Introduction:
A. I want to begin with a quote from Frederick Buechner (Beekner), who was an American minister, theologian, and author of 39 books: “For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.” ? Frederick Buechner
1. Buechner was saying that we can’t have a heart, a brain or courage without passing through Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus – obviously he is speaking figuratively, not literally.
2. Bethlehem is not our home, but it is the way to reach home through Jesus.
B. The greatest wonder and joy possible in this world came because of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
1. Today, I want to remind us of “the good news of great joy” that began on the day that Jesus was born.
2. Four days from now, a large part of the world will turn their attention to Jesus and his birth.
3. As you likely know, the date of Jesus’ birth is not revealed in the Bible.
4. December 25 became the day that many celebrate the birth of Jesus, because that was the day it was formally adopted around 336 AD during Emperor Constantine's reign.
C. What is most important, is not an official day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, rather what is most important is that the significance of Jesus’ coming is never forgotten.
1. Many people love to think of the Christ-child in the manger, but then they fail to allow Jesus to grow up.
2. Jesus didn’t stay the helpless infant in the manger, rather He grew to manhood, was put to death because of his convictions, and is the only way of salvation.
3. Let’s recount the biblical record of His birth as is found in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew (Mt. 1:18-2:12, and Luke (1:26-38, 2:1-20).
I. The Story of His Birth
A. When the time had come, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph.
1. The virgin’s name was Mary.
2. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
3. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this must be.
4. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
5. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
6. The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” and the power of the Most High will over-shadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”
7. Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”
8. Then the angel left her.
B. When Joseph found out that Mary was with child before they had come together, he had in mind to divorce her quietly, for he did not want to expose her to public disgrace.
1. But after he had considered this, 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 his people from their sins.”
2. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him ‘Immanuel’ - which means, ‘God with us.’”
3. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.
C. In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.
1. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
2. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
3. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
D. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
1. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
2. But the angel said to them. “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
3. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
4. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
5. So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
6. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who hear it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
7. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
E. Jesus was at least one, maybe even 2 years old when some wise men from the east had followed the star and had come to worship Jesus.
1. When the star stopped over the place where Jesus was, they were overjoyed.
2. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.
3. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
F. That’s the biblical account of how Jesus was born, and isn’t it wonderful and awe inspiring?!
1. A tiny, secluded manger, with its sweet-smelling straw comprised the homely stage upon which the most striking and significant drama of the centuries was enacted.
2. It was there that God, in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, became human.
3. In meekness and humility he came to earth and took on flesh.
4. Aren’t you glad He was born?
5. Aren’t you glad He came, the way He came, and for the reason He came on our behalf?
II. The Reason for His Birth
A. Isaiah the prophet recorded a marvelous prophesy that has been understood to be about the birth of Jesus Christ.
1. It reads, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6)
2. These names describe the meaning and significance of Jesus’ birth, but they also describe the meaning and significance of His mission and ministry to us.
3. Let’s briefly examine each of these names.
B. First, He will be named Wonderful Counselor.
1. The world has always needed the counsel of Christ, but we could argue that the world needs it more today than ever!
2. Throughout history, and throughout the world, individuals have submitted to Christ and have found the solution to their baffling problems.
3. Christ does not just listen to us, and build up our self-esteem, and heal our wounds, He helps us to change and gives us understanding and meaning.
4. With His wisdom, He exposes the deep sins of our hearts, He helps us repent, and He helps us to put into practice His principles which lead to our health and happiness.
5. If Christ, the Divine Counselor, has met the needs and solved the problems of millions of men and women, then isn’t it reasonable to believe that He can also meet your needs?
6. But, in order to benefit from His counsel, we must trust =Him enough to humbly submit to His examination and prescription.
