“A Baby Changes Everything”
Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-24
Perhaps you would agree with the statement made in that song, “A baby changes Everything.” It’s true. We have 4 children. When had been married 6 months when my wife became pregnant and when our first child entered our lives, everything changed. Finances changed. Schedules changed. Suddenly we had a new responsibility that was very important. Along came our 2nd child 4 years later. Then our 3rd, another 4 years later, this big guy and everything changed. When our 3rd child came along I found myself thinking, hey I think we need another parent too. I can walk one of them across the street, my wife can take the other but who’s gonna handle this 3rd one? Then two years later and our 4th arrived. By that time we kinda had it figured out. We just let them take care of themselves. ? With the first I remember when I held our son David my arms were hurting when I put him down the first time because I was holding him so tightly I thought I might drop him. By the time you have the 4th you’re playing games with them like “toss the baby in the air.” Hey, maybe they can do a flip!
Babies do change everything. Early in the scripture in Genesis 3:15 we find these words: (READ). (PPT).
This is considered to be the first prophecy of the baby Jesus who would grow into a man and would crush the head of the serpent, Satan himself. Jesus would grow into a man and would crush the head of the serpent. We then travel all the way through the OT, about 2 thousand years to Malachi 3:1 which says “I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me.” That messenger would be John the Baptist. He would help pave the way for the coming of this baby Jesus---who would change everything. Between Genesis and Malachi, there are over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through his death, burial and resurrection. Before they are fulfilled we come to a time when no scripture was written; no new prophecies were introduced and all mankind could was wait. But then, just as promised, 4 hundred years later, Luke writes the words that were read this morning. The baby Jesus is born and absolutely everything changes.
When the angel visited young Mary, possibly only 14 years old; she was a young girl who had never been with a man; her life is shaken completely when the angel tells her she will give birth to the Son of God. As a young woman of that day she no doubt knew a Messiah was on His way but she would also be aware that it had been hundreds of years since god had spoken through the prophets; she had no way of knowing that now was the time and she had been chosen to carry the very Son of God in her womb.
Matthew tells us that when Joseph learned of the news we find these words “because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” After all, how could she be pregnant if she had not been with another man.
When Joseph goes to sleep an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save people from their sins. Vvs. 22-24
And everything in the lives of Mary and Joseph changed---they were married---she gives birth to the Son of God. And she above anyone else knew this was God’s son---she was a virgin; others may have questioned the fact but not Mary. Joseph obviously questioned it at the outset but because an angel spoke and Joseph believed he chose to believe Mary as well and he married her before the birth. V. 24.
This baby changed everything in their lives. The scripture tells us they had other children after this---Jesus had 4 brothers, James, Joseph and Simon. Mark mentions Jesus had sisters. We do not know how many nor do we know their names but it is plural so we know there were at least two. Now we know that Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine----both at the same time. We don’t really understand that but we accept it through faith. That means that in His divine power at the cross He could have called down 10,000 angels to save him but in his humanity through all the suffering he experienced he chose to remain. Why would He do that? Why, if you have the option to suffer or to be set free would you choose to suffer? Simple. It’s because as a baby who entered this world He --- because of His love for you and me, he made the decision to change everything. Because of His love for you and for me He came down to offer us a way out---because there wasn’t one. That is what the gospel is---the fact that that God sent His Son to do something we could not do for ourselves. Jesus accepted that assignment and it was His love for mankind that kept Him on the cross.
This baby changed everything for Joseph and Mary. Can you imagine raising the Messiah in your home?
• His siblings must have wondered---“how come Jesus never gets in trouble? What’s up with that? He must be your favorite!”
The Bible tells us that it wasn’t until his 1st miracle at the wedding in Cana that he disciples placed their faith in him; it wasn’t until much later that His brother Simon Peter believed. It reminds me that still today we can be in the presence of God and not realize it.
(1) This baby changed everything for Joseph and Mary.
(2) This baby changed everything for the people of His day. Leading into what we call the Week of Passion, Holy week, He again fulfilled prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. He was at that moment the most popular person on the planet---he fed the crowds with 5 loaves of bread and two small fish.
• He healed the blind
• He healed the deaf
• He raised the dead
• One woman reached out and touched the hem f his garment---she stole a miracle
• A man with leprosy was healed. What a difference!
The Bible records at least 38 miracles he performed and every single time it was to meet a need in someone’s life. To make a difference. And He still does it today. How could we ever question He is real and alive and still working???
We also know there were many other miracles he performed; so many that John tells us that “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
Can you imagine not only the changes that happened in the lives of those who received the miracle of healing … but also the changes that took place in their family.
• A child who was dead ---comes back to life.
• A man born blind can now see.
• Am man with leprosy would now be permitted to hang out with his family and friends. He would be allowed to socialize instead of being cast out of society.
This baby Jesus changed everything. He changed everything. For the people of His day. On that day even time changed. Everything changed from B.C. (before Christ to A.D. (Anno Domini) which means in the year of our Lord. Time all over the world is measured by the number of years since Jesus came in the flesh. A baby actually changed the way time was measured around the world.
(3) He has changed everything for you and for me. Several things He has given us.
1. He has given us peace. The prophet Isaiah tells us this…”for a child has been born for us, a son given to us authority rests on his shoulders; and he is named wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” John quotes Jesus telling us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus has given peace to every believer.
2. He has given us a purpose. A reason to be here. A reason to live. Jeremiah says, he gives us a Hope and a future. You are not an accident. Even before the universe was created, God had you in mind and He planned you for His purposes. Don’t look in a horizontal direction to find your purpose. Look in a vertical direction! He has a purpose for all of us.
3. He has offered us a place …… in heaven. He said “in my Father’s house are many mansions; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
We have peace…we have a purpose and we have a place with Jesus when we die. What more could we ask for and that is what this baby named Jesus, Immanuel, wonderful counselor brought to us. This baby named Jesus changed everything. So I ask you today, have you been changed by Jesus? Do you know Him as your Savior and Lord? I want to ask each of you to pray this prayer with me, out loud at this time.
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and life. I trust you as my Savior and Lord.”
Now if you prayed that prayer today for the first time and you meant it I want to invite you to come forward and just tell me ….”Pastor I prayed that prayer.”
