Where is the line?
Luke 2:1-20
A couple of years ago a holiday song was prompted by a 4-year-old's question, "Where's the Line to See Jesus?" and it went viral in less than two weeks on YouTube with more than a half a million hits.
Becky Kelley's nephew Spencer Reijgers asked this question as they were standing in line at a mall to see Santa that day. "Where's the Line to See Jesus?" She mentioned it to her father later, who is a pianist, his name is Steve Haupt. He wrote a song around this idea and she recorded it.
I would like to play it for you now! (Play Video or cd)
What a impact the song makes! Especially this time of the year.
Christmas is approaching fast or so it seems, every year stores decorate earlier and earlier. This year I noticed they had already started stock the stores with decorations in late October. Now we only have two weeks left. This past Friday I took the day off and we went shopping. We saw shoppers standing in lines to check out and it was amazing how many were impatient. As I was in the back of one of the stores, you can hear the couples going through the store checking their list to be sure no one had been left out! In the Mall’s you could see the children line up to see Santa, so I could envision little Spencer so boldly asking the question—where’s the line to see Jesus?
If Christmas time is the celebration of his birth, then why don’t we see him more?
We’ve all heard the slogan: “Jesus the reason for the season.”
And millions of people this time of the year see the tinsel with all the decorations and the beautiful lights, but so few see Him for Whom this special day is celebrated for.
On that first Christmas morning the line to see Jesus was not very long as some would have you to believe.
The bible tells us about how the shepherds, and angels were gathered to see the newborn King lying in a manger, but that was it. And yes the wise men did come to see Jesus. But they saw Him much later.
When Christ was born in Bethlehem, very few saw the Messiah though His coming had been prophesied again and again.
All of Israel should of turned out that day but they had missed something special. Why everyone still seemed to be in the dark by the time the wise men arrived in Jerusalem.
Matthew 2:3-5 (KJV) 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
If nothing else the chief priests and the scribes should had lined up by now.
I believe many of them missed the messages that God had sent through His prophets or they knew it and just didn’t care!
Why should we be in line to see Jesus?
1. Because He Is God
Turn with me to Isaiah 7:14
Looked at how Isaiah saw the coming of Messiah as "God with us", this should have been and was exciting news,
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) 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.
God has come not just to put His hand on us and say ’Well done.’
He has come to stay with us, He has come to reside with us!
God came in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:1-3 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
John 1:14 (KJV) 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Here we have the testimony of John that Jesus Christ was the Son of the living God.
John also said that Jesus Christ was the Word, the One who had always co-existed with God.
Look with me at what Paul said,
Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV) 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Why should we be in line to see Jesus?
2. Because He Is Righteous
Jeremiah, who saw Jesus as, "The Lord Our Righteousness".
Jeremiah 23:5-6 (KJV) 5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
In contrast to all the wicked, unrighteous, unjust, and negligent in their duties, leaders God was going to send His dear people the Ideal Ruler, a righteous branch from the line of David
Jesus will be called, “The Lord Our Righteousness”
Jesus Christ is our righteousness. When He was on earth, the Lord secured perfect righteousness, the ideal righteousness.
How, by living a sinless life for us.
Why should we be in line to see Jesus?
3. Because He Is The KING Of Kings
Turn to: Jeremiah 33, A vision of the perfect King
Jeremiah 33:14-18 (KJV) 14 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 17 For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
1. The coming Ideal King will fulfill God's promises to His people (v.14).
This King will restore His people to the promised land.
Some day in the future, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah will return and be united as one nation.
2. The coming Ideal King will be the righteous Branch from David's line (v.15)
He will be a descendant of David, but a different kind of descendant.
In contrast to the frail, weak, and sinful rulers who succeeded David, this King will be righteous. He will bring justice and righteousness to the land.
The idea is that he will personally execute justice and righteousness and teach others to do what is just and right. In that day, there will be no lawlessness, injustice, violence, or immorality in society.
3. The coming Ideal King will save and secure His people (v.16a).
Because justice and righteousness will rule in the land, the people of the nation will be safe from the threat of enemies. People will dwell in safety. They will be perfectly secure and able to go about their daily affairs without fear.
4. The coming Ideal King will give Jerusalem His name, the LORD Our Righteousness (v.16b).
The Messiah will establish the seat of His government in Jerusalem. Therefore, the capital will reflect the very righteousness of God's Messiah and King. Righteousness will flow from the Ideal King throughout the city, and the city will be known as the capital of the LORD Our Righteousness.
5. The coming Ideal King will fulfill God's covenant with David, the promise of an eternal dynasty (v.17a;)
Although David's descendants have not always sat on the throne of Israel, his dynasty has never ceased to exist. And his dynasty never will, for the Lord Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, is seated at the right hand of God the Father as the sovereign majesty of the universe.
In fulfillment of God's promise to David, the Lord rules over His people, and He will continue to rule throughout human history and all eternity. In the person of Jesus Christ, David's dynasty is an eternal dynasty
6. The coming Ideal King will fulfill the covenant God gave the priests in former generations. This covenant was the promise that a priest would stand eternally before God on behalf of the people (v.18b).
God's promise of a permanent priesthood is fulfilled in the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the eternal priest God promised to send to the people of former generations, as well as to all succeeding generations.
As the Ideal King and Eternal Priest, He represents the human race before God, both Jew and Gentile. Only through the ministry of His priesthood and sacrifice can people become acceptable to God.
(Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Jeremiah II and Lamentations.)
Then Micah and Isaiah saw the Great Ruler and King of kings
Micah 5:2 (KJV) 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Why should we be in line to see Jesus?
4. Because He Is Our Sacrifice
Jeremiah 33:14-18 (KJV) 14 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 17 For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
Why should we be in line to see Jesus?
5. Because He Is The Tree of Life
Ezekiel, saw Christ as a tender branch cut from the very top of a tall cedar tree, then transplanted on a high mountain.
Ezekiel 17:22-24 (KJV) 22 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: 23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
Ezekiel shows us that God takes the insignificant and gives it significance.
He was going to take a small, tender branch from the top of the tree and make it the most significant tree the world has ever seen. That is exactly what the coming of Christ into this world was like.
Proverbs 11:30 (KJV) 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Revelation 2:7 (KJV) 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 22:1-2 (KJV) 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Closing
How can you miss these clear signs and messages. And yet we do the same thing today.
Today, as Christmas approaches, however, impatient shoppers stand in line at the checkout aisles, no matter how busy you get.
Find the line to see Jesus?
If Christmas time is the celebration of his birth, let us see him more!
It is sad to say but even today scores of believers have lost sight of Christ and many have forgotten the reality of His promised imminent return.
Are You Looking?
