When You Tell Them About the Baby, Tell Them He Grew Up
Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 2:11
Many people associate this day as a day to tell a wonderful story. Christians and non-Christians alike tell of the birth of Jesus.
• Some tell it just out of tradition, not attaching any new meaning to it or seeing the big picture.
• Some tell it because it sounds good, a virgin, one chosen by God, had to give birth to a baby boy in a stable because there was no room anywhere else.
• And still others tell it because they don’t believe it and think it is incredible that others believe it! So it is told with sarcasm.
• And I really like this one...some body said, you know they’re going to be telling that same old story again, it’s just a glorified birth announcement!
• Do you know some people didn’t come to church this morning because they felt like all we are going to do is listen to some Christmas songs and hear the same old Christmas story and go home.
Look at you neighbor and tell them the Good News of My Savior’s birth is more than just a sweet story. He grew up!
Look at all the time that went into planning His birth. Man was separated from God because of all the sinful things he did. There were not enough bulls and sheep and doves available to pay the price for all our sin. We, just like those before us were a corrupt people, we lie, cheat, steal, covet, curse, drink, gamble, and if that is not enough...we are unfaithful in our relationships, sometimes we go from one affair to the other in the same day! Some of us switch partners within the hour! Unfaithful!
We are unfaithful to our family, those that care for us and nurture us, we’ll turn our backs on them for something that looks good to us and when we finish with what seemed like a good idea and are laying open, vulnerable and defeated, like the prodigal son we come crawling back to where we left in a hurry.
Then we are unfaithful to our God. God cares for us and provides for us and we, just like the children of Isaiah’s time, don’t listen to His voice and we try to hide our dirt. We won’t worship and praise Him like we do the basketball players or the other sports heroes or stars, we quietly sit in church and look around like the ax will fall if we lift a praise!
But I read somewhere, let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord!
But, Jesus was born to save us and unite us with God! In spite of our unfaithfulness, He was faithful to us. And in being born, He opened up a whole new direction for us. What I like about it was it was all part of God’s Plan. God had already lined it all up...Isaiah prophesied of the wonderful Servant that Jesus would be. If you looked at the last few Sunday School lessons, you know that Jesus is the servant that Isaiah spoke of in his writing. Let’s look at the text because in that first verse of the 61st chapter all of the Trilogy is present. Jesus is speaking, The Spirit is up on Him and God is anointing. If you don’t believe me read over in the book of Luke in that 4th chapter it tells us that Jesus read this same passage of scripture and told the listeners that this day, the day He read it, that the scripture was fulfilled.
But look at what He is appointed to do. He was to preach good tidings to the meek, those people who are willing to listen, not proud and arrogant but ready to hear some good news. Ever notice that folks who think they really got it going on are not going to listen to your instructions or advice. They think they are better than we are and why listen to you. That’s how they felt about Jesus, isn’t he just a carpenter’s son. They didn’t realize what they had in their midst.
Listen to what He came to do because He grew up!
Jesus came to bind up the broken hearted, God knew that because of our sinful nature, we would get brokenhearted...don’t you think the woman with the issue of blood was brokenhearted? Surely the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery were broken hearted, what about the leader Jairus whose daughter had just died, don’t you think he was brokenhearted or Mary and Martha whose brother, Lazarus was in the grave long before Jesus arrived on the scene! But didn’t Jesus fixed it right on time!
Take a note from Shirley Caesar..."He’s an on time God! Oh Yes He is!"
When you tell them about the baby, tell them he grew up!
Then He was to proclaim liberty to the captives, He not only told them of the liberating power of God. He told them that the meek would inherit the earth, He was the one who told us that we should love each other. Jesus said we should forgive others, it frees us from holding in that grudge. Jesus told us to be like little children, that’s the only way we can enter Heaven. It is wonderful isn’t it that you can wholly lean and depend on God just like we used to do our parents when we were little. He told us this when He grew up!
And after all that, then He was to set the captive free. when He grew up He set free the demoniac, jailed in the graveyard, hurting himself. He was free after his encounter with Jesus. The girl that followed Him around was free from the demons that troubled her. All those that satan had bound, He liberated. Even in death, He went down to hell and set the captives free. And the bible says, "He who the Son sets free is truly free indeed!" Are you free today? You ought to be free cause that sweet little baby boy grew up
Lastly, I want you to look at that 2nd chapter of Luke in the 11th verse. "It says unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord." Why don’t you share Jesus today. Let someone know of your love for Him and how He cares for us. Don’t you know that on this day someone will discover Jesus for the first time. Somebody will find that babe that came to save the world from the death os sin and eternity in a burning Hell! He is a Savior, born to save us from our selves, I don’t know about you but I was a wretch undone until Jesus came along. He saved me, He raised me, He brought me, He taught me, He kept me,never left me.wrapped in swaddling clothes but I thank God He grew up!
So you see Jesus is more than just a bedtime story.
His birth is more than just a birth announcement.
It’s more than an old tradition. Because He grew up!
Yes tell them, His mother was a virgin because He had to be pure.
His earthly father was accepting because he had to fulfil his part.
He was born in a stable so that all could have access.
Let them know He was laid in a manger because He was the living bread.
The baby Jesus drew shepherds, because He is the Good Shepherd.
Yes, Herod sought to kill Him because Jesus was the end of his reign
His birth inspired Wise men because He is Wisdom and strength.
Angels had to tell of His birth because He was a product of Glory.
A star marked the spot because He is the Light of the World.
His birth was prophesied because he would fulfil all prophesies.
He grew up...and brought sight to the blind.
He grew up...and Healed the sick.
He grew up...and raised the dead.
He grew up...and made the lame to walk.
He grew up...and the withered was restored to use!
He grew up...and man rejected Him
