And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Transcription

1 ï» Back to title page MESMERIZED BY A MANGER Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. There's something wonderfully captivating about the birth of a baby; however, there has never been a baby born in the history of the world like the baby born in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. Of course, men react differently to the birth of Jesus. Attitudes have not changed much in two thousand years. Luke gives the sad details: "there was no room forthem in the inn." Today, there are those who have a crowded heart. Their heart is filled with the trinkets, the treasures, and the trimmings of the holiday festivities. They have put a "No Vacancy" sign over the door of their heart. Can it be said of you that you have crowded Jesus out of your heart? Some people have a calloused heart, like King Herod. He only wanted to do away with this baby that was born to be king of the Jews Still others have a closed heart, like the scribes. They knew the facts concerning the birth of the Savior: yet, their hearts were closed to Him. While some may have a crowded, or calloused, or even a closed heart toward the birth of Jesus Christ, there are many whose heart has been captivated by the baby tht was born 200 years ago in a manger. Men from all walks of life have been affected by this birth: spiritual men, like Simeon; scholarly men, like Nicodemus; and as our text records, simple men, like the shepherds. Have you ever wondered why God chose shepherds to be the first to receive the pronouncement of the birth of

2 Jesus? Well, let me say the shepherds were considered as the lowest rung of the social level. Their work kept them away from the temple and the synagogue; as it result, it rendered them ceremonially unclean. What a God of grace we serve! Why shouldn't shepherds be the first to receive the news of the birth of the Lamb of God? To say the least, it was a most unusual announcement, made in a most unusual was "And theangel said unto them. Fear not: for,behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is bom this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in amanger" (10-12). With that announcement ringing in their ears, they made their way to Bethlehem to see this great thing which is come to pass. When they arrived, they looked unto a manger that served as a humble cradle, and they were captivated by what they saw and heard! I. When the shepherds looked into Mary's face and heard the wonderful story, they were captivated by the MIRACLE of Christmas. Our text says, "They found Mary." Many years before, the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isa 7:14). Whoever heard of a baby being older than its mother: yet, Jesus was ages older than His mother! Whoever heard of a baby being as old as it's father; yet, Jesus said himself, "Before Abraham was I am." He was declaring that he was just as old as His heavenly Father. This child was a born with an earthly mother, but no earthly father. The scoffers may say that it is a biological impossibility, but may I remind you that the first man got here without man or woman. If God can create a man without either a earthly father or mother, then He can surely bring a man into this world with just an earthly mother. The virgin birth can be attacked, assailed, and assaulted, but it does not change the fact that that the birth of Jesus Christ was a miracle. He was the virgin born Son of God! A.. The virgin birth was PROPHETICALLY ANNOUNCED. B. The virgin birth was HISTORICALLY ACCOMPLISHED.

3 It was biologically impossible; but with God a virgin birth is not impossible. You take God out of the equation, and you do have that which is impossible. But when you bring God into the picture, the impossibility is removed. C. The virgin birth is THEOLOGICALLY ABSOLUTE. The virgin birth was essential. If Jesus had not Saviour. been born of a virgin, He could not have been our God Who brought forth a motherless woman (Eve) from the body of a man (Adam), brought forth a fatherless man (Jesus Christ) from the body of a woman (Mary). There are those who say that it makes no difference whether or not Jesus Christ was virgin born, but it makes all the difference whose Son Jesus is. Only a divine birth could provide divine sonship, and only divine sonship could provide a divine Savior, and only a divine Savior could achieve and provide a divine salvation for sinful man." II. When the shepherds as the text says,. found Joseph, they were captivated by the MESSAGE of Christmas. It was to Joseph that the angel said, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). The message to Joseph was not that Jesus was coming to be a great teacher, though "never a man spake like this man" nor, simply to set a good example, although His life was faultless. The message was "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). A. Jesus is the able one The angel declared that Jesus was the Saviour that would save his people; but he also declared that He could save His people from their sins. The writer of Hebrews declared in Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the

4 uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Here is one of the thrills of preaching: I can most assuredly declare unto you today that there is a Saviour Who has come that will save you and can save you from your sins! B. Jesus is the absolute one There is no other person to whom can save you. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 10:43 - To him give all the believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. prophets witness, that through his name whosoever III. When the shepherds as our text says, found.the babe lying in the manger they were captivated with the MAJESTY of Christmas! the God condescended to the mere measure of a new-bom infant. These shepherds were captivated by MAJESTY. This baby was GOD IN THE FLESH! THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM was THE GOD OF GLORY! A few years later, the apostle John described this event by saying, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:1,1:14). Tom Hayes tells a story about one of the Shahs of the Eastern World. He said that this Shah loved to disguise himself and go out in the public, appearing to just be another ordinary person. One day, he visited a servant in a little hut. He enjoyed his visit so much that he returned to visit again and again. Eventually, he identified himself to the servant. After he had revealed his true identity, the Shah told the servant he could make any petition he desired, and it would be granted. The servant sat in shocked silence, so the Shah asked if he understood the magnitude of his offer. He could make him rich. He could make him a ruler. He could do most anything for the servant if he would just make his request. Finally, the servant told him that he didn't need to do one more thing for him. He said, "From your high and lofty position, you have come down and visited me in my low estate. I could ask no more that what you have already given me - - your

5 self." In thinking of the babe in the manger, we see that the high and lofty One... Whose name is Holy (Isa. 57:15), stooped down to man's low estate. It is difficult for us to grasp how One so exalted could become so humble and condescend, but He did. See Colossians 1:16,17. A. The majesty is seen when you see the baby as the one who created the universe. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers B. The majesty is seen when you see the baby as the one who claims the universe. all things were created by him, and for him C. The majesty is seen when you see the baby as the one who controls the universe. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Conclusion How do you respond to the birth of the Lord Jesus? Is your heart too crowded for Him? Has the Christmas story become so familiar that your heart is calloused toward Him? Could it be that your heart is totally closed to Him? Or, like the shepherds, is your heart captivated by the miracle, the message and the majesty of the His birth. When the shepherds looked into the makeshift cradle, they were captivated by what they found. They found the true meaning of Christmas.