Proclamation Of Our Messiah Series

“PROCLAMATION OF OUR MESSIAH” Luke 2:1-14

FBCF – 12/22/24

Jon Daniels

INTRO – WELCOME TV & ONLINE VIEWERS

Sermon today: “Proclamation of Our Messiah” – At FBCF, we are constantly looking for ways we can proclaim who Jesus is & show Him to a lost & dying world. Here’s how the Life Roots LG proclaimed Jesus to a whole bunch of people a couple of weeks ago:

- “Santa’s Helpers” video

That’s what “Making Much of JESUS” is all about! And the reason they could do that is b/c about 2000 yrs ago, something spectacular happened in the little town of Bethlehem. As Faith Hill said in her well-known Christmas song, “A Baby Changes Everything!” This baby certainly did!

EXPLANATION – Luke 2:1-14

This historical account of the birth of Jesus is one of the most well-known stories in the world. According to the great theologian, Linus van Pelt, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown”, referring to the angel’s proclamation here in Luke 2. Linus has said this to Charlie Brown every year since 1965. And he’s right!

Pastor Steven Cole: “Our text tells us the best news in the world, but two factors make it difficult for people to appreciate it. First, the Christmas story is perhaps the most widely known story in history. As a result, many people, even Christians, shrug it off as not being especially exciting or relevant to the problems they are facing. Second, many people do not realize what dire straits they are in regarding their standing before God & their eternal destiny. So, when they read the familiar story that a Savior has been born in the city of Bethlehem, they yawn & say, “That’s nice. What’s for dinner?” Not seeing their desperate need for salvation, they fail to appreciate the fact that this story is the best news in all of history. The best news in the world is that a Savior was born for you, who is Christ the Lord.”

(https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-2-commentary)

Our world needs this best news! Billy Graham: “I believe America has gone a long way down the wrong road. If we ever need God’s help, it’s now.” Saw that Mon when a troubled 15 yr-old girl shot & killed a classmate & a teacher & injured 6 others before killing herself at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, WI. Our world needs Jesus!

It's only the HOPE of the Christ of Christmas that will save us & one day set us free from the violence & cruelty that we see around us every day…murders, abortions, abuse, abuse, wars, sex trafficking…It’s only the HEART of the Christ of Christmas that will cause us to see others in a new way, through the eyes of unconditional love…It’s only the HANDS of the Christ of Christmas that will reach out w/ compassion to this sin-sick, sin-crazed world. God sent His Son into this world to be our Savior, to remedy our sin problem by His own violent death & glorious resurrection, & to give us the strength we need to face every trial & tribulation we will ever face.

APPLICATION – We proclaim, “Jesus came!” That means we can live forever!

Focus: “And it came to pass” in v.1. What came to pass?

IT CAME TO PASS…That God REALLY did what He promised He would do – v. 1-3

Jesus’ entrance into the world was not some last-minute, knee-jerk reaction to our sin problem. Our sins didn’t catch God off-guard, surprise Him, or cause Him to wring His hands trying to figure out what to do w/ these rebellious creatures He had on His hands. God had His plan for our redemption in place before the world began.

- 2 Timothy 1:9 – “It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love & kindness to us through Christ.” (TLB)

Christmas wasn’t planned by retailers or by Hollywood producers.

- The miracle of Bethlehem happened long before “The Miracle on 34th Street.”

- The hallmark of God’s redemptive plan was in place long before any hunky Hallmark hottie showed up on my wife’s TV screen.

- Long before Buddy the Elf found his real father, our Heavenly Father set His plan in place to make us His sons & daughters.

Christmas was planned by God before the foundation of the world to introduce His Son & His plan for salvation into this dark world of sin & death. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” – JESUS is that great light!

Remind you again what the OT prophets said hundreds of years before that 1st Christmas night:

- Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.”