Room For Jesus

INTRODUCTION

 Have you ever looked for something to only find that what you were looking for was right under your nose? TALK ABOUT SCREWDRIVER IN HAND.

 This was the situation before the birth of Jesus. The world that Jesus was born into was a very religious world. The Jewish people were longing for the day that their messiah would appear and help them break the bonds of Roman rule.

 World looked for Christ, the Messiah – He was to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)

 He was to be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3)

 He was to be of the house of David (Isaiah 11:1)

 He was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

 The Jews had the Old Testament prophecies. There were many people who felt that the Messiah was about to come at any moment.

 There were 61 MAJOR and about 270 minor prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus during His lifetime.

 According to Peter Stoner in “Science Speaks”, the odds of one person fulfilling just 8 of those in their lifetime near impossible.

 The eight used were- 1. His place of birth in Bethlehem. 2. John the Baptist ministry. 3. Jesus entering into Jerusalem on a donkey. 4. Betrayed by a friend. 5. Sold for 30 pieces of silver. 6. The money thrown into the house of God and then used to purchase a potters field. 7. Making no defense before His accusers. 8. Being crucified with His hands and feet pierced and being crucified between two thieves.

 The odds of just these 8 would be like; (USE SILVER DOLLAR ILL 2 feet deep covering Texas, one marked. Blind fold, grab the right on the first try)

 It was a tumultuous time; it was time for enrollment for the census. The Romans would call a census for two reasons, one for taxation purposes and secondly for compulsive military service. The Jews were exempt from the military service. This was a census for tax purposes.

 GAL 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

 Because of the fact that all the Jews had to return to their place of birth, the cities were filled. No room in the inn – all places were filled.

 When the long awaited Messiah came there was no room for Him.

 He had to be born in a stable – barn – shed – laid in manger (feeding trough). This is not the way you would expect the Savior of the world to get His start.

 The Messiah the nation of Israel was longing for had arrived, but they had no room for or no place for Him. What they were looking for was right before them, but they had no room for Him. What about today? Is it any different?

SERMON

I. THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR CHRIST

1. In Bethlehem – fled to Egypt (READ LUKE 2:1-7)

 When Joseph and Mary were looking for a place for the Savior to be born, there was no room for them.

 Within a couple of years, Jesus’ family had to flee to Egypt so that Herod would not kill Him.

 It is interesting that in this Jewish town, they did not have room for the savior that they were looking for.

 The people knew that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. In Matthew 2, Herod gathered the Scribes and Chief Priests together to determine where the Messiah was to born, they knew it would be Bethlehem.

2. In Jerusalem or Judea (Matthew 2:12-23)

 After the death of Herod, Joseph returned to Israel, but he did not return to Judea.

 MAT 2:19-23 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead." So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

 The religious capitol of the Jewish world did not have room for Jesus.

3. In Galilee (Matthew 13:53-58) Rejected at Nazareth

 READ MATTHEW 13:53-58

 Talk about how His hometown did not accept Him.

 A hometown is usually a place where you can go for encouragement and security.