A Chronological Exposition Of The Christmas Narratives Series

A SHORT EXPOSITION OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

From the Book, “Every Day with Jesus”, a one year’s journey through the Life of Jesus in chronological order with devotional comments for each day. An E-Book is available at homeorchurchbiblestudy.com bob maraurelle

A. The Birth Narratives

1. The Birth of John Announced (Luke 1:5-25)

The Place

In the OT God’s presence was in the holy room of the Temple and after 400 years of waiting after Malachi closed; God sent his angel to that room, A priest named Zechariah was offering the daily (morning and evening) sacrifices and burning of incense (Ex. 30:7-8); something a priest did only once in his life.

The story of Jesus begins in the inner room of the Temple, where God met man in the OT. God’s shining (glory) presence lived (Ex. 40:34) behind a huge curtain, where the High Priest could enter only once a year on the Day of Atonement-securing forgiveness through blood sacrifice (Ex. 30 / Lev. 23).

In Jesus God met us personally and opened the door for all to come to God. When Jesus died that curtain was ripped apart “from top to bottom” as though by the hand of God (Mt. 27:51). In Jesus, God had come out and opened the door to all who come in repentance and faith

The Person (Gabriel)

The angel Gabriel, one of only two angels who are named, appeared to him inside the Temple while he was burning incense. He told him he and his wife, in their old age, would have a son who would be the Elijah like forerunner of the Messiah. When he doubted this, because of his age, he was rendered unable to speak until the child was born.

This judgment had mercy in it, because it served as a sign to the people that something serious and significant was going on. This was not just another daily ritual.

The Person Coming -The Messiah

From Genesis 3:15, where God promised Satan he would be defeated by one “born of woman”; the Jews looked for One they called the Messiah (Anointed One- Christ in the Greek). They were confused over his identity. The Old Testament ended saying the "Lord" was coming (Malachi 3-4)

Some looked for a prophet (Dt. 18:15); and some for a spectacular “Son of Man” (Dan. 6); but most looked for a King who would set up His kingdom on earth, elevate the Jews and crush the Gentiles with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:8-9 / 72).

Jesus said his kingdom was not "of this world" (John 18:36)and 1 Corinthians 15 says, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven". Jesus’ refusal to be declared king, this at the height of His popularity, caused the people to turn their backs on Him (Jn. 6). Jesus becomes king in our hearts (in the here and now) and then takes us (in the hereafter) to the kingdom of heaven when we die (Luke 17:20-21).

What they never looked for was the suffering Messiah pictured in Isaiah 53. One who would:

- be disfigured beyond human recognition (52:15)

- be rejected (53:3)

- be pierced for our sins (v5)

- be punished for our peace (v5) NIV

- be led like a lamb to slaughter (v7)

- be killed and buried (vs8-9)

- be sinless (v9)

- be a guilt offering to God (v10)

- live to see the fruit of His death (v10)

- justify (forgive) many (v11)

- be numbered with sinners (v12)

The Prophet Forerunner

Isaiah 40 predicted a forerunner who would announce this coming Sufferer and Malachi 3-4 said he would be like Elijah (the prophet).

The Promise

The NT begins with two babies. The OT church began with an elderly, childless couple having a miracle baby (Abraham and Sarah - Genesis 15-17) and the NT church does the same.

The Prayers

When the angel said, “Your prayers are answered” he meant the couples’ prayer for a child and the nation’s prayer for the Messiah. The couple had probably given up hope for a child, but they and the people praying outside had not given up hope for national deliverance by the Messiah.

The main requirement for answered prayer in the teaching of Jesus is persistence. He spoke of a neighbor shouting for help and a woman begging for help and said, “Men ought always to pray and not give up.” (Lk. 11:1-13/ 18:1-8). Keep on praying. God may not give you the answer you want, but he will answer YOU and give you the answer you need.

The (Perfect) People (v6)

The glowing descriptions of this couple and others in the Christmas stories as obedient and “blameless”, like Noah (Genesis 6) and others, does not mean they were sinless. First John, written to Christians (5:13), says any church member who claims to have no sin is a liar (1:5-2:2). Matthew Henry explains: