~ Never Before & Never Again—A
Birth Like This! ~
Observations ~ Consider
some unusual aspects of the birth of Jesus Christ.
1. Another
child being born is not unusual—tens of thousands are born each day.
2. He never
ceased to be the Son of God even while assuming the conditions of full
humanity.
3. Even
though He was the King of glory He came not in kingly garments but was wrapped
in swaddling clothes (what the shepherds used to wrap newborn lambs).
4. When
future kings are born on earth great publicity and recognition accompanies the
birth—but when He was born there was no celebration or rejoicing.
5. Israel had
been anticipating the arrival of their Messiah—yet when He came they did not
recognize Him.
6. While
fully and completely God He became fully and completely human.
7. As God He
was not limited by the restraints of space but He became dependent upon the
limitations of space as we are.
8. As God He
was not limited by the restraints of time but He became dependent upon time as
He grew from infancy to adulthood.
9. As God He
was not limited by the restraints of physical matter but He became dependent
upon the limitations of a human body.
10. As God He was invisible but He became visible
in a human body.
11. As God He was unchanging but He became a
human infant who grew into an adult human being.
12. As God He
was eternal but He partook of the aging process of a human.
13. While self-existent
He became dependent upon His earthly parents
14. While
all-powerful He assumed the role of a baby—even unable to walk.
15. While
all-knowing He assumed the role of a baby—even unable to think rationally.
16. If His
birth had been in a royal palace ordinary people would not have been able to
identify with Him as being like them and experiencing what they
experienced.
17. It was
all for our sakes!
Uniqueness
~ Think about some of the unique
aspects of this baby’s birth.
1. This Child
was not beginning His life—He had existed from eternity past.
2. This Child
was the Creator of the universe.
3. This Child
was called Lord by all the angels in heaven.
4. This Child
was the Lord of glory.
Lessons ~ There
are many “takeaways” from His birth.
Here are a few.
1. How great
His condescension in
coming to earth in human form.
2. He
experienced humiliation that we might be exalted.
3. He became
the Son of Man that we might become Sons of God!
4. Noise,
show, and pomp are not necessary to accompany power.
5. The love,
mercy, and grace of God usually come quietly.
6. Character
(who you really are) is far more important than reputation (who others think
you are).
7. God judges
a person’s greatness by their character—not their circumstances.
8. It is not
about being honored on earth but rather living an honorable life.
9. Gifts were
brought to the infant Jesus. The gifts
were costly. It is not enough for us to
merely sing “praise” and “worship” choruses to God. We should give our best to Him.
Summary
~ “Now
there 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 is born to you
this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the 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 the heavenly host praising God
and saying: ‘Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
“So
it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds
said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and
Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those
things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
them” (Luke 2:8-20).
the key question:
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important
question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it
incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE
NOW
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