“Seeing the Real Christmas Scenery in Me”

December 9, 2007

Pastor Mike Barnett

THE NATIVITY SCENE ILLUMINATED:

Matthew 2:1-23 says:

¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." ³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: ⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'^[4] " ⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

¹³When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." ¹⁴So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."^[6]
16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
¹⁸"A voice is heard in Ramah,
       weeping and great mourning,
   Rachel weeping for her children
       and refusing to be comforted,
   because they are no more."<sup>[7]

19</sup>After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
²¹So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."  Matthew 2:1-23

· Despite popular belief, the Magi were not kings and there was probably more than just three of them.

· “King of the Jews” in verse 2 indicates that the Magi were Gentiles.

• Matthew demonstrates that people of all nations acknowledged Jesus as the “King of the Jews” and came to worship him as Lord.

• The term “Magi” originally referred to a priestly caste in ancient Persia.

• Babylonian elements of astrology, demonology, and astronomy were used in their work which centered around religious court life.

• It is believed that the Magi served as religious advisors to those in government in Babylon.

• The three gifts of gold, incense and myrrh may have given rise to the legend that there were three “wise men”.

• ….but the Bible does not indicate the number of Magi and they probably were not Kings.

• Their actual number is uncertain, but the eastern tradition claims that their were 12 Magi.

• These Magi came from the east looking for the one born “King of the Jews”.

• They apparently had been exposed to Old Testament prophecies from Jewish colonies situated in the east.

• Although many Jews returned to Palestine after the exile, many remained in the East, especially in Babylon.

• Therefore in Babylon at the time of the Magi, Gentile religious leaders, in the east were regularly exposed to the Hebrew scriptures, prophecy, and teachers.
• If the Magi came from Babylon, they would have traveled approximately nine hundred miles.

• Contrary to popular tradition, the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth as did the shepherds….they came some months later and visited him as a “child in his house”.

• The Magi’s goal was to find “the one who has been born king of the Jews”.

 Why did God provide a star for the Magi?

1. THE STAR – GOD PROVIDES A _____________ ________(TRAVEL GUIDE) FOR _____________(SEEKERS).

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS STAR:

· The seekers were grateful for the travel guide.

· They knew they never would have found Christ without the star.

· The Christmas star was God’s _______________(gift) of _______________________(direction) – God’s travel guide for seekers.

THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS STAR:

· The Magi were Gentiles – meaning they worshiped other God’s.

· Throughout history, God has always provided travel guides to earnest spiritual seekers who did not know Him.

· God sees to it that those who diligently seek Him do in fact find Him.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says:

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity, I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."  Jeremiah 29:11-14

IMPLICATIONS FOR ME THIS CHRISTMAS:

· God has put travel guides in your life in the past and in the present, and will continue to do so in the future!

· THANK GOD FOR THE “_____________________ ____________________(TRAVEL GUIDES)” HE HAS PUT IN YOUR LIFE BY __________________(FAITH) EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT SEE THEM WITH YOUR PHYSICAL EYES.

· Continue to follow the travel guides God has placed before you even when they are just average people or unspectacular looking guides.

· Use the travel guides God has already put into your life – they are usually people.

· Ask your travel guides the tough questions that have been plaguing you.

·

· The “wise men” would probably have preferred a more personalized kind of guidance, but they were humble and submitted to the guide God provided. And they were thankful for it too!

·

· Look at the star – God has probably given you one – use it soon.

2. THE STABLE – GOD SENT JESUS TO _________________(LIVE) IN THE _________________(REAL) WORLD.

John 1:1-2, 14 says:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning…The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.

 OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE STABLE:

· The stable was probably like all the others we have seen: crowded with smelly animals, dark, damp, rodent infested, and completely unsanitary for the birth of a baby.

THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND THE STABLE:

· THE GOD WHO PROVIDED THE EXTRAVAGANT TRAVEL GUIDE CHRISTMAS STAR COULD HAVE PROVIDED A SUITE AND A HOTEL OR A PRIVATE ROOM AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, BUT HE MADE THE DELIBERATE CHOICE NOT TO.

· JESUS’ FIRST BREATH OF AIR BURNED WITH THE ODOR OF ANIMAL URINE.

· THE FIRST NOISES HE HEARD WERE THE GRUNTS OF LIVESTOCK. JESUS’ FIRST OUTFIT WAS MADE OF DUST CLOTHS – THE EQUIVALENT OF GREASE RAGS

· JESUS WAS A REFUGEE THE DAY HE WAS BORN.

