To Us A Child Is Born

Introduction:

A. I want to begin with a quote from Frederick Buechner (Beekner), who was an American minister, theologian, and author of 39 books: “For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.” ? Frederick Buechner

1. Buechner was saying that we can’t have a heart, a brain or courage without passing through Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus – obviously he is speaking figuratively, not literally.

2. Bethlehem is not our home, but it is the way to reach home through Jesus.

B. The greatest wonder and joy possible in this world came because of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

1. Today, I want to remind us of “the good news of great joy” that began on the day that Jesus was born.

2. Four days from now, a large part of the world will turn their attention to Jesus and his birth.

3. As you likely know, the date of Jesus’ birth is not revealed in the Bible.

4. December 25 became the day that many celebrate the birth of Jesus, because that was the day it was formally adopted around 336 AD during Emperor Constantine's reign.

C. What is most important, is not an official day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, rather what is most important is that the significance of Jesus’ coming is never forgotten.

1. Many people love to think of the Christ-child in the manger, but then they fail to allow Jesus to grow up.

2. Jesus didn’t stay the helpless infant in the manger, rather He grew to manhood, was put to death because of his convictions, and is the only way of salvation.

3. Let’s recount the biblical record of His birth as is found in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew (Mt. 1:18-2:12, and Luke (1:26-38, 2:1-20).

I. The Story of His Birth

A. When the time had come, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph.

1. The virgin’s name was Mary.

2. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

3. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this must be.

4. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

5. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

6. The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” and the power of the Most High will over-shadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

7. Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”

8. Then the angel left her.

B. When Joseph found out that Mary was with child before they had come together, he had in mind to divorce her quietly, for he did not want to expose her to public disgrace.

1. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”

2. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him ‘Immanuel’ - which means, ‘God with us.’”

3. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

C. In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.

1. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.