Considerations Concerning The Christ Of Christmas

CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS

Text: Luke 2: 1-16

Intro: Christmas, though it has been much corrupted and commercialized over the years, is still a somewhat pleasant time out at the end of the year. It’s a time when, even if only out of dutiful habit, people seem to focus on others a little bit more than at other times of the year.

Christmas has largely become synonymous with giving. That is as it should be. After all, it was God’s loving gift of His Son that is supposed to be the reason for the season. For this reason, I think we need to take care to keep the emphasis on giving instead of getting, on Christ instead of mere celebration.

In dealing with the topic of Christ’s birth today, you will probably hear things that are not unlike what you have heard in years past. However, I want us to pause for a while to thoughtfully consider the Christ of Christmas.

Theme: Consider the fact that Christ was:

I. BORN AT AN APPROPRIATE PERIOD

Gal.4: 4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

NOTE: [1] The words “the fullness of the time” make reference “to that time when the world was providentially ready for the birth of the Saviour.” 1

[2] God is always on time. The birth of Christ took place at just the right time. From a historical and practical perspective, Christ could not have not have been born into the world at a more opportune period.

This “time” was when the Roman civilization had brought peace and a road system which facilitated travel; when Grecian civilization provided a language which was adopted as the lingua franca (universal or common language) of the empire…2

[3] Not only was the birth of Jesus on God’s timetable, but also He lived out His whole life on God’s schedule. Daniel 9: 25 tells us that there would be 483 years between the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, which took place in 445 B.C., and the advent of “Messiah the Prince.” In A.D. 32 Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem—exactly 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem.3

[4] God sent His Son into the world at just the right time. His humble beginnings may have confused many as to His great purpose and person. However, I think this poem defines them very well.

Mary Had The Little Lamb

Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth;

Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth.

Micah 5:2

Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall —

Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall.

Isaiah 7:14

Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God;

Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod.

John 6:38

Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree

The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free.

1 Peter 1:18

Mary had the little Lamb—men placed Him in the grave,

Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave!

Matthew 28:6

Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He;

All work on Earth is ended, our Advocate to be.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Mary had the little Lame—mystery to behold!

From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold.

Revelation 5: 5,6

When the Day Star comes again, of this be very sure:

It won’t be Lamb-like silence, but with the Lion’s roar.

Psalm 2:12

Revelation 19:11-16

Marv and Marbeth Rosenthal

Copies of this poem may be used without written permission from the authors.

II. BORN THROUGH AN APPROVED PERSON

Luke 1: 28 “And the angel came in unto her (Mary), and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

A. Messiah’s Birth Via A Virgin Was Foretold.

Gen.3: 15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

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

Luke 1: 26 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

…………………………………………………………..

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.”

NOTE: [1] We don’t usually think of the virgin birth of Christ when we think of the book of Genesis. However, Genesis 3: 15 is the Bible’s first reference to the virgin birth of Messiah, though it is not mentioned directly. Notice that God told Satan that there would be “enmity” (“blood fued”4) between his seed and the seed of the woman. This implies the virgin birth since it is common knowledge that the seed of procreation is man’s contribution, not the woman’s. But God became more specific in this prophecy. He said, “it (the seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (v. 15c). God did not say that the seed of Satan would bruise “their” heel, which would imply the collective children of the woman. He said that the seed of Satan would bruise “his heel.” The seed of the woman is spoken of in the masculine. Only Jesus and the cross of Calvary could fit the requirements of this verse.