Beholding the Glory
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Beholding the Glory
Beholding the Glory
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. 21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:1
Last message of our sermon series: “The Glory of Christmas”
The Glory that Jesus gave up for us.
The Glory of the Incarnation.
Today let’s ask how do we truly experience the glory of Christmas?
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Popular images of Christmas.
Popular images of Christmas.
Mary riding on a donkey.
The Inn
Animals in the stable
Kids dressed like animals
4. Nativity scene
Notice the kids wearing crowns on their heads are the three kings.
Explanation:
There was nothing from the Biblical accounts that say that Mary rode a donkey.
The matter of the inn with “no room” is one of the most historically misunderstood aspects of the Christmas story. ACU scholar Stephen Carlson writes that the word “kataluma” (often translated “inn”) refers to guest quarters. Most likely, Joseph and Mary stayed with family but the guest room was too small for childbirth and hence Mary gave birth in the main room of the house where animal mangers could also be found.
No mention from the Bible of animals gathered around the baby Jesus. Animals begin to appear in nativity art in the fourth century AD,
The three Kings. Matthew mentions the magi or wise men, There were probably not three magi and they were not kings. In fact, there is no mention of the magi’s number, there could have been two or 20 of them. The tradition of three comes from the mention of three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Their visit was in a house, about two years after the birth of Jesus.. (Herod’s murder of the innocents, etc.)
This is not to ruin our Christmas. We love the beautiful present day presentations about Christmas. But if you take away the lights, the beautiful pageantry around our celebration of Christmas, what is left? Jesus came into that little town of Bethlehem into a world that is filled with darkness..
If there were newspapers or online or twitter posts around the time of the coming of Jesus, the headlines probably won’t be great.
Seems to be a gloomy start to the third message of our sermon series “The Glory of Christmas”, but the truth is that Jesus was born into a dark world, but...
Judea, the city of David was under Rom
The glory of God is more brilliant in the backdrop of the darkness to which it shines.
the glory of the stars in the sky is brightest if there is no light pollution from where you are gazing...
Seems to be a gloomy start to the third message of our sermon series “The Glory of Christmas”, but in many ways the glory of God is more brilliant in the backdrop of the darkness to which it shines.
Put saying here on the brilliance of God’s glory in the midst of darkness..
The atmosphere around the coming of the Lord Jesus in the Jewish mind for the nation of Israel was far from festive and celebratory.
The period in which Jesus was born was characterized by..
Silence
Separation
Subjugation
- Silence - The Silence of God.
- Separation - National separation and religious division.
Separation - National separation and religious division.
- Subjugation - Foreign Imperial Power, the Roman Empire.
1. Silence - God seemed silent for 400 years. The time period between the Old and the New Testaments was when there was no new word, no prophecy, no new scripture was inspired and written.
It was a time when the Jewish nation was waiting for the coming of the Messiah. We have heard of His coming, but when is He really gonna come?
It was also during this 400 years of silence that the Romans came to rule in Israel.
It had been 400 years, Israel needed to hear from God again.
2. Separation - Israel was being separated from their land, heritage, religion and their identity.
The Diaspora or dispersion of the Jews was at its height, there were more jews living outside their homeland than those who live in Judea.
Their religion has evolved in response to the times. Instead of just the purity of Judaism as given through Moses, Jews were subjected to a legalistic system of religion. The religion was divided, there were new factions that formed within, now they have the pharisees, the sadducees, the Essenes and the zealots.
There was confusion, disunity and disagreement in their beliefs, one (pharisees) believed in the spirit world and the resurrection and another, the Sadducees did not.
Being separated from their national identity, their traditions, their religion which was really their only known connection with God.
3. Subjugation = Israel used to have their own Kingdom but now they are subject to the kingdom of Caesar, the ruler of the Roman empire.
In fact, the story of the birth of Jesus that I read from starts with the Jewish people being forced to go to the place of their birth for a census. That was not good in many ways, it was not just a matter of inconvenience but the census was a stark reminder of their oppression by the Romans. After all, a census was needed in order for them to pay taxes to Caesar.
This was the kind of world Jesus was born into. Isaiah said that these were a “people walking in darkness...”
It was a darkness characterized by the silence of God, a separation from Him and a subjugation by the enemy.
This was the reality around Jesus’ birth.
This is also the reality of Christmas to many people today.
TO many, especially during this time we celebrate the Savior’s birth..
People feel God is silent and that they are separated from Him and they are oppressed by enemies from all fronts.
God seems very silent. You may have been praying to the Lord for a long time, even probably for many years for an answer.
Lord at times I am most desperate for an answer, and I have waited and I am just about to lose hope
To some of us, who feel that God is silent, Jesus came to the world to be our prophet.
To some of us, who feel that God is silent, Jesus came to the world as God’s spoken Word.
Jesus is Our Prophet.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
He
The prophets of the Old Testament foretold the coming of Jesus accurately, but it is Jesus Who gave the final word.
