THE CHRISTMAS STORY – & ME SELECTED SCRIPTURE

I. THE CHRISTMAS STORY INVOLVES THE UNFOLDING OF A DRAMA

MARY AND JOSEPH “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21

THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN BETHLEHEM “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while the were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

SHEPHERDS AND ANGELS “Now thee were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there has been born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”…And the angels came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-16

MAGI (WISE MEN) FROM THE EAST “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he gathered all the priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet..” And the king sent them to Bethlehem… And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-11

ESCAPE INTO EGYPT Now when the wise men departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod the king will seek the young Child to destroy Him. And Joseph took the Child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:13-15

II. THE CHRISTMAS STORY INVOLVES THE EXERCISE OF FAITH

WHAT’S IN THE STORY? A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES!

GOD BECAME A BABY! THE INCARNATION “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a on, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest…” Luke1:31,32 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, 14

JESUS WAS BORN – BUT HE DID NOT HAVE A HUMAN FATHER! THE VIRGIN BIRTH “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34,35

JESUS, GOD’S SON, WAS BORN IN A CATTLE STALL AND WAS PLACED IN A MANGER! “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST INVOLVED THE APPEARANCE OF ANGELS! An angel appeared to Joseph (Matthew 1:20 and 2:13) An angel appeared to Mary (Luke1:34,35) An angel appeared to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-14)

THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS FORETOLD IN DETAILED PROPHECY, HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE HE WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM!

PROPHECY MADE FULFILLED Born of a woman Gen. 3:15 Gal. 4:4 Seed of Abraham Gen. 22:18 Mtt. 1:1 Tribe of Judah Gen. 49:10 Lk. 3:23 House of David Jer. 23:5 Lk. 3:23 Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Mtt. 2:1 Presented with gifts Ps. 72:10 Mtt. 2:11 Called Lord Ps. 110:1 Lk. 2:11 Called Immanuel Isa. 7:14 Mtt. 2:16 Called Son of God Ps. 2:7 Mtt. 3:17 Tragedy involved Jer. 31:15 Mtt. 2:16

WHAT IS BEHIND THE STORY? WHY DID IT TAKE PLACE? “For God SO LOVED the world that HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 316

WHAT ABOUT THE STORY? HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME? “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD” Rom. 5:1 “There is therefore, now, NO JUDGEMENT to those who are in Christ Jesus…” Rom. 8:1 “He who has the Son, has LIFE” I John 5:12

III. THE CHRISTMAS STORY INVOLVES THE RESPONSE OF THE HEART!