· FROM DAY ONE, GOD THE FATHER DETERMINED NOT TO SHELTER HIS SON FROM THE RUDE, CRUDE REALITIES OF LIFE ON EARTH.

IMPLICATIONS FOR ME THIS CHRISTMAS:

· JESUS CAME OUT OF THE BIRTH CANAL JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING BECAUSE GOD WANTED THE WORLD TO KNOW HE WAS JUST LIKE US AND ______________(IDENTIFIES) WITH OUR ___________________(PAIN) AND _______________________(SUFFERING).

Hebrews 4:14-16 says:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

· JESUS WAS BORN IN A BARN WHERE IT STUNK WITH ODOR BECAUSE GOD WANTED THE WORLD TO KNOW HE LIVES AMONG THE ________________(ORDINARY) AND EVERY DAY _______________(DISAPPOINTMENTS) OF LIFE.

Luke 2:1-7 says:

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.   So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

· JESUS SLEPT IN A FEEDING TROUGH FOR ANIMALS – BECAUSE GOD WANTED THE WORLD TO KNOW HE LIVES IN THE ____________(UNSPECTACULAR) AND ____________(LOWLY) PLACES IN THIS WORLD.

· JESUS __________________________(UNDERSTANDS) ME AND WHAT I AM _________________ ______________________(GOING THROUGH) IN THIS WORLD OF PAIN AND SUFFERING BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN HERE FIRST.

· WHEN I AM GOING THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS AND PAIN I CAN TURN TO JESUS AND TRUST HIM BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE.

· JESUS ENDURED THE SAME PROBLEMS, TEMPTATIONS, AND PAIN I AM SUFFERING AND HE HAS THE __________________________(RESOURCES) TO HELP ME ________________________(OVERCOME) IT.

TRANSITION: The manger is probably the most identifiable fixture this holiday season among Christ followers!

3. THE MANGER SYMBOLIZES THAT THE _______________________________(ORDINARY) BECOMES _______________________________(EXTRAORDINARY).

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE MANGER

· A MANGER WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A FEED TROUGH FOR CATTLE – ORDINARY IN EVERY WAY.

· MOST WESTERNERS WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT A MANGER IS – BUT BECAUSE JESUS WAS LAID IN ONE, IT IS NOW A HOUSEHOLD WORD.

· THE _____________________ ___________________(ORDINARY MANGER) BECOMES AN ______________________ ___________________(EXTRAORDINARY CRADLE) WHEN GOD IS IN IT.

THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND THE MANGER

· A FEED TROUGH FOR ANIMALS BECOMES ___________________________(TRANSFORMED) TO THE CRADLE OF A KING.

IMPLICATIONS FOR ME THIS CHRISTMAS

· THE MANGER IS A SYMBOL OF WHAT _________ ____________________(CAN HAPPEN) WHEN JESUS CHRIST ____________________(RESIDES) IN ME.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 says:

“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’”.

· WHEN I INVITE JESUS INTO MY LIFE – HE WILL TRANSFORM ME FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me”.  Revelation 3:20

· JESUS WILL TAKE MY __________________________(BROKENNESS) AND MAKE ME _______________________(WHOLE).

2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”!

· THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE WILL BE IN AWE OF GOD WHEN THEY SEE MY TRANSFORMED LIFE.

Matthew 5:13-16 says:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.   You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”. 

4. THE _________________(GIFTS) THE MAGI BROUGHT TO JESUS REPRESENT GOD’S ____________(PROVISIONS) FOR HIS ______________________(CHILDREN).

NOTE: THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION THAT FINDS SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE IN THESE GIFTS ACCORDING WITH JESUS’ LIFE AND MINISTRY:

1) GOLD – Represents Jesus’ _____________(kingship).

2) INCENSE – Represents Jesus’ _____________(deity).

3) MYRRH – Represents Jesus’ ___________________ ________________(sacrificial death) and burial.

 NOTE: More than the Magi know or intend, these gifts are likely used to providentially support the family in their flight to Egypt to avoid King Herod’s wrath.

· GOLD, INCENSE, AND MYRRH WERE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT CULTURE, AT THAT TIME AND PROBABLY WERE SOLD SO THE FAMILY COULD LIVE IN EGYPT UNTIL KING HEROD DIED.

