Disclaimer:
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 2
Luke 2:4-7, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
In the first part of this journey we learned of the circumstances that led to Joseph and Mary having to take their long journey to Bethlehem. Caesar required that every man of Judea must return to his place of birth in order to be registered for the levying of taxes. So, Joseph made Mary as comfortable as he could and began the long journey up to Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem.
As they neared Bethlehem, they could already see that the small town was crowded beyond its normal population and as they began to seek lodging for their stay, they could find none. Every home was filled to overflowing with guests. They could find no place to stay with friends or old relatives. So they had to search out the inn and attempt to pay for a space where they could stay for a while.
This brings to mind the fact that Jesus is ever searching for a heart that will have room for Him. So many times I have seen the pictures that portray Jesus as he stands outside the door of man’s heart, knocking, but so many times there is no answer and there is no room for Him even if the door is opened slightly.
People have their hearts filled with cares of this life and have no room for the Giver of Life.
But Jesus never quits knocking. The love of God is ever reaching out, ever knocking, ever trying to find a place in our hearts where He may dwell and bring us peace and joy.
Opening the door to the inn, they found it filled beyond its capacity with loud, boisterous men and animals everywhere. 2000 years ago there were no Holiday Inns, Hampton Inns, or Hiltons. The inn was quite simple that Joseph and Mary looked into that night.
There was a bottom floor filled with sheep, donkeys, camels or most any kind of domesticated animal of their land. This was where the travelers kept their animals while they all slept in large open areas that were climbed into by ladder or stairways on floor that was raised so that the animals could not get into them.
Some of the better inns would have this area divided into rooms that could be shared while others had only a large open space where everyone stayed together. The travelers slept on the floor with hay piled up to soften the floor and a blanket spread upon which they would lay down to rest.
There was no room service, no indoor plumbing and it was a very crude setup but at least it was safe and better than sleeping on the streets.
This brings to mind that fact that when Jesus is looking for the heart that will open to Him, he never finds a heart that is clean and ready. When He enters that heart, He must cleanse it and make it a place where righteousness can dwell. He enters the heart and brings light where there was only darkness. He brings peace in the midst of trouble and joy and hope, where once only sorrow and despair reigned.
This story is so familiar to most of us that we could tell it without a preacher reminding us and yet I hear so often of our young people and children who have not been raised in church and know little or nothing of the birth of Jesus. They just don’t have a clue of the great miracles that surrounded the coming of the Lord to this earth in the form of a man.
After turning away from the crowded inn, Mary and Joseph continued to search for a place to stay but there was none to be found. In desperation, they finally discovered an empty stall, in a stable, next to the cattle, sheep, camels, goats and other animals.
The smells were bad, the animals were dirty, the ground was filthy but there was fresh hay and an empty manger that could serve as a bed for Mary’s baby. She was already experiencing the pains of labor and the time had come for Jesus to be born. This stable would have to do. At least it would be warm and dry and there would be a roof over their heads and some privacy from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.
It was into this most unlikely setting that God chose to bring forth His only Son. Just a few hours later, Mary gave birth to her son and they named him Jesus. From the moment of his birth, this baby was special. This was God’s on Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born without Man having any part in His birth.
This baby Jesus became “The Way in a Manger”. The Way to salvation for all men, just as God the Father had planned from eons past. The time had come for the Savior of the World to be born and so He came, in a dirty stable, in a little obscure village called Bethlehem, born into a world filled with darkness, hatred, slavery and sin. Jesus left the glory of Heaven, came to earth and became a man, to live in the world until He would pay the price for all sin upon the Cross.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence."
God chose not to have his Son born in a wealthy mansion or under circumstances fit for a king. The King of Kings chose the most humble surroundings and the basest circumstances for His birth so that no man could boast that he had anything to do with the birth of our Lord.
