WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME TO BETHLEHEM
Scripture Reference: Matthew 2.1-16; Luke 2:1-15
INTRODUCTION
A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. "I’ve been good for six months now," he wrote. But after a moment’s reflection he crossed out "six months" and wrote "three".
After a pause, that was crossed out and he put "two weeks". There was another pause and that was crossed out too. He got up from the table and went over to the little nativity scene that had the figures of Mary and Joseph.
He picked up the figure of Mary and went back to his writing and started again: "Dear God, if ever you want to see your mother again…!"
(Ill. Some one has compared Santa Claus and the Lord Jesus in a-piece called "Santa Versus Jesus."
· Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus lives everywhere.
· Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
· Santa comes once a year. Jesus is an ever-present help.
· Santa comes down your chimney. Jesus stands at your door of your heart and knocks.
· Santa fills your stockings with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs.
· You have to wait in line to see Santa. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
· Santa lets you sit in his lap. Jesus holds you in His hands.
· Santa has a belly like a bowl of jelly. Jesus has a heart of love.
· Santa’s little helpers makes new toys. Jesus makes new lives.
· Santa puts gifts under your tree. Jesus became our gift and died on a tree.)
Transition
Five day, 90-mile journey. Five or six miles southwest of Jerusalem lay the tiny town of Bethlehem in the Judean hills. Like the shepherds who received the first Christmas greeting from the angels, let their reply be our reply:
"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." (Luke 2:15)
Jesus was not born in the house of royalty, or the house of riches, or the house of celebrity. Jesus was not born in Jerusalem, or in Rome, or in Athens or Alexandria.
Jesus was not born in any political, commercial, cultural, educational, or socially significant city of the day.
When Micah, the Old Testament prophet, foretold the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, he emphasized its lack of significance to the world.
"But thou, Bethlehem, Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
The Mystery of Bethlehem
Of all the cities, towns and villages in Palestine why did the Lord God choose such an unheard-of hamlet as Bethlehem for the birth of the greatest figure ever to enter into human history?
If a site selection committee had been appointed, the name of Bethlehem probably would have never made the list. There are all kinds of important reasons to favor another location.
The city of Hebron, for example, played an important role in the beginning of Hebrew history. In the Old Testament record its name occurs 73 times.
On the other hand, Jerusalem is an even more logical choice. Six hundred eleven times the city is mentioned in the Old Testament. For centuries, from the day David captured it from the Jebusites to make it his city, Jerusalem was the center of religious and civil life in Israel.
For whatever the reasons, Bethlehem never rose to a position of prominence in its entire history. Bethlehem was never the theater of any action or business.
This notion of obscurity is captured by a verse from one of the favorite songs sung during the Christmas season.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above the deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
But Bethlehem which means “house of bread” probably to commemorate the reputation of the entire region as a grain producing center in Old Testament times had a history.
The History of Bethlehem
It is known as the place where Rachel, Jacob’s wife had died and was buried after giving birth to the youngest son Benjamin.
It is known as the place where Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law was from.
It is known as the place where Ruth found here Kinsmen Redeemer – Boaz.
It is known as the place where Israel’s second most important king in the Scriptures was anointed. It was the birth place of David, Israel’s great and ideal king, poet, and hero who drew his first breath and grew up there.
It is known as the place where the shepherds were keeping the night watch over their flocks.
It is known as the place where the wise men traveled from the East to seeking the one born king of the Jews.
It is known as the place where Herod slaughtered children 2 years old and younger to eliminate the one whom he feared threatened his throne.
Today, It is known as one of the most authentic sites on the holy land tour. When Christmas came Jerusalem something happened that changed the status of this obscure, humble village.
Something can happen when Christ comes to your Bethlehem. Something will change you from what you were to what you can become.
I. The Shepherds of the Field
Shepherds were part of the lower class in Israel. They were often the rejects of society. Their job was a dirty one, and for weeks they were away from home, living out in the wilderness, living with sheep.
They were the last people you’d expect God to take notice of. First of all, they were religious outcasts. According to Jewish religious law, these men were unclean.
Their line of work prevented them from participating in the feasts and holy days that made up the Jewish religious calendar.
Not only that, but secondly, shepherds were borderline social outcasts. Since they were constantly on the move to find new pasture for their flocks, they were looked on with suspicion.
They were not permitted to give testimony in a legal proceeding, because their word wasn’t considered trustworthy. And on top of all that, they really didn’t have much contact with other people. Most of the time, they were “living out in the fields” (v. 8).