7. He is the wonderful counselor we need, but we can’t benefit from His counsel unless we trust Him.
C. Second, He will be named Mighty God.
1. Jesus’ life is a demonstration of the power of His might. His power is manifested in numerous ways: It is manifested…
a. In His power to create the universe (Col 1:16, Jn 1:3)
b. In His power to forgive sins (Mt 9:2, Col 3:13)
c. In His power to heal diseases (Mk 1:32-33)
d. In His power to cast out demons (Mt 8:16)
e. In His power to control nature (Mt 8:27)
f. In His power to perform many other miracles (walk on water, feed 5000, raise the dead)
2. Jesus is still working powerfully today, and as a mighty God, He can work in our lives.
a. He empowers us to grow and change into His likeness (2 Co 3:18).
b. He empowers us to face difficult circumstances in life (Phil 4:11-13).
c. He empowers us to overcome the influence of Satan and sin (1 Co 10:13)
d. He empowers us to minister to others and carry out His mission for the church (Col 1:28-29).
3. But, in order to benefit from Jesus’ unlimited and unmatched power, we must humbly depend upon Him.
D. Third, He will be named Everlasting Father.
1. In our human experience, some fathers come and go - some go because of death, others go by decision, but when they go, we are left with a void.
2. But even the best of fathers are limited and are imperfect.
3. Nevertheless, we need and long for a father who is everlasting, who is perfect, who never changes.
4. Of all of the names attributed to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, Everlasting Father intrigues me the most because it is the one I struggle to apply to Jesus.
a. How can Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead, be called Everlasting Father?
b. Certainly, Isaiah was not confusing Jesus the Messiah with the first person of the Godhead.
c. Certainly, Isaiah was not teaching us that God the Son is the same person as God the Father.
d. The idea of the three persons of the Godhead was certainly not as well developed in the OT as it is in the NT.
5. When Isaiah calls Jesus our Everlasting Father, I think he is highlighting the divine nature of Jesus.
6. I also think that Isaiah is suggesting that Jesus the Messiah is the only one who will be able to reveal God’s fatherly nature and character to us.
1. Jesus said: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
7. We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and good fathers are like good shepherds.
8. Our God is the father we need.
a. He is all together righteous, holy, perfect (1 Jn 1:5).
b. He is stable, without fluctuation and change (He 13:8).
c. He is eternal, everlasting (Rev 22:13).
9. But, in order to benefit from His everlasting fatherhood, we must faithfully cling to Him and obey Him.
E. Fourth, He will be named the Prince of Peace.
1. The desire for peace is universal.
a. It is our nature to want to live free from confusion, discord and strife.
2. But unfortunately, in our world and in our lives we often experience war, hatred and conflict.
3. To Jesus’ weary, harassed disciples, Jesus said, “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.” (Jn. 14:27)
a. Even in the midst of the storm, there can always be peace in Christ.
b. There can always be peace within, even when there is no peace without.
4. During WWI, on Christmas Eve, the battlefield was strangely quiet.
a. As the soft snow fell, the thoughts of the young men were on things other than war.
b. They thought of home and family.
c. Softly, one lad began to hum “Silent Night,” and soon a chorus was built of wheezy tenors and throaty baritones.
d. When they finished singing, they were astounded to hear the song echoing from the enemy trenches across no-man’s land.
e. The enemy was singing the same song in their own tongue.
f. That night they were all thinking of peace, not war, because they were thinking of the Prince of Peace and His birth.
5. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
a. The purpose of His birth and the effect of His life brings peace between us and God and brings peace between us and others.
b. Jesus offers peace to troubled souls, He offers peace to shattered families, and Jesus offers peace to a war-torn world.
c. But, in order to benefit from His peace we must place our lives and hopes in His will, receive His salvation, and apply His principles to our lives.
Conclusion:
A. Don’t we have a wonderful Savior?
1. I hope that I have helped us to marvel that Jesus is our wonderful counselor, our mighty God, our everlasting Father, and our prince of peace.
2. I hope we can rejoice that there was a day that Jesus was born in a manger, that angels announced His birth to poor shepherds, and that a star led the wise men to worship Jesus and offer gifts.
3. But even greater than His birth, was His life, His death, and His resurrection.
4. If you have not yet received Jesus as Savior and allowed Him to be your Lord, then I hope you will - He gave His life for you, and now He asks you to give your life to Him and live for Him.
5. When we understand who Jesus is, receive His salvation and follow Him as Lord, then we have peace and joy, and can sing “Joy to the World.”
