Joy to the World
More than a cute story
INTRO:
Christmas is a time to renew our vision to connect and feed regularly on the majesty and wonder of Christ Jesus.
This morning we are going to focus on the Virgin Birth.
We are going to begin in Isaiah 9
Isaiah. 9:6-7
6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Our goal by the end of today is to give you a biblical understanding of what the Birth of Jesus meant.
Isaiah 9 was written nearly six hundred years before Jesus' birth.
Isaiah promised it would be a miraculous event, unlike any the world had ever known.
What was 600 years ago from today? December 17,
1423
In Isaiah 9:1 he says:
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan
Jesus was born in Bethlehem and raised in the town of Nazareth, in
Galilee (formerly Palestine, now northern Israel)
Genealogy:
Genealogy - a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor.
In Matthew 1 there are 47 names in Matthew’s genealogy—5 women and 42 men.
The Genealogy traces the lineage of Abraham who entered covenant with God to the birth of Jesus.
How the genealogy shows that Jesus is the chosen king because of lineage and righteousness.
Lineage:
He had to come from Abraham and David:
Genesis 17:7
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
Isaiah 9:7
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.
Matthew 1:17
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
Righteousness:
In this genealogy is the story of the Gospel:
David - adultery (1 Chr 11-29)
Solomon - idolater (2 Chr 1-9)
Rehoboam - could not keep the nation together (2 Chr 9-12)
Abijah - king of Judah failed to unite the nation
Asa - made unholy alliances trusting foreign power instead of God (2 Chr 14-16)
Jehosaphat - showed mercy where God called for judgment s (2 Chr 17-20)
Jehoram - (2 Chr 21) walked in the compromise
Uzziah - (2 Chr 26) dishonored the priestly office
Jotham - (2 Chr 27) he was a good man, but ineffective in getting the people to follow his spiritual leadership (2 Chr 27:2)
Ahaz - walked in the compromise (2 Chr 28:9-22)
Manasseh - (2 Chr 33) led the nation in severe moral and spiritual compromise
Amon - (2 Chr 33:21-24) did evil like his father
Jeconiah - goes into Babylonian Captivity (2 Chr 36:9-10)
Then the God of Israel stepped into time and space to rescue, and redeem forever.
To break the grip of death, and fear, and shame, and all evil, for a people who have fallen short for thousands of years
All of that culminates the moment of the virgin birth.
Its not just a promise now! its not just a prophecy! but the very fulfillment of the promise has arrived!
Isaiah. 9:6-7
6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
This is a political verse.
(Not a soft cuddly feel good baby Christmas verse)
Heres what the Bible says that moment looks like:
Luke 2:13-14 (the shepherds encounter)
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Thats why Herod saw the star and said bring me that baby!
Matthew 2
King Herod, upon hearing from the Magi about the birth of a new king, ordered the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to eliminate the perceived threat to his rule.
The takeaway:
6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
and the government will be upon His shoulder.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end
We eagerly await his return!
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