Sermon series: It’s All about Jesus!
Text: Micah 5:2-5
Title: What Jesus wants for Christmas
Introduction
Today in our series “It’s all about Jesus,” we are going to look at a portion of scripture in the OT. Micah 5:2-5. Micah 5:2-5 has a special place in the Christmas story because when the Wise Men asked Herod where the King of the Jews was to be born, since Herod didn’t know, he asked the Priests. The Priests quoted Micah 5:2
Before buying Christmas gifts for your family do you ask them “What do you want for Christmas”? If so, why?
1. it’s always best to give someone what they really want.
2. It makes shopping for a present quicker and easier.
If Christmas is all about Jesus perhaps we should ask the question “What does Jesus want for Christmas”?
When we read Micah 5:2-5 we find there are three things Jesus wants for Christmas
1. Jesus wants to be our Peace (v5)
“And he will be their peace.”
A. The word peace here is the Hebrew word “Shalom”.
It essentially denotes
a. a satisfied condition,
b. a state of peacefulness
c. a sense of well being
B. This peace Christ wants to bring us is peace with God
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”(Luke 2:14)
a. Not peace men with men.
Luke 12:51-52 “Do not think I came to bring peace on earth? “ No, I tell you, but division.” From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.”
b. but peace men with God
Jesus wants to bring about
a. A satisfied condition between us and God
b. A state of peacefulness between us and God
c. A sense of well being between us and God
C. Jesus himself is our peace with God
“and he will be their peace.”
In Isaiah 9:6 one of the names/titles given to Jesus is Prince of Peace
a. All our good efforts cannot restore us to peace with God because peace with God demands perfection from us.
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless, there is no one who does good, not even one.”…
And the way of peace they do not know.”
Because our sin has separated us from peace with God only an act of God himself can restore that peace.
Jesus is that act of God!
And you shall name him Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins
“Look the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.1 john 3:5
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24
C. This peace is referred to in Micah 5:5 as a future peace
“and he will be their peace.”
For the people in Micah’s time it was a future peace because Jesus was not to come for 700 more years
For those living at the time of Christ’s birth it was also a future peace because it’s not the birth of Christ that brought peace with God it’s the death of Christ that brings us peace with God
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20)
For those living today it is also a future peace because it is conditional on us receiving Jesus as our savior. Only when we receive Christ does that future peace become a present reality.
For Christmas Jesus wants to be our Peace
2. Jesus wants to be our Shepherd. (v4)
“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.”
A. The job of a Shepherd
a. “To guide and direct in a particular direction”
b. “to feed and care for”
2. Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
3. In Micah 5:4
a. Jesus stands to shepherd
b. Jesus stands to shepherd in the strength of the Lord
c. Jesus stands to shepherd in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God
That’s why David could say “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.”
4. And they shall live securely
a. Spiritually secure
b. Emotionally secure
c. Eternally secure
Quote: Could it be that the source of defeat, discouragement, and despair in the lives of some Christians is, in large part, the fact that they are attempting to live the Christian life in their own strength and power? They have not yet discovered the truth taught by Paul in Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): ?I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.?
5. For those of us who think Jesus does not have any openings for more people for him to shepherd
"for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.”
A. To the end of time
b. To the end of the earth
6. If we want to experience the greatness of Jesus we have to receive Him as our shepherd also.
3. Jesus wants to be our King (v2)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
a. definition of a king
a king is one who rules
b. The Story of the Wise Men = they wanted Jesus to be their king
They travelled thousands of miles looking for the one true King. Why were they looking for the one true King? So they could be one of the first to worship Him.
They took the initiative and searched for Jesus. They did not wait for Jesus to grow up and go searching for them.
b. Application
Come to Jesus as you are. Ask him to be your king.
Jesus came the first time as a savior. He will come again the second time as king of king
So when we say “It’s all about Jesus” we want it to mean the same thing as Jesus meant it to mean.
It really is all about Jesus when
I acknowledge Jesus is my Savior
I acknowledge Jesus is my Shepherd
I acknowledge Jesus is my Sovereign King
Conclusion
V3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth…
When it’s not all about Jesus Micah 5:3 describes our life as one that feels abandoned.
We feel abandoned. We have no savior. We have no shepherd. We have no sovereign king.
When it’s all about Jesus you will never experience abandonment!
Jesus himself promised “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Prayer
This Christmas Jesus I receive you as my savior, my shepherd, my sovereign King!
