Xmas season.
While most people are
focused on
gifts
decorations
meals
work
life...
Most, who claim
to be seeking
Christ of Christmas
miss Him.
Whether a Xmas fanboy
or a Xmas grinch
it is highly possible
and even probable
that most
will not be ready
to greet the
“reason for the season”
What is the key
the Shepherds had?
Seeking
Readiness
Not Presuppositions
This is how
the shepherds spent
that night...
They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
God is looking for
humble shepherds today
People who will
prioritize seeking Him.
Surprise to unfallen beings.
Surprise to Satan...
All of the universe
looked on with
amazment
confusion
horror
as...
God
Creator
Lord
Master
Becomes
slave
servant
fallen human
Finally:
hated
despised
rejected
What makes Christ’s advent
so
beautify
awesome
inspiring
Is that it is so
wrong
incorrect
irreverant
incomprehensible
The King of Kings
and Lord of Lord
born in a
filthy barn
sleeping in
feeding trough!
Not wrapped in royal robes
but rags.
No coronation but
a rejection.
Not to noble parents
but to homely peasants.
Hardly worshiped
but despised.
From the local king:
No welcome party
rather an assassin.
This should bring
mingled emotions
Sadness
anger
resentment
And!
Joy
thankfulness
peace.
Those that detest
the birth of Jesus
Can truly praise God
for what He did!
That God would
be willing,
want to,
long to,
Become:
Incarnate Diety
Human.
Unfathomable.
Desire of Ages Chapter 4—Unto You a Saviour
We marvel at the Saviour’s sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.
He came in
human flesh.
Like us.
inhabitants of
the prodigal planet.
To the rejectors of God
came Immanuel
“God with Us.”
Desire of Ages Chapter 4—Unto You a Saviour
Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life’s peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.
The true gift of Xmas
is the gift of Jesus!
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let no other gift
steal your attention.
Thought Mary was surprised
by the unexpected news.
Though Joseph was put off
by improper pregnancy.
Surely they could say:
“Unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given”
Most Jews
were too proud
to proclaim:
“Unto us”
But the Shepherds
humble and meek
were seeking
what was, for them;
“Unto Us”
The unfallen intellegencies;
who have seen Christ
on His throne
high and lifted up;
shockingly accepted this:
“Unto Us”
Of all intellegent life
in the universe
throughout history
Today, Jesus is speaking
to us today!
Will you accept the
infinite gift
by claiming
“Unto Us!?!”
Unto Us!!!
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.