A. Today, I want to remind you of “the good news of great joy” that began on the day that Jesus was born.
1. In 10 days, a large part of the world will pause and for a moment will give their attention to Jesus and his birth.
2. On December 25th each year, people’s minds journey back to a manger in Bethlehem.
3. Most people don’t realize that we do not know the exact day of Jesus’ birth, nor do they realize that this day was chosen primarily because of a pagan celebration.
B. What is important is that they are thinking of the Christ, and we need to use that as an opportunity to share the truth about Jesus with them.
1. Most people love to think of the Christ child, but they fail to realize that he grew up, he didn’t stay the helpless infant in the manger, he grew to manhood, was put to death because of his convictions, and is way of salvation.
2. Let’s recount the biblical record of his birth as is found in Matthew 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. Se will give birth to a son, and yo 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.
2. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
3. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
D. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
1. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
2. But the angel said to them. “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
3. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
4. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
5. So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
6. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who hear it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
7. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
E. Some wise men from the east had followed the star and had come to worship Jesus.
1. When the star stopped over the place where Jesus was, they were overjoyed.
2. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.
3. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
F. That’s the biblical account of how it happened, and isn’t it wonderful and awe inspiring?!
1. A tiny, secluded manger, with its sweet-smelling straw comprised the homely stage upon which the most striking and significant drama of the centuries was enacted.
2. It was there that God, in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, became human. In meekness and humility he came to earth and took on flesh.
3. Aren’t you glad he was born? Aren’t you glad he came, the way he came, on our behalf?
II. The Reason for His Birth
A. Isaiah the prophet recorded a marvelous prophesy, that has been interpreted as one about the birth of Jesus Christ.
1. It reads, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6)
2. These names describe the meaning and significance of Jesus’ birth. They describe his mission and ministry to us.
3. Let’s briefly examine each one.
B. First, His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.
1. If ever the world needed the counsel of Christ, it does today!
2. Throughout history, and throughout the world, individuals has submitted to Christ and have found the solution to their baffling problems.
3. Christ does not just listen to us, build up our self-esteem, and heal our wounds, he helps us to change.
4. With his wisdom he exposes the deep sins of our hearts, helps us repent, and put into practice his principles that make us healthy and happy.
5. If Christ, the Divine Counselor, has met the needs and solved the problems of millions of men and women, then isn’t it reasonable to believe that he can also meet your needs?
6. In order to benefit from his counsel, we must trust him enough to humbly submit to his examination and prescription.
7. He indeed has what we need.
C. Second, His name shall be called Mighty God.
1. Jesus’ life is a demonstration of the power of his might. His power is manifested in…
a. His power to create the universe (Col 1:16, Jn 1:3)
b. His power to forgive sins (Mt 9:2, Col 3:13)
c. His power to heal diseases (Mk 1:32-33)
d. His power to cast out demons (Mt 8:16)
e. His power to control nature (Mt 8:27)
f. His power to perform many other miracles (walk on water, feed 5000)
2. Jesus is still powerful today, and as a mighty God can work in our lives.
a. He empowers us to grow and change into his likeness (2 Co 3:18).
b. He empowers us to face difficult circumstances in life (Phil 4:11-13).
c. He empowers us to overcome the influence of Satan and sin (1 Co 10:13)
d. He empowers us to minister (Col 1:28-29).
3. In order to benefit from his unlimited power, we must humbly depended upon him.
D. Third, His name shall be called Everlasting Father.
1. In our human experience, fathers come and go. Some because of death, others by decision, and we are left with a void.
2. Even the best of fathers are limited and are imperfect.
3. But we need and long for a father who is everlasting, who is perfect, who never changes.
4. God is that kind of father.
a. He is all together righteous, holy, perfect (1 Jn 1:5).
b. He is stable, without fluctuation and change (He 13:8).
c. He is eternal, everlasting (Rev 22:13).
5. In order to benefit from his everlasting fatherhood, we must faithfully cling to him.
E. Fourth, His name shall be called the Prince of Peace.
1. The desire for peace is universal. It is our nature to want to live free from confusion, discord and strife.
2. But unfortunately, much of our world is full of war, hatred and conflict.
3. To a group of weary, harassed disciples, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”(Jn. 14:27)
a. Even in the midst of the storm, there can always be peace in Christ.
b. There can always be peace within, even when there is no peace without.
4. During WWI, on Christmas Eve, the battlefield was strangely quiet.
a. As the soft snow fell, the thoughts of the young men were on things other than war.
b. They thought of home and family.
c. Softly, one lad began to hum “Silent Night,” and soon a chorus was built of wheezy tenors and throaty baritones.
d. When they finished singing, they were astounded to hear the song echoing from the enemy trenches across no-man’s land. The enemy was singing the same song in their own tongue.
e. That night they were all thinking of peace, not war, because they were thinking of the Prince of Peace.
5. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
a. The meaning of his birth and the message of his life brings peace between us and God and our fellow man.
b. Jesus offers peace to troubled souls, shattered families, and a war-torn world.
c. In order to benefit from his peace we must place our lives and hopes in his will, and apply his principles to our lives.
Conclusion:
A. Don’t we have a wonderful Savior? We can marvel that he is the wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the prince of peace.
1. We can rejoice that there was a day that he was born in a manger, that angels announced his birth to poor shepherds, and that a star led the wise men to worship Jesus and offer gifts.
2. But even greater than his birth, was his life, his death, and his resurrection.
3. He gave his life for us, and now he asks that we give our lives to him and for him.
B. Let me end with this story that appeared in Guideposts magazine.
1. Wallace was a very large nine-year-old, who was slow in mind.
a. Nevertheless, all the children liked him because he was kind in heart, and even though he was big, he never bullied anyone.
2. Wally wanted very much to be in the Christmas program that year, and he wanted to play the part of a shepherd.
a. The teacher had a different part in mind.
b. Being so big, she thought he would be perfect in the role of the innkeeper.
c. And so it was that Wallace Purling got the part of the innkeeper, and oh how he practiced.
3. The night of the play came, and everything was going beautifully.
a. Everyone was in the right place, and no one missed a line.
4. At last, the play came to the part where Joseph and Mary knocked on the door of the inn.
a. Wally answered the door gruffly, “What do you want?”
b. “We seek lodging,” was their response.
c. “Seek it elsewhere, the inn is filled,” said Wally.
d. “But sir, we have tried elsewhere, we have come a long way, and are very tired.”
e. “Go away,” Wally commanded, “there is no room in my inn for you.”
f. “But sir, my wife is with child. Don’t you have a corner where we can get out of the cold?”
g. For the first time, the innkeeper broke his practiced icy stare and looked at Mary. There was a long silence. The audience was tense with embarrassment thinking Wally had forgotten his line.
h. The prompter whispered, “No be gone.”
i. Wally said halfheartedly, “No be gone.”
j. Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and began to leave the stage.
k. Suddenly, Wally Purling could stand it no longer. Big he was, but cruel he could never be.
l. With tears welling up in his eyes he gave a performance others would never forget.
m. Wally called, “Wait, don’t go Joseph. Bring Mary back.”
n. And will a smile on his tear streaked face he said, “You can have my room and I’ll sleep out in the cold.”
o. Some said the pageant was ruined. Others knew better.
C. Wally had learned a lesson we all need to be sure to learn - There is no room for Jesus in our inn, until we give up our place.
1. Have we learned that lesson?
2. Have you given Jesus the prime place in your life?
3. I hope you haven’t turned him away saying, “There is no room for you here!”