Being a shepherd was lonely, wearisome, usually very boring and tedious, and sometimes extremely dangerous. It gave them a lot of contact with sheep, but very little exposure to people.
Now, step back for a moment. Imagine you’re God and you want to announce the most amazing, incredible, joyous news ever; an event which will literally change the course of history – the birth of your only Son, Jesus Christ.
The birth of the One who will be the Savior of the whole world. The One for whom the nation of Israel has been waiting and hoping and praying for thousands of years.
Finally, He has come! Who do you announce it to? Who do you tell? Who do you invite to come and see?
The point is that you would expect an event like the birth of Christ to be announced to the most important people in the nation. Political leaders – kings, governors, and magistrates, even Caesar – might be invited to come and pay homage to the future ruler.
Religious leaders – Priests, rabbis, synagogue officials, the head of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin – they would all be invited to worship their Messiah. Military leaders. Wealthy merchants. Men and women of distinction.
The news media. But none of them got the word. None of them were invited But they didn’t get an angelic messenger, or angel choir, or angelic invitation.
And yet, God reaches across all the barriers of society & tells the shepherds, "I want you to be the first to know that in the city of David, a Savior has been born."
They were privileged people, indeed. God told the shepherds, "You’re first. You get the first opportunity to see & worship Him."
Now if we’re honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we’re privileged people, too. We’re not here this morning because we’re so smart that we figured out the prophecies.
We’re not here this morning because we’re so rich that we have done anything so wonderful.
We’re here because we were born in the right country, at the right time, & were privileged to hear the gospel preached. We’re here this morning because parents took time to tell us about Jesus Christ.
We’re here this morning because friends reached out to us. We’re here because we are a privileged people, just like the shepherds.
A. Their Fear
8. That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened,
10. but the angel reassured them.``Don’t be afraid!’’ he said. ``I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!
B. Their Faith
But for the shepherds it was an occasion to make "known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child…and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them" (Lk. 2:17,20).
II. The Servants of the Lord
A. The Angels Appearance
The real wonder is that they appeared at all. The fact that they did makes it clear that from God’s point of view the birth of His Son was the greatest event in human history.
This angelic anthem was a guarantee that this would be the most celebrated birthday the world had ever seen. Their presence is just another factor in making this a one of a kind event.
Jesus was a one of a kind baby, born to a one of a kind mother, for a one of a kind plan of salvation. It is fitting that the angels would at His birth make a one of a kind appearance.
B. The Angels Adoration
The words of the angels set the tone for all others who come on the stage of the Christmas drama. The angels adore Christ, and so we see the shepherds also adore Christ, and so do the wise men.
To adore is to worship with intense devotion. Adoration is the key ingredient in the atmosphere of Christmas. The angels add wonder, but they also lead the way in worship as well.
There is no need to wonder about what Jesus most wants for His birthday. There is no gift we can give better than what the angels gave that first Christmas-adoration.
C. The Angels Acclamation
The first phrase, “Glory to God in the highest,” is a clear statement of praise. When the angels said, “Glory to God,” they were proclaiming that God is worthy of notice by the world.
2 Corinthians 8:9 builds the reason for this proclamation when it says, “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” We are compelled to give glory to God today for His unspeakable gift.
The latter portion of the angels’ proclamation clarifies the object of their praise. This glory they speak of does not go to just any old god. This proclamation goes to God “in the highest.”
This was not the God of Israel alone, or the god in some pagan temple. This was not some unknown remote idol in a dark temple. This expression of praise went up to the God of heaven, the Most High.
III. The Savior of the World
I have addressed the Shepherds in the field, and the Servants of the Lord - the angels, lets end by talking about the Savior of the world.
Look at Luke, chapter 2:7 for a moment. The first part of verse 7, it says, "She gave birth to her first born son. This was a very human person, Mary, giving birth to a very human body, Jesus."
This speaks of the humanity of Christ. A human mother, a human baby - that’s humanity. In Galatians, chapter 4, verse 4, "And God sent forth his son." - that’s divinity.
A divine Father, God being born in the flesh. These two verses give us the theology of the incarnation of Christ, which is God becoming flesh.
Human, yet divine, Divine and human. The Son of God becoming the son of man that we who are the sons of man can become the Son of God.
CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM, "THE HOUSE OF BREAD", TO SATISFY OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER.
