Light Our Darkest Hour

Introduction

Define: Prophecy

Merriam-Webster defines a prophesy as a prediction of something to come.

For Example:

Say I predict Lebron James is going to hit 5 three in his next game, and he then hits 5 threes. I made a prophetic statement that ended up true.

In the Old Testament you have many instances of a writer stating some future event that the future Messiah will complete. When Jesus does those things, we consider that a fulfilled prophecy.

Today, we are going to see how Jesus’ early life fulfilled prophecy’s predictions of the events of his early life.

If you are taking notes the Key Take Way is that

Jesus is the hope we all need.

But before we get into today’s lesson I’d like us to take a few minutes to walk through the early life of Christ.

Time Line Early Life of Christ For Cross

Eternal Reign (Goes before and After the Events of Jesus’ Early Life)

Isaiah 9:7

Isaiah 16:4-5

Daniel 7:13-14

Luke 1:31-33

John the Baptist Before Him

Isaiah 40:3-4

Malachi 4:5

John 1:23

Virgin Birth

Human Mother

Genesis 3:15

Isaiah 7:14

Jeremiah 31:22

Luke 1:35

Matthew 1:18-20

God the Father

Isaiah 33:21-22

Luke 1:32

1 Timothy 1:17

1 Timothy 6:15

Family Poor

Isaiah 53:2

Luke 2:7

Location of Birth

Micah 4:1-8

Micah 5:2

Luke 1:33

Matthew 2:1-2

Luke 2:4, 10, 11

The Humble Exalted

Ezekiel 21:26-27

Luke 2:8-21

Kings Amazed

Psalm 138:1-6

Matthew 2:2-6

Great Persons Visit (Wisemen)

Psalms 72:10-11

Matthew 2:1-11

Flight to Egypt

Numbers 24:8

Hosea 11:1

Matthew 2:14

Massacre of Infants (Nearly Identical Timeline wise with Flight to Egypt)

Jeremiah 31:15

Matthew 2:16-18

Move to Nazareth

Isaiah 11:1

Matthew 2:23

Visits Second Temple

Haggai 2:6-9

Luke 2:27-32

Message

Opening Illustration:

Motivational Meme’s

Courage:

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Baby:

Stay Strong

Dog;

Today is the day, I can feel it, Today I will catch that Tail.

Cat:

Hang in there, baby!

Despair.com

Vision:

How Can the Future be so hard to predict when all of my worst fears keep coming true?

Challenges:

I expected times like this-but never thought they’d be so bad, so long, and so frequent.

Mistakes:

It could be that the Purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.

Despair:

It’s always darkest just before it goes pitch black.

1. The Hope of Jesus before Outcasts.

Luke 2:8–9 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

2. The Hope of Jesus Proclaimed before Sinners.

Luke 2:10–12 ESV

10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

3. The Hope of Jesus worshiped.

Luke 2:13–20 ESV

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 among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

a. Angels worshiped the coming of Jesus.

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

b. Shepherds worshiped the coming of Jesus.

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.