In fact, Jesus is the Word of God. He demands that we listen to Him for our instruction and healing from our blindness and ignorance.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is the Supreme Revelation from God.
The coming of Jesus did not break the silence of God, it is a wake up call
The coming of Jesus did not break the silence of God, it is a wake up call to us that He had already spoken.
The reason why it seems God seems silent to many people is because the voice of Jesus is being drowned in the noise of our lives..
But God has already spoken and continues to speak to us. The answer to all our life issues is found in the Bible. Read and meditate on it.
But Ramon, I’ve been asking God for an a specific answer and it has not come..
Do you believe the saying God’s timing is always perfect, who believes that? Ramon, where is that in the Bible?
The Biblical expression for God’s perfect timing is the “fullness of time”.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Fullness = Pleroma
Which means complete, the reason why we are not getting that answer is that God is preparing you. When God’s work of preparation is complete then you would be ready to receive the answer and the blessing that comes with it.
Don’t rely on your own plans, expectations and timing but rather wait for God’s “fullness of time”!
To those who feel separated from God, Jesus came to be our High Priest to join us with the Father.
Jesus is Our High Priest.
Why is Jesus our High Priest? What is the role of a priest. A priest is someone who mediates between God and man.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Jesus is the Only way, He said.. I am the way, the truth and the life..
Maybe you are separated from God today because you have not embraced the only way and chose for yourself other ways to get to God or you pray to another person to be joined to God. It is very clear, Jesus is the only way..
As High Priest, He offered Himself up as the perfect sacrifice..
IF you received and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have been joined with God in a love relationship with Him.
said Jesus made us accepted in the beloved..
Since Jesus came, you are no longer alone and you are no longer separated from the Father.
Jesus was the Only One Who God ordained to be both a King and a Priest.
Lastly, Jesus came to rescue us.
This is what His glorious birth is all about:
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Actually the Name of Jesus means “rescuer” or “deliverer” and He came to redeem us from subjugation to the rule of Satan, Sin and the world system.
Actually the Name of Jesus means “rescuer” or “deliverer”
More than from subjugation to the rule of Satan, Sin and the world system.
Enemies of the soul:
Satan
Sinful nature
System
Feeling down and defeated? There is this spiritual battle that you face everyday and we seem to win a victory one day, but then you lose the next battle.
Feeling down and defeated? There is this spiritual battle that you face everyday and we seem to win a victory one day, but then you lose the next battle.
Just like the Broncos this season, they win one game and the whole city celebrates, but then they lose three consecutive games.
Jesus came to be our Savior to end the tyranny of Satan, Sin and the World System.
He came as our conquering King.
You can look at Jesus’ coming to rescue us as an invasion because we are so helpless. Oh I am not really that helpless, I can do things for myself so I can be saved - religion etc.
Let me tell you a true story to show how helpless we are and why we needed to be rescued.
Who among you hear has heard of..
Operation Entebbe
In June 1976, terrorists forced an Air France airbus to land in Entebbe, Uganda. The terrorists quickly demanded that Israel release 53 convicted terrorists. The hijackers held 105 Jewish and Israeli hostages. A 48-hour deadline was set before the hijackers would begin executions. The hostages needed to be rescued. They could not save themselves.
The Israeli government decided to carry out a raid called Operation Entebbe. The Israeli commandos arrived in Uganda after a 2,500-mile flight. In a lightning attack, the soldiers freed the hostages. Within an hour both the rescuers and the rescued were on a plane heading back to Israel. What a rescue!
All of us need to be rescued, delivered and saved from our darkness, captivity to Satan, our sin and the world system. Our Lord Jesus frees us by paying the ransom with His own blood. In that glorious first Christmas, Jesus, the light of God, invades our darkness. He comes to deliver us from our sin and darkness. On the cross He demonstrates His great love for us in saving us from our sins and paying the price for our deliverance and forgiveness.
So Jesus came as prophet, priest, and King.
Only Jesus can be all these three in one. The only One Who sits in the three-fold office (Explain the separation of king and priest, there are priests who were also prophets like Samuel, and there were kings who were prophets like King David...stories of King Saul and Uzziah)
Only Jesus owns the glory of being both King and Priest. He alone can both redeem and rule.
We behold the glory of Jesus when through the Holy Spirit, we hear Him speak to us through His Word (prophet). He joined us with the Father because of His perfect atonement for our sins, and He continues to sanctify us daily as He acts as advocate or defender against Satan (High Priest), He rules in our hearts and has total control of our lives (King).
We behold the glory of Jesus when through the Holy Spirit, we hear Him speak to us through His Word (prophet). He joined us with the Father because of His perfect atonement for our sins, and He continues to sanctify us daily as He acts as advocate or defender against Satan (High Priest), He rules in our hearts and has total control of our lives (King).
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
There will forever be only one Person who has the credentials to unite these three offices: the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate prophet , the interceding Priest , and the eternal King .
If you’re a leader or elder in this church raise your hand...