The Doorway To Eternity Series

The Words of Christmas – Bring Forth A Son…

The Doorway to Eternity

Matthew 1:21-23 December 22, 2002

1. The Sunday before Christmas and excitement is in the air

2. Christmas means many things to many people – time off – bonus money – travel to

family - rest and relaxation – for children presents and stuff

3. Christmas is celebrated in a many ways – from traditional(cut tree on Christmas Eve

and decorate as family happening) – big lunch and gathering – just laying around

being at home and together

4. Whatever Christmas means to you individually – to believers it means something that

is often overlooked and understated

5. What happened there in Bethlehem did something that affects each of today – whether

believers or not

6. If you look at history – all of history (all) is like a door that is hinged upon what and

who Jesus Christ is

7. His death, burial and resurrection are the hinges upon which the door of history hangs

8. But His birth are the pins that hold the door in place – without the pins – no death

burial and resurrection

9. It is upon those pins that a door not only hands – but is allowed to swing open and to

close

10. What we celebrate in just three days is more than just a time honored story found in

Luke 2 – it is more than a children’s play or a musical presentation – what happened

that night in the deserts of Bethlehem under a star that shone so bright – was a

present from God to the world – it was the doorway to eternity

11. Had the birth not occurred – then the crucifixion could not have happened

12. Had the birth not occurred – then the resurrection would not be a possibility

13. Man would have still been going to a legalistic High Priest once a year to have his

sins forgiven – with no way for man himself to come to God alone

14. You must understand that everything we believe – everything we hold dear and

sacred is bound in these swaddling clothes in a manger

15. Those words….and she brought forth….means so much, because she brought forth

to you and to me the doorway to eternity

I. TO BRIDGE A PARTITION:

A. The phrase…and she shall bring forth in v. 21 indicates first of all a bridging of a

partition

1. The Birthing Process:

a. When a young mother to be gives birth – there is a remarkable chain of events

that occurs

b. When this mother lies down on that delivery table – she is literally taking the

chance of loosing her own life to give life to her child

c. It is one of the most remarkable and miraculous sights known to man

d. Through hours of pain, anguish and coaxing – this mother’s body prepares to

separate itself form the young life that has been growing in it for nine months

e. From a microscopic organism to ten fingers and ten toes, two eyes and a nose

this tiny human enters into a world of chaos, confusion and controversy

f. Remember that the birthing process is a separation process – it always separates

the child from the mother

g. It always separates the child from the nourishment and nutrients that was

provided for it in the mother’s womb

h. The birthing process tears that baby from the safe environment it lived in for 9

months – it is a radical and extreme means of entrance into this world

i. In the same way – Jesus was torn from His heavenly home – although He willingly

came – coming here was still a radical departure from heaven

j. His birthing process was two fold – being separated from His heavenly home and

then being separated from the womb of His mother Mary

k. Therefore it was a doubly painful and agonizing

l. Yet there would be a third separation – that would be the day He died on a cross at

Calvary and with the voice of separation and pain He cried to heaven…Father why

have you forsaken Me?.....

m. Separation is traumatic and distressing – so was Jesus’ leaving heaven for earth

2. The Bridging Process:

a. That is where the bridging process comes into focus

b. She should bring forth…notice those words – when a child is separated from their

mother – they are set apart

c. Yet when Jesus came, was …brought forth…that literally means that birth was

the process the Heavenly Father used to bring Him to us

d. Jesus was separated from the Father and from heaven, but He was brought forth

to us

e. Evidence of that is found in John 10:10 ….I am come that they might have life,