The Great Fulfillment: Bethlehem
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 2:1-6
Micah 5:2- But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Why Bethlehem?
This Bethlehem was Bethlehem in Judea, not the one in Galilee
It was only a small, insignificant town
In size
In influence
In New Testament emphasis
Matthew- refers to it 5 times
Luke- refers to it 2 times
John- refers to it 1 time
However, it has one great significance
It is the city where David was born
Now, this once largely insignificant town would bear great significance
Notice the change in language between Micah 5:2 and Matthew’s use of Micah 5:2
God does not choose a mighty, glorious, expected place of kings, rulers, and influence
His concern is to use the lowly town of Bethlehem that would reflect the Davidic kingship of this child
From Nazareth to Bethlehem
The problem: Mary and Joseph live in Nazareth
64 miles north of Bethlehem
Either God needs to choose someone else or He has to get them to Bethlehem
How is God going to do this?
Luke 2:1-7
Rome
Augustus
Registration
God WILL accomplish His purposes
He has established the rulers
Proverbs 21:1- The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
He has established the dwelling places of people
Acts 17:26- And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
He has done it to show Himself to be mighty and wise
He wants there to be no doubt about who is doing these things
This isn’t a series of human decisions and actions that happened to fulfill a prophecy
This is for the glory of our great God
Psalm 79:9- Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!
The King-Shepherd has been born
“Where is born the king of the Jews?”
This title was used to refer to Jesus here at the beginning of His life, and it was written on a sign when He was crucified
“From you a ruler shall come”
He is the One who will rule the nations forever
Revelation 11:15- Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
Of this we can be sure, though the nations rage and turmoil be all around, Jesus will reign supreme as King of all
“Who will shepherd His people Israel”
Micah 5:4- And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
2 Samuel 5:2-3- In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
John 10:11- I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
This baby who has been born in Bethlehem, not only to rule and to reign as King forever, but also to love and care for His sheep by being slaughtered as the sacrificial Lamb
Submit to His lordship and His care
He reigns supreme
Will you trust Him this Christmas?
Even though so much craziness, disorder, sinfulness, sickness, and death surround us He never ceases to be enthroned and rule in power
He will never fail. Never.
He has ensured it by the shedding of His blood and overcoming the grave
He cares for you
Not only is He is the Lord of the universe and King forever
He is also the loving Shepherd of His people
He came as a child in Bethlehem while we didn’t deserve it
He lived a perfect life when we couldn’t
He died in our place when we were powerless, the just for the unjust
He rose again and lives to give us life in Him forever
You have a great Savior, so exalt Him
He is worthy of all praise, adoration, and exaltation
This Christmas may your life be wholly about making much of Him
The words that you speak
The way that you act
The gifts that you give
The food that you eat
May it all be for the sake of glorifying and showing Christ, the Kingly Shepherd who has been born in the City of David