Journey To Bethlehem Part 3 Series

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Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Pastor James May

Journey to Bethlehem – Part 3

Three weeks ago we began on this journey to Bethlehem by studying of the reasons for Mary and Joseph to begin their long and dangerous trip. Oh how hard it must have been on them to travel so many miles across mountainous and desert country while Mary rode on a donkey being jostled and tossed while nearing the end of her pregnancy.

This trip was no accident. Its timing was perfect and the circumstances that brought about this journey were designed by the Father in Heaven in the distant past so that Jesus would be born in the city of David, called Bethlehem and would begin the fulfillment of all prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah.

Last week we saw that Bethlehem was not prepared for the vast influx of so many travelers and that attitudes and tempers were running high against Rome for causing so much suffering and undue stress upon the people of Israel. There was little compassion for those in the inn who would not give up their space for Mary to have her child.

Those in the inn only paused their riotous living for a moment as Mary and Joseph stepped into the door. This has been the reception of Jesus to most people on earth who will only give him lip service or a quick glance. Then they will quickly reject Him and continue with their self-centered lifestyle.

Today we want to look at the birth of Jesus again, not from the point of view of a world that is bound in darkness and sin, not from the eyes of those who are spiritually blind, and not from the position of those who reject Him, but from Heaven’s perspective and from the eyes of those who were looking for Him and accepted the fact that this baby, born in Bethlehem in a stable, was no ordinary baby.

Jesus, the Creator of all things, the source of life, the Bread of Life, the Savior of the world was born under the most humble circumstances amidst the animals that He created and was only to be recognized for who He really was by very few.

The Father in Heaven chose to send His only Son to be born under the lowest of conditions, to be revealed to the least in the nation of Israel and to be sought out by Gentile Kings because He knew that Israel, as a whole, would reject the birth of His Son.

Luke 2:13-17, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."

Men did not realize that the greatest moment in all of human history had just taken place in the little town of Bethlehem – but all of Heaven knew it and there was great rejoicing. The time had finally, in course of eternity, when God would begin the process that would redeem man and retake possession of all of Creation that had been lost through the sin of Adam in the Garden.

The earth did not realize it, but in the spiritual realm, the angels of heaven rejoiced for they knew that the perfect sacrifice for sin had come and that God had chosen to pay the price for our redemption. At the same time, the forces of darkness kicked into high gear for Satan also knew that Jesus was destined to be the Savior and that He must be stopped at all costs.