OceanSide church of Christ

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Part of the series: MAKE CHRIST YOUR KING
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THE BIRTH OF THE KING

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Bible often refers to Jesus Christ as the King of kings (I Tim. 6:15).

 

Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

 

B.    This year our theme is:  “Make Christ Your King in 2013.”

1.     Each month, we will have one Sunday’s lesson that will remind us of our theme.

a.     Gary McDade presented two lessons on this topic on the first Sunday of January.

b.    Last month, we looked at the subject, “The King in Prophecy.”

2.     This morning we want to concentrate on our theme again.  The title of our lesson is:  “The Birth of the King.”

 

I.           THE BIRTH IN PROPHECY

 

A.   We have already seen that the King was to come through the lineage of Judah (Gen. 49:10).

 

B.    Let’s consider two other prophecies about the King’s birth.

1.     He was to be born in the city of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

 

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, thou thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be a ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

2.     He was to be a born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14).

 

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

a.     Some of the modern translations weaken this prophecy by changing the word “virgin” to “young maiden.”

b.    Matthew’s gospel gives us the proper interpretation of the word.  He uses a term that can only mean “virgin” when he writes of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt. 1:20-23).

 

II.         THE BIRTH IN POWER

 

A.   In the normal course of life, virgins do not conceive.  It a virgin did conceive, we would ask:  “How did this happen?”  Interestingly, Mary would wonder the same thing.

 

B.    Mary’s conception would involve something powerful and miraculous.

1.     The Announcement (Luke 1:26-33)

2.     The Astonishment (Luke 1:34)

3.     The Answer (Luke 1:35)

 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

C.   NOTE:  It was by miraculous power that one of the prophecies came to pass.

 

III.       THE BIRTH IN PROVIDENCE

 

A.   Joseph and Mary were residents of a small town in Galilee called Nazareth.  Being several months pregnant, it was doubtful that this couple would inten-tionally plan a trip to Bethlehem.

 

B.    It was through the providence of God that this couple made the journey to Bethlehem.

1.     Cesar Augustus decreed that all the world should be taxed (Luke 2:1).

2.     All men were to go to their own city to pay the tax (Luke 2:3).

3.     Joseph, therefore, had to go to the city of Bethlehem (Luke 2:4).

 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth; into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David).

 

4.     While there, it just so happened, that Mary gave birth to Jesus (Luke 2:6-7).

 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

C.   NOTE:  There are too many coincidences at such a crucial time of pregnancy to discount the providence of God in Jesus’ birth.  Through God’s powerful pro-vidence, He fulfilled the prophecy concerning Jesus’ being born in Bethlehem.

 

IV.        THE BIRTH IN PRAISE

 

A.   Jesus was born out of town to a carpenter and his wife who were from a small, despised town called Nazareth while rooming in a stable.  One would think that the fanfare for this birth would have been minimal at best.

 

B.    Such was not the case at all.  Praise was forthcoming from various angles.

1.     The angelic host of heaven (Luke 2:13-14)

 

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, good will toward man.

 

2.     The shepherds glorified and praised God for all the things that they had heard and seen (Luke 2:20).

3.     Simon praised God for Jesus when Joseph and Mary came to the temple in Jerusalem for purification (Luke 2:28-32).

 

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said…

 

4.     There was also the prophetess Anna who gave thanks for the Christ-child (Luke 2:36-38).

 

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 

5.     The wise men (Matt. 2:11)

 

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:  and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts:  gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

 

V.          THE BIRTH IN PROTECTION

 

A.   Prior to coming to the house to worship Jesus, the wise men had inquired about the King of the Jews in Jerusalem (Matt. 2:1-2).

 

B.    Their inquiry had ignited the curiosity of Herod (Matt. 2:7).

 

C.   He had told the wise men to return and inform him of the location of the child so he could worship him.  This was not the truth.  He really desired to kill Him.  When the wise men did not return, Herod took measures into his hand to destroy the child (Matt. 2:16).

 

D.   Jesus, however, was protected by His heavenly Father.  That protection came by means of an angel in a dream to Joseph.  He said:  Arise, and take the young child and his mother into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word:  for Herod will see the young child to destroy him (Matt. 2:13).

 

E.    Joseph obeyed.  Jesus was protected.  And, prophecy was once again fulfilled (Matt. 2:14-15).

 

VI.        THE BIRTH IN PROMISES

 

A.   He shall save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).

 

B.    He shall be great (Luke 1:32).

 

C.   He shall be called the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32).

 

D.   The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David (Luke 1:32).

 

E.    Of his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:33).

 

F.     A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel (Luke 2:32).

 

G.   This child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel (Luke 2:34).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   There many things associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

B.    The birth of Christ enabled God to become man.

1.     John 1:14 (See John 1:1)

 

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…

 

2.     Having experienced the flesh, He could function perfectly in the role of our high priest (Heb. 2:17).

 

Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

 

3.     As a perfect human being and as God in the flesh, he could become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity (Heb. 9:26b).

 

…but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 

a.     The sacrifice was for all men.

b.    Not all will be saved, however.  Why?  God has placed give conditions that must be met before one can be saved.

1)     Hear (Rom. 10:17)

2)     Faith (Heb. 11:6)

3)     Repent (Acts 17:30)

4)     Confess (Matt. 10:32)

5)     Be baptized (Acts 22:16).