LET’S GO TO BETHLEHEM

37-3690

TEXT – LUKE 2:8-20

INTRODUCTION:

  1. If you were thinking about jobs that a person might have and ranking them as to what jobs you consider the best you could have and what job would, in your mind be the worst a person could have, what would you put at the top and the bottom.
  2. If you had been alive at the time Jesus was born you might well have put at the bottom of your list the job of being a shepherd. It was normally a thankless task, often given to the youngest in the family. You had no hours on and off they were all on. Much of the time being a shepherd meant taking care of other people sheep or of taking care of a small herd of yours along with several other shepherds in the same situation. In that situation you had to be there at night just as much as in the day.
  3. Most likely if we were planning this story of Jesus birth the last people on earth we would have chosen to send the angel of the Lord to, in order to announce the birth of the Savior would have been shepherds in the field.
  4. There was a message for all of us in God’s choice to send the angel later joined by other angels to these men. It was that God is deeply concerned about our relationship with him no matter what our job or our station may be in life.

DISCUSSION:

  1. THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE.
  2. Notice when the angel appeared, the glory of the Lord shined around them and the shepherds were terrified. Immediately the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.”
  3. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.”
  4. Focus on this declaration sent from God to these men.
  5. “I bring you gospel (good news).
  6. It is interesting that we have often taken the word gospel and applied it only to the plan of salvation. One may say I haven’t heard a gospel sermon lately when they have been hearing about Jesus every week.
  7. But the New Testament uses the word “Gospel” about the entire story of Jesus life. Mark begins his account of Jesus story “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
  8. It is good news or gospel because God’s plan for all time, even before the creation of the world, is now being fulfilled with the coming of Jesus.
  9. What had failed in Eden and with the Nation of Israel in God’s plan was now to be fulfilled in Jesus and the kingdom he was establishing.
  10. “That will cause great joy.”
  11. Too often in our looking at the gospel it seems like more bad news than good in that it is a way to condemn everyone that doesn’t agree with us.
  12. God’s point is it will bring tremendous joy. Peter will call it a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.
  13. “For all people.”
  14. At the outset of God’s announcement of Jesus birth it was shouted that it was for all people.
  15. It leads to a great commission to carry the good news about Jesus to every ethnic group, every nation and every creature in the nations. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; Luke 24:43-44
  16. TODAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID, BETHLEHEM.
  17. A long time back Micah the prophet had foretold the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) Today, over 600 years later the angel of the Lord said, it was fulfilled.
  18. A Savior has been born to you.
  19. Why is that gospel?
  20. Because we have all sinned and failed God in living by the commands and laws He has given. We like sheep have gone astray everyone to his own way. Romans 3
  21. We need a savior because we can’t save ourselves. We need one who can live among us as one of is without giving in to Satan’s temptations, which will then take our sins on him and pay the price of that sin on a cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21
  22. He is the Messiah, the Christ, and the anointed one.
  23. The name “Jesus” means “God saves”.
  24. Christ is the message He is God’s chosen one. As God sent Samuel to anoint David as the king, He anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit as the King, the prophet and the High Priest for us.
  25. He is the Lord.
  26. The Lord is the Master, the ruler and the one in charge. The word was used in common language to show respect for another person.
  27. Many could be referred to as lords in the world but only Jesus is The Lord. Acts 2:36
  28. Lordship always leads to submission and obedience. Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 6:16-17
  29. The sign to them was a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger. So this was happening either as Jesus was born or right after it since the new baby was being laid in the animal’s feeding troth.
  30. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST HEAVENS.
  31. A great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
  32. Were these others in the heavenly hosts angels? I don’t know but I know they were heavenly beings and they were sent from heaven to serve as back up for the angel of the Lord. The use of the phrase the angel of the Lord may indicate this was Gabriel the same arch angel who appeared to Zachariah, Mary and Joseph to foretell the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus
  33. Praise God because He is now bringing together the plan of the ages. Ephesians 3:8-12
  34. On earth, with us the coming of Jesus brings peace to those on whom his favor rests.
  35. Compare his invitation in Matthew 11:28-30
  36. But he also said he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword and that he would separate families so those who should be closest were turn against one another.
  37. How can he both be the prince of peace, preaching a gospel of peace in the world but one that brings conflict and disagreement?
  38. His peace is upon those who accept His message and follow it obediently. Among those who reject the message of peace from him there will be conflict and war, terrorism and distrust.
  39. But in the church of the Lord, the gospel of peace tears down the walls and pulls us together as one. Ephesians 2:13-16
  40. CONCLUSION:
  41. The Savior was born in the stable in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. He brought the message of peace on earth.
  42. It is available for all people of all times.
  43. But it is a personal choice each of us must make for God. The good news is available. But I must decide if it will be good news for me or not.