Conception.doc
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Conception

Matthew - John

 

 

[text:  Luke 2]

Christmas in July!  Let’s celebrate all year long! 

 

My dad used to give ‘clues’ to Christmas gifts.  They built anticipation as you tried to figure out what they were.  But in truth, he wouldn’t give enough info. so you could truly figure it out.  For instance, he said one of my gifts had a soul and could fly.  On Christmas morning I unwrapped motorcycle boots.  [sole!]  But how can it fly, I asked?  “Throw it!”  He also would wrap a box inside a box inside a box, just for fun.

 

God’s unspeakable gift keeps on giving.  It’s the kind of gift that we can start unwrapping but inside each layer is another and we go deeper and deeper!

He came not to preach the gospel.  He came that there might BE a gospel to preach.  The gospel is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah.

 

Many think Jesus was just a good man.  But He wasn’t.  Good men don’t claim to be God.  If one of my deacons, who are good men, stood up and claimed to be God you wouldn’t think they were good men any longer...but heretics.  And secondly, good men don’t accept worship.  Respect?  Yes.  Worship?  No.  Jesus both claimed to be God and received worship.  He was not a good man, but the God-Man!

 

  1. There are four Gospels, each having its own distinctive viewpoint and presentation of Christ as “the anointed One.”

 

  1. Matthew – target audience:  Jews.

The goal was to show the Jews that Jesus was their king or Messiah.  And the most important thing about a king is his genealogy, which chapter 1 begins with, showing that He was part of King David’s bloodline.

 

  1. Mark – target audience:  Gentiles in general, and the Romans in particular.

He doesn’t try to prove Christ as Messiah.  He stresses the doings of Christ, not just the sayings of Christ.  It’s all action, events, and service.

 

  1. Luke – target audience:  Greeks.

They felt superior to all mankind.  They thought all problems could be solved thru education and the arts.  And so Luke the physician, educated, presents Jesus as the Son of Man, the only perfect man to walk the earth.  And he stresses that man doesn’t just need reformation, but transformation...not just a boost from beneath, but a birth from above!

 

  1. John – target audience:  all Christians.

New believers should start there for the basics.

 

  1. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was born of a virgin.  Some modern translations call her a young woman instead of a virgin...there is a great difference!  Jesus would have had a sin nature if Joseph was His father.  He died for our sins, not any of His own. - Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

 

  1. The virgin birth must be accepted by faith, not by reason – Luke 1:34-35, 37

But it’s not blind faith, for He proved He was God.

 

  1. When Jesus entered this world, it was God becoming man – Matthew 1:23; John 1:1, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16

Matthew 1:23
... and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...

1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...

Ill.—little boy couldn’t sleep due to a thunderstorm.  He called for his mom, who said to not be afraid because God was in the room.  He said, I know God is in the room, but I want somebody with skin on them!

    When Jesus came to earth it was God with skin on Him!

 

July 20, 1969—President Nixon said it was the greatest day in human history.  I don’t agree.  What happened on that day?  Man walked on the moon for the first time.  I can understand his enthusiasm for the event, but here are the greatest days in history:

  • The day Jesus, the God-Man, was born.  Joy to the world!  The Word became flesh.
  • The day Jesus, having lived a perfect life, died for the crimes of humanity, paying the debt of sin for us all.
  • The day 3 days later when He rose again from the dead, literally, bodily.
  • A day yet future...

Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

  1. Of our Lord’s infancy, only four events are recorded in the Gospels.

 

  1. The circumcision, eight days after His birth -- Luke 2:21

Born a Jew...no wonder they have been so hated for so long.  The devil put that in the hearts of Haman, Nebuchadnezzar, the Romans, Hitler, Muslims, and the ‘Squad’.

Luke 2:21-24
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

  1. The presentation in the temple -- Luke 2:22-24

This happened about 40 days later.  We know his family was poor based on their sacrifice they brought.  They brought the best they could, and God smiled upon it.  But the health and wealth gospel suffers here.  Jesus always reached out to the poor, and so should we.  The ground is level at Calvary.

Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to ‘give Him back to God.’  It’s the principle of the first fruits.  The firstborn male belonged to God, so they offered an offering to ‘buy Him back’ or redeem Him.  And 33 years later He would redeem them!

 

  1. The visit of the wise men – Matthew 2:1-12

How many were there?  Likely a large group, because it scared Herod!  3 gifts, yes, but 3 men, probably not.  When did they arrive?  Probably several months after the birth.  It was a journey across the desert, to a house, not a stable, to a young child, not a newborn.

 

  1. The flight into Egypt – Matthew 2:13-15

 

This was not on a plane, and Pontius was not the pilot.  They had to flee Herod whom the devil wanted to use to squelch out the life of Jesus.

 

  1. There is only one event recorded concerning the childhood of Jesus – Luke 2:39-52

He went missing and was found in the temple w/ the elders, and His first recorded words were “Wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business?”

What were His very first words before entering into Mary’s womb?

Hebrews 10:5-7
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

How profound!

Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 He grew mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.

 

  1. The next 18 years of Jesus’ life are passed in holy silence until His baptism by John – Matthew 3:13-17  And if Jesus would submit to baptism and humble Himself, so should we.

What did He do all that time?  What did He not do is the better question...and the answer is, sin!  He worked, studied, learned, prayed, and prepared for what lay ahead in God’s timing.  And so should we.

 

  1. Jesus’ earthly ministry began in John 2:1-12 with the miracle at the marriage in Cana of Galilee.  His first miracle was for the purpose of bringing joy!  It was followed by:
    1. The healing of the sick
    2. The calling of His disciples
    3. Feeding the multitudes
    4. His parables and discourses
    5. His demonstration of power over nature, demons, and death

 

  1. Jesus Christ showed Himself as a spotless, sinless example in every way – 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

 

What we know of His life before His short ministry is very little...just sinlessness, which is all that is truly important.  That’s why Christmas should be all year long, because the birth and the life were all for the purpose of that sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, which we study next time.

 

 

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