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger." (John 6:35)
Bread is a good comparison to our Lord because He satisfies, gratifies and strengthens us spiritually just as bread does physically. Many are eating at the wrong table.
"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight in fatness." (Isaiah 55:2)
CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM, "THE HOUSE OF BREAD", TO TEACH US THAT EACH OF US MUST CHOOSE HIM AS SAVIOR FOR OURSELVES.
If one person eats a meal, it doesn’t satisfy any other person’s hunger.
The Bible says, "We are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 1:17) That "one bread" is Christ.
He is the only bread that offers life and the decision to receive Him is an individual one.
The question is not have you become a church member, or have you given to charities. The question is have you made a personal faith commitment to Jesus Christ? Have you believed in Jesus to receive eternal life?
A. As Savior,
1. We are Accepted in Him – Eph. 1:6 (Acceptance)
2. We are Delivered in Him – Delivered from sin’s penalty, power and presence. Rev. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19 (Deliverance)
3. We are Preserved in Him – Those whom Jesus saves are forever saved – John 6:37; 1 Pet. 1:5 (Preservation)
B. Through Jesus, we can:
1. Approach the Father – Heb. 4:16 (Ill. Jesus is the only means of access – 1 Tim. 2:5)
2. Appeal to the Father – John 16:23
C. The Name "Christ" refers to Jesus as the "Anointed High Priest." In this ministry, He addresses the father on our behalf:
1. He talks to the Father on our behalf – Heb. 7:25
2. He pleads our case before the throne of God – 1 John 2:1
CONCLUSION
That’s what it means when Christmas came to Bethlehem. He became us, so that we can become like him.
The house of bread – Bethlehem, has received the Bread of Life – Jesus, so that we can become the prize of heaven – children of God.
The house of bread – Bethlehem that was the birthplace of a shepherd, David, is now the birthplace of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus, so that we can become sheep of God’s pasture.
The house of bread – Bethlehem that produced a king, David, is now the birthplace of the King of kings, Jesus, so that we can become a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.
The house of bread – Bethlehem that produced a lion slayer, David, is now the birthplace of the Lion tribe of Judah, Jesus, so that we can become consumed by the love of God.
Illustration
It had been snowing all day & it was beginning to snow harder as the man’s family rode-off without him to church. And he pulled up a chair & started to read the newspaper. A few minutes later there was a thudding sound at the kitchen window.
When he went to see what it was he found a flock of birds out in the back yard. They had been caught in the storm and in a desperate search for shelter were trying to fly through the kitchen window.
Well he was a good man; a kind man; so he tried to think of something he could do so the birds wouldn’t freeze. So he put on his overcoat & boots & stomped out thru the deep snow thinking to himself; "The barn, that will give them a nice shelter".
So he opened the barn door & turned on the lights; but the birds wouldn’t go in. So then he thought food would bring them in. So he tromped back to the house; got some breadcrumbs & sprinkled a trail with them on into the barn.
But the birds ignored the breadcrumbs & went right on flopping around helplessly in the snow.
So he started walking around & waving his arms, trying to shoo them into the barn, but they scattered in every direction except into the warm, lit barn.
So the man thought to himself; "they find me a strange & terrifying creature & I can’t seem to think of anyway to let them know that they can trust me".
And so puzzled & out done he thought about that fact for a little. Then he thought, "If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes I could lead them to safety".
If only I could be a bird myself.....
Just then the church bells began to ring sending out the glad tidings of Christmas. That man stood silently for a minute & then sank down on his knees in the snow.
And he looked toward the sky & he whispered; "now I understand! Now I see why you had to become man...to show us the way...to save us from the storm.
Folks, you & I need to see that reflection of God’s goodness & love this morning. The whole world needs to see it before it will be able to sing, "Peace on earth & good will to all man".
It needs it before it will even recognize & follow the star of high value & lasting salvation. It needs a Savior that it can worship.
Horatius Bonar wrote-
Glory be to Him who loved us
Washed us from each sinful stain;
Glory be to Him who made us
Priests and kings with Him to reign;
Glory, worship, laud, and blessing
To the Lamb who once was slain.
"Glory, worship, laud, and blessing"-
Thus the choir triumphant sings;
"Honour, riches, power, dominion"-
Thus its praise creation brings;
Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy,
Lord of lords and King of kings.
Glory to the King of angels,
Glory to the Church’s King,
Glory to the King of nations,
Heaven and earth His praises sing;
Glory ever and for ever
To the King of Glory bring.
