Message From The Manger

Messages: Messages

Could you imagine your life without text messaging?

Send a quick note about....

First text sent on December 3, 1992 “Merry Christmas”

First phone that fully supported texting was released in 1997, Nokia 9000i Communicator.

6 billion text are sent everyday!

27 Trillion texts a year.

God sent a clear message that starry night in the simplest of ways. In this unique and unlikely maternity ward, God spoke and still speaks to our world and to us today.

I. The Message From The Manger Offers Abundant Joy

Luke 2:10 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Joy burst across the evening skies of Bethlehem like fireworks on the 4th of July. But it wasn’t the rockets red glare that brought this message of abundant joy to a darkened world. It was the babe in the manger.

God sent this joyous message to the shepherds

Not to just any shepherds. These shepherds were the religious outcasts of their day. They were untrustworthy, ceremonially unclean, social outcasts of Jesus day.

BUT the Shepherds clearly got the message....

Luke 2:15–18 ESV

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

God sent this message of joy to the sheep

Not to just any sheep, but to sacrificial sheep. These sheep were being kept for the temple sacrifices when they would be offered up as sin offerings on behalf of the people. The sheep or lamb puts away sin by being sacrificed

Exodus 12:21 ESV

Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb.

It was as if God were saying to these sacrificial sheep, your time is drawing to a close. Time to die no more, for the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world has come. John the Baptist said...

John 1:29 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

That is the good news that brings great joy for the sheep and us common people!

II.  The Message From The Manger Offers Absolute Salvation

Luke 2:11 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

God sent this message of salvation to all people.

The Jewish people had long awaited the coming of their Messiah to free them of their oppressors. The Roman Empire was the most progressive government system in human history. Roman oppression was heavy upon God’s people, they were desperate for relief.

God sent his message of salvation into a culture that thought they had religion and a way to get right with God all figured out.

God didn’t send a text message. He didn’t use Snapchat, Instagram, TikTox or even Facebook.....he sent His own Son...

The clearest and most obvious way possible to get someone’s attention.

God’s message was ignored!

98% of all text messages are opened?

95% of all text messages are opened and responded to within 3 minutes of being delivered

2000 years ago God sent one last final clear message message. WILL YOU RESPOND?

John 1:9–13 ESV

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

 When William Gladstone was Prime Minister of Great Britain, he was asked by Queen Victoria, “What do you consider to be the world’s most important book?” He quickly answered, “The Holy Bible.” She then asked, “And what do you believe to be the most beautiful part of that book?” Again he answered quickly, “the Christmas account according to Dr. Luke.”

Religion says: Do this, don’t do that, Go here, rub this, touch that, pray this, and chant that.

God says: I showed you my love even when you far from me and at times you were hostile towards me. I still love you. This Christmas I offer you my Son who can alone make you right with Me.

Jesus is the Light Of The World!

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”