John Wells - December 24, 2017 Evening Service - a podcast by NBC Podium

The Meaning of Christmas
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
….a Sacred Romance
It reveals the purpose of our lives
Mary
an ordinary, young Jewish women living in Nazareth in 6 BC
Nazareth was a small town mostly made up peasants …of no reputation
God’s eye was on Mary.. Likely only 15-17 years old, persevered in fidelity to the Lord
A pure, virgin, a vessel to be used by God …one of the most important jobs in history
Isaiah 7:14 .. a sign of Messiah’s coming “ the virgin shall conceive … Immanuel”
Mary was betrothed …engaged, but in a legally binding commitment in Jewish culture
Joseph
An older gentleman, possibly in his 30’s …scholars say, he was a widower
Joseph was a ‘just man’ (Matt 1:19) , feared God, and kept the law…looking for Messiah
Just a carpenter (a builder) ….But an observer of the holy feasts of the OT Scriptures
Joseph was a son of David, of the tribe of Judah, a descendent of Abraham
The Crisis – Luke 1 V 26-33
One day God sent His angel Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth …” Fear Not ..you will conceive”
“ you are highly favored …you will bear a Son … Immanuel …He shall be Great !
He shall be called the Son of the Highest … Sit on the throne of David… His Kingdom -forever
“ HOW CAN THIS BE ?....I’m never been with a man …” You will conceive of the Holy Spirit”
Why did Jesus have to be born of a virgin ? …HE WAS WITHOUT SIN
Mary is thinking ..BUT WHAT WILL JOSEPH THINK ? HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THIS TO MY PEOPLE ?
Luke 1:38 “ Mary said…Be it according to your word … I am the Lord’s servant “
Can you imagine her telling Joseph ….You’ll never believe what just happened to me ….
Mary – departs for the hill country of Judah to stay with Elizabeth for 3 months
Joseph is thinking through all this … How ? Why ? What will happen … she’s in danger
He decides … I’m going to divorce her… that’s the proper thing to do..
Joseph is torn … He’s facing humiliation … He loves Mary … how could this happen ?
The angel of the Lord visit’s him in a dream (Matt 1:20) …Fear Not, take Mary your wife
She has conceived of the Holy Spirit … You’ll call His name Jesus…
He’s come to save His people from their sins (Matt 1:21) … THIS is the Story of Christmas
The Birth of Jesus – Luke 2 V 1-7
A decree went out from Caesar Augustus …everyone to their town of ancestry
Mary was about to give birth…but they must travel to Bethlehem – ( Micah 5:2)
They travelled on a donkey 70 miles through mountainous terrain to Judea
When they reached Bethlehem,…there was no room in the inn
They showed them a cave where animals took shelter and lay on hay feeding
Mary brought forth her first born Son, wrapped him in linen, …laid him in a feeding trough
The angel said…” I bring you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY to ALL PEOPLE”
Today, in the city of David …a SAVIOUR is BORN … CHRIST THE LORD” (Luke 2:11)
God sent His One and Only Son ….here to save YOU – John 3:17
We …. YOU…. (the entire World) is so LOVED by God (John 3:16)
God launched the greatest rescue mission of all time … HE CAME TO SAVE YOU
We were stolen, deceived by Satan, fallen in sin, cursed, lost, and became ENEMIES of God
Colossians 1:21 – Alienated from God …Then, we turned our backs on God .. (Isaiah 53:6)
Our lives were ruined, struck by arrows of sin…dead spiritually (Eph 2:1)
First God sent his messengers … the Prophets … we DIDN’T listen… last of all He sent His Son
He came veiled in flesh… a man…undercover … (VERILY GOD HIMSELF)
He came right down into enemy territory …The whole world lay under the power of the evil one
Light came down into darkness ( Isaiah 9:2) …He Risked it ALL to COME and SAVE YOU !!
He showed HIS EVERLASTING, UNCONDITIOANAL LOVE …coming to reconcile His enemies
Romans 5:10 …while we were enemies…we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son
Jesus Christ came into the world to SAVE YOU…HE DIED on a CROSS, HE ROSE Again…
THIS, ….is the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

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