· LIKEWISE AS GOD’S CHILD – HE WILL GIVE YOU THE PROVISIONS YOU NEED!

· GOD WILL ____________________(PROVIDE) FOR YOU JUST LIKE HE _______________________(PROVIDED) FOR HIS FIRST SON JESUS BECAUSE HE IS JEHOVA JIREH WHICH MEANS “GOD, THE PRODIVER”.

· THE BIBLE SAYS ALL OF US WHO ARE WORSHIPERS OF CHRIST ARE NOW A PART OF HIS ADOPTED FAMILY – WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.

· GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR HIS CHILDREN JUST LIKE HE PROVIDED FOR JESUS!

· JUST LIKE GOD OUTWITTED KING HEROD AND PROVIDED PROTECTION FOR HIS FIRST SON – JESUS CHRIST, SO TOO GOD WILL OUTWIT THE RULERS OF THIS WORLD AND PROVIDE PROTECTION, LOVE AND PROVISIONS FOR YOU!

Romans 8:28- 39 says:

^28”And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,^[1] who^[2] have been called according to His purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. ³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^{[3] 37}No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

• JUST LIKE JESUS WAS ONE WITH THE FATHER SO YOU TOO ARE IN CHRIST AND CHRIST IS IN YOU –

• CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF GOD IS ____________(NOT) __________________(SEPARATE) AND OUTSIDE OF YOU – HE LIVES IN YOU AND YOU LIVE IN HIM VIA THE ____________________ ___________________(HOLY SPIRIT).

John 14:9- 21 says:

9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.

15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Luke 17:20-21 says:

20”Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within^[b] you.’"

· GOD IS NOT ____________________(OUTSIDE) OF YOU – HE LIVES_____________________(INSIDE) OF YOUR __________(BEING)/__________(SOUL) AND YOU LIVE IN GOD THE _________________(FATHER) THROUGH___________________(CHRIST) IN THE POWER OF THE__________________ _________________(HOLY SPIRIT)! THAT IS THE ________________(TRUTH) THAT WILL SET YOU _____________(FREE) ONCE YOU ________________(BELIEVE) IT AND ____________(ACT) LIKE IT!

That’s why the apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” –

· BECAUSE THE CHRISTIAN IS NOW IN GOD AND GOD IS NOW IN THE CHRISTIAN – YOU CANNOT SPEARATE THE TWO!

· IT IS AN ILLUSION AND DECEPTION TO THINK OTHERWISE!

· TRUTH: IF GOD IS IN YOU AND YOU ARE IN GOD THROUGH CHRIST, THEN YOU ARE LACKING _____________________(NOTHING) – YOU ARE WHOLE AND ___________________(COMPLETE) IN JESUS’ NAME!

1 Corinthians 1:7 says:

4”I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful”l.

· THE WORK YOU PERCEIVE THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE IN YOUR LIFE WAS ___________________(FINISHED) ON THE CROSS – THERE IS NOTHING MORE YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOURSELF WHOLE. THE SPIRITUAL __________________________(DISCIPLINES) OF BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING ONLY ____________________(REVEAL) WHO YOU ALREADY ARE IN CHRIST OVER ________________(TIME).

· WHEN IT COMES TO PURSUING SPIRITUAL GROWTH, IT IS BEST TO ________________(START) WITH THE END IN _____________________(MIND) AND WORK ________________________(BACKWARDS) – IN OTHER WORDS, __________________(KNOW) WHO YOU ARE IN _________________(CHRIST) AND DEVELOP A SPIRITUAL GROWTH PLAN THAT WILL ________________(REMIND) YOU OF THAT TRUTH ON A _______________(DAILY) BASIS.

· IF YOU ENTER YOUR DAILY QUIET TIME WITH THE GOAL OF ______________________(TRYING) TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY WHOLE YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE IN _____________________(VAIN) AND FRUITLESS BECAUSE JESUS ALREADY MADE YOU WHOLE.

· THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME IS NOT TO MAKE YOU WHOLE – IT IS TO ____________________(REMIND) YOU OF YOUR ____________________(WHOLENESS) IN CHRIST.

· IF A CHRISTIAN PERCEIVES SPIRITUAL LACK IN THEIR LIFE, THEY HAVE BOUGHT INTO AN _________________________(ILLUSION) THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

Jude 24 says:

24”To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 says:

23”May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”