Christmas (Part I): How it Happened
Posted on December 18, 2011 by Unknown
We often think of Christmas as a holiday or a season. But it is so much more. There is a greater more marvelous story be told here. What is the big picture? How did Christmas happen?
Matthew 1:1-17
1. Christmas occurred as the fulfillment of God's promises. 1:1
Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises that God had made to all the people in the Old Testament. Both David and Abraham are mentioned right at the beginning. Matthew's attention to them is not just a note to say Christ is the biological heir, but also the heir and son of the promises given to these men by God. He
In fact, this goes back even further to one of the very first promises. Genesis 3:15. The first mention of the good news, of the gospel. Even as Adam and Eve rebelled against God and deserved death, even at that very moment, God sets in motions the way of reconciliation. All his promises that follow lead to this great promise, to the messiah, Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:8-19 In Abraham is the great promise all people would be blessed through is children. That promise is fulfilled in Jesus.
Exodus 19:4-6 Also the promise that God would make a people for himself is found in Christ, for he is the sacrificial lamb that redeems that people, but that price is given to all, blessed through promise to Abraham to all people.
2 Samuel 7:8-16 In this God promises and everlasting kingdom that will be established with his people, rules by a forever king. Through devastation, destruction, despite, disobedience sin and death, God kept his remnant and established his forever King in Jesus.
2. Christmas occurred despite the presence of many "obstacles". (2-17)
There was no straight line from the A to B.
Revelation 12:1-6 Revelation poetically sums up the Bible's story, highlighting that no enemy, no circumstance can prevent our Lord God from fulfilling his promises.
What were some of the obstacles:
- Abraham had no son.
- Isaac's sacrifice.
- Jacob's deception.
- Many scandelous characters are here: adulterers, murderers.
- Corrupt and disorient kings.
- The destruction of the nation, and the exile to Babylon.
- Despite a spirited satanic effort to thraught the will of God, God can not be dismayed. Nothing, nothing, nothing could have prevented God from sending our salvation, is son of that wonderful Christmas day.
There are so many examples of God's mighty hand, his mercy and grace in the stories of these individuals in this genealogy. There are even foriegners in this list, those that by definition appear outside the promise, but yet God shows his abundant grace to all of of us that are outside. Jesus has come to save. He has come for the scandelous, women and men, corrupt kings and for all of us that without him have no hope.
John 19 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
The greatest gift of all, that we may know God's love is Jesus. Receive him. Amen.
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