24-1222p Transcript

Preacher: Jim Lokenbauer

(1:03) Good evening, everybody. (1:05) Okay, well, I’m going to pick up where we left off from this morning, (1:11) the lessons titled, Our Father’s Gift to the World. (1:14) This is part two. (1:17) And if you’ve noticed, as I said this morning, the readings have been about God giving gifts.

(1:26) And God is generous. He provides us with both material and spiritual blessings. (1:32) And as Peter says in his second letter, he gives us everything we need for life and godliness.

(1:40) God takes good care of his children by making sure we have what we need for both physical and spiritual growth. (1:49) The greatest gift that God gives to mankind is the gift of his son, Jesus Christ. (1:57) He gave us both the gift of his birth, which we have been looking at this morning’s lesson, (2:03) and we’ll conclude this evening.

He also gave us the gift of his death on the cross. (2:09) There he died for all mankind to remove the sins we’ve committed, (2:14) so that one day we can be with him for all eternity. (2:19) These acts are gifts of love.

(2:23) God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, (2:27) that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (2:33) God is a giver. (2:36) So let’s continue reading our gospel story about the birth of Jesus, God’s son.

(2:47) So I’m going to be reading from Luke chapter 2. (2:51) And I hope you don’t mind, I love reading from scripture. (2:56) It’s a safe zone. (2:59) And as I was mentioning to John this morning, (3:03) Paul charged Timothy, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture.

(3:09) So long as we’re reading from God’s word, we’re doing his will. (3:14) The flock’s being fed and God’s being glorified. (3:18) The word is being broadcast.

(3:23) Okay, now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus (3:28) that all the world should be enrolled. (3:32) This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3:38) All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

(3:43) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, (3:48) into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, (3:53) because he was of the house and family of David, (3:58) to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, (4:03) as his wife, being pregnant. (4:07) While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. (4:12) She gave birth to her firstborn son.

(4:15) She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, (4:20) because there was no room for them at the inn. (4:24) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, (4:29) keeping watch over their flocks at night. (4:35) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, (4:40) and they were terrified.

(4:42) But the angel said to them, (4:44) Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (4:51) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. (4:55) He is Christ the Lord.

(4:57) This will be a sign to you. (4:59) You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (5:04) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angels, (5:09) praising God and saying, (5:11) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

(5:18) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, (5:22) the shepherds said to one another, (5:24) Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, (5:28) which the Lord has told us about. (5:30) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. (5:37) And they had seen them about this child, (5:40) and when they had been told about this child, (5:44) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

(5:48) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (5:53) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, (6:00) which were just as they had been told. (6:03) On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, (6:07) he was named Jesus.

(6:10) The name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. (6:15) When the time of their purification, according to the law of Moses, had been completed, (6:21) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, (6:26) as it is written in the law of the Lord. (6:29) Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord (6:34) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord, (6:39) a pair of doves or two young pigeons.

(6:43) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, (6:46) who was righteous and devout. (6:49) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, (6:52) and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (6:55) It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit (6:58) that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

(7:04) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. (7:08) The parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required. (7:16) Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, (7:20) Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, (7:22) now dismiss your servant in peace, (7:25) for my eyes have seen your salvation, (7:29) which you have prepared in the sight of all people, (7:32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

(7:38) The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him, (7:44) and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, (7:47) this child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel (7:53) to be a sign that will be spoken against, (7:56) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed, (8:00) and a sword will pierce your own soul too. (8:05) There was also a prophetess, Anna, (8:07) the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. (8:12) She was very old.

(8:14) She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage (8:18) and then was a widow until she was 84. (8:21) She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, (8:26) asking and praying. (8:29) Coming up to them at that very moment, (8:31) she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child (8:35) to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

(8:40) When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law of the Lord, (8:45) they returned to Galilee, their own town of Nazareth. (8:54) Now I’ll read from Matthew 2, starting at verse 1. (9:02) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, (9:06) during the time of King Herod, (9:08) Agite from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, (9:12) Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? (9:16) We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. (9:21) When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, (9:23) and all Jerusalem with him.

(9:27) And Magi most likely came with a very large caravan (9:31) with supplies and gifts and protection. (9:36) When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, (9:42) he asked them where the Christ was to be born. (9:46) In Bethlehem in Judea they replied, (9:49) This is what the prophet has written, but you, Bethlehem, (9:52) and the land of Judah are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah.

(9:58) For out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. (10:03) And Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. (10:11) He sent them to Bethlehem and said, (10:14) Go and make careful search for the child.

(10:16) As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and worship him. (10:23) After they had heard the king, they went on their way, (10:26) and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them (10:30) until it stopped over the place where the child was. (10:34) When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

(10:39) On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, (10:44) and they bowed down and worshipped him. (10:48) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (10:55) And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, (10:59) they returned to their country by another route.

(11:02) When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. (11:08) Get up, he said. (11:09) Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.

(11:12) Stay there until I tell you, (11:16) for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. (11:21) So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, (11:25) and left for Egypt. (11:27) And their journey was about a 150-mile trip, (11:33) so it would be like going from here to Pittsburgh by donkey, walking.

(11:38) So that’s a good journey. (11:43) So they stayed there until the death of Herod. (11:47) And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet Hosea.

(11:52) Out of Egypt, I called my son. (11:56) When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, (12:00) he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem, (12:06) and its vicinity were two years old and under. (12:10) In accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

(12:15) So Jesus was a toddler and perhaps around two years old at this time on his journey. (12:22) So that would have made it even more difficult traveling with a two-year-old, (12:27) having to change those nappies every mile or so. (12:33) Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled.

(12:36) A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, (12:41) Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, (12:46) because they are no more. (12:48) After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt (12:54) and said, get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, (12:59) for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead. (13:05) So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

(13:10) But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, (13:17) he was afraid to go there. (13:19) Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, (13:24) and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. (13:29) So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, he will be called a Nazarene.

(13:39) So in a fourth dream to Joseph, the angel warned him about Herod’s son Archelaus (13:45) and the danger of living in this district. (13:48) So Joseph and his father moved to Nazareth of Galilee, (13:53) so fulfilling the scripture that he would be called a Nazarene. (13:56) And Jesus was probably around four or five years old at this point.

(14:03) And between Mary and a very spiritually in tune Joseph, (14:08) they had managed to keep Jesus safe from the dark forces of Satan (14:13) and his proxies like the king and the Sanhedrin (14:19) and the evil political powers of their time. (14:23) So God’s providence was watching over his son as he grew. (14:30) God has preserved this wonderful and exciting story of the birth of his son for us.

(14:37) It is good to be reminded of the birth of his son for us. (14:42) It is good to be reminded of this moment in history (14:46) because in it we see God’s plan of salvation unfold before our eyes. (14:52) We also see God’s providence and protection at work in the lives of those who believe in Him.

(15:00) So let’s always give praise to our Father in Heaven for such a wonderful gift as Jesus, (15:07) our blessed Redeemer, Savior, and Prince, (15:12) our Lord of lords and King of kings, (15:15) and may He bless you all and forever. (15:19) And I’ll offer the invitation now. (15:21) So if anybody needs, you can come forward and we’ll take care of your needs for you.