Still today Jesus is seeking for those hearts that are dirty and filthy. He chooses those who are unworthy, those who are nothing in the eyes of the world, and within those hearts He builds his kingdom.
God chooses to dwell with those who can do nothing for themselves. What man or woman among us can boast that we deserved salvation? Which one of us can hold our nose in the air, show our wealth, power, position and self-righteousness, and then say that we are good enough and that God must choose us for those reasons?
God not only will not dwell in the heart of anyone who thinks so highly of himself but God’s holiness and justice will not allow Him to dwell in that person. God cannot and will not share His glory with anyone. So, He chooses those who confess that they are not worthy of Him.
God chooses the sinner, the drug addict, the alcoholic, the adulterer, the fornicator, the prostitute, and the hopeless, helpless people of earth. He comes to their heart’s door and knocks until He is allowed inside. Then, when He moves in and cleans up that life, He is the only one who can get the glory from the power of His presence for those people know that they could do nothing without Jesus.
Jesus was born that night in a stable and was laid in a manger. The mighty Creator of all things slept among the animals that He had created. For the first time, the God of Heaven was no longer just in Heaven but now He was born of flesh and became a part of His own Creation.
The first man created was Adam and Adam fell into sin condemning every man who would ever be born to eternal punishment because of the power that sin had upon all who would come after him. That rebellious and sinful nature would be a natural part of the heart of every child from that day forward. From a state of perfect innocence and complete communion with the Creator, all mankind was now doomed to eternal death.
God had the power to destroy sin and bring man back into the same righteous and innocent beginning that man enjoyed but God’s justice, righteousness and holiness would not allow Him to do so. Satan knew that God would not do it the easy way but he also knew that God would make a way for man to be redeemed.
Satan knew from the beginning that a Savior would come and he tried everyway he could to stop it from happening.
He tried to destroy man, who was created in the image of God, just to get even with God for defeating him and casting Him out of Heaven and condemning him to the Lake of Fire for all eternity.
The devil won in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Then he tried to destroy all of mankind, but God always had a plan to save man who would trust in Him. He delivered Noah and his family in the flood. He saved Moses, the deliverer of Israel, when Pharaoh tried to kill all the babies of Israel. Again and again Satan attempted to stop the Savior from coming to this world but God’s plan would not be defeated and Jesus was born.
The way to salvation was laid in a manger that night. This baby was God, born of flesh, born of a woman, THE SECOND ADAM that would come and live a perfect, sinless life. He was not born of man and so He did not carry the inheritance of sin that all other men carried. His Father was the Holy Ghost.
Jesus was born on that night so many years ago for one purpose. 33 ½ years later that purpose would be fulfilled when He would die on the Cross-for sin of the whole world.
He came to those who did not deserve Him. He was born among those who did not notice him. He was given no place in the heart and lives of those around Him at His coming. He chose the simplest of surroundings for His coming. His coming was not a secret for those who were looking for Him but it was hid from those who were not ready and not looking for Him.
The Way that came in a manger that night is the only Way to Salvation. No other way with work. No other God became flesh, died on cross, then rose again – just so that those who once rejected Him could now accept His sacrifice and be saved.
No other god that man worships did what Jesus did. No other god is alive. No other god was born of the Holy Spirit. No other god loves me enough to die for me. All other gods want man to die for them but my God has given me life eternal to live with Him.
For those who hear this message, I have some questions for you.
Have you found the Way that lay in that manger so long ago?
Have you believed that God sent His only Son in the form of a baby in a manger that grew up without sin, died on a Cross-to pay for your sin and then rose from the dead so that you could live forever more?
John 14:6, "Jesus said, …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Jesus is the Way in the Manger. He is the only way to salvation. He is the only Way to perfect peace. He is the only way to Joy. He is the only way to eternal life in Heaven!
Will you accept the Way in the Manger right now? Will you fall on your face before God, call on Jesus, accept Him as your Lord and Savior and then allow Him to make a way for you?
