by David Brenneman
"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2.
"When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15.
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way." Matthew 2:1-12
While there's perhaps countless religions that have engulfed this world, there's but one way to Heaven. That by no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved, the name of Jesus Christ.
Bethlehem was the foretold city where Jesus the Messiah would be born.
God the Spirit had it written by the hand of man and it assuredly came to pass.
What you also read today is that those who knew...weren't believing it themselves. They weren't looking. To them it must have been a myth. Something written long ago and had been now dismissed as a fable.
Yet...here we have these strange visitors asking...which makes me wonder...did this visit stir up anything with these people?
After hundreds of years someone caused them to take a second look at that passage.
Before there was the tree, there's the story my friend. There's THE Story.
Have you tried, in your Bible reading, to look for all the places written that predicted Jesus coming? Try it. What's better is that absolutely every single one was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
Nothing was left out. Nothing was missed.
We pick up the story in Bethlehem where we are told the circumstances were such that there was no room for them in the inn. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords had no palace to be born in. No middle income housing available. Not even a chariot to be born in.
Our Pastor has often said of Jesus and His resurrection that here we have a man who predicted His own death, burial and resurrection and pulled it off. He completely called His shot and made it happen.
Consider it now that Jesus, through the Spirit and written by the hands of men, hundreds of years earlier did it. Called it to the last detail of His arriving on Earth. Yet nobody was looking. It still needed to be announced to the shepherds to get the ball rolling.
The Angels couldn't keep it to themselves. Things that they long to look into were happening before their eyes. Their Lord and King, God Most High, Creator of them and everything else, was becoming man to save mankind.
Before purchasing things as gifts for yourself or others this year...take time to really understand the story.
Jesus so loved the world that He gave His life up in Heaven to come to Earth to save all who would call upon His Name. Starting out as we all have and living through what we have lived through. So as to find those whom are wanting His free gift of salvation. Every single person will be without excuse because He really will tell every person that from the cradle to the grave He has lived it. Experienced it. Been there done that and has the scars to prove it.
Christmas isn't presents.
Christmas isn't brightly lit trees.
Christmas isn't elaborate or even simple lawn decorations.
Christmas isn't parades.
Christmas isn't cookies or dinners.
Christmas is God saying that He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life.
Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl
Just a child
Is this who we've waited for?
'Cause how many kings step down from their thrones
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross He will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?
How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me
Oh, all for me, oh
All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you
How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me
All for me, all for you
-Downhere "How Many Kings" (c) 2008
Jesus called His shot twice.
Jesus pulled it off twice.
Jesus called His shot a third time and we should be considering that He is going to pull it off again. We shouldn't be like those who weren't looking for His first coming when they even knew what city.
Jesus will be coming back to take His Bride, the Church, home to be with Him forever.
If you haven't come to Christ for salvation you won't be leaving with Jesus.
Read Romans 10, verses 8 and following.
Before there was the tree, there's the story.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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