The Greatest Story Ever Told!

Notes: The Greatest Story Ever Told!

Luke 2

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

MUSICAL GUEST:

Phil Wickham

Sunday, December 20, 2015 — 8:00 a.m.

57% of those that don’t go to church on Christmas surveyed said they would go on Christmas if someone invited them.

So many people focus on Christmas so much that they forget about who we are actually celebrating. While celebrating Christmas we can forget about Christ.

One time when Jesus was a child his parents lost him by leaving him in Jerusalem.

Even when we forget about Jesus, he never forgets about us.

1      When did Jesus come?

a      He came at the perfect time.

i        Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

b      The Jews had not heard from God in 400 years. 

2      The Christmas story is a real story that happened in real time. The Christmas story starts in Heaven and is played out on Earth.

Nazareth was know as a wicked place in the time of Jesus. It would have been like being born in Las Vegas or West Hollywood or somewhere you would never expect.

Luke 1:28-30 NKJV And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

The God that flung planets into space, made himself small and came to earth as a baby.

Just as surely that God chose Mary to be the mother, Joseph was chosen by God to be the father. The angel appeared to Joseph and said, you will call his name Jesus. He would save the people from their sins.

Matthew 1:23 NKJV “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Luke 2:1-7 NKJV And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Augustus and Quirinius were mentioned to really dial the time down so we know the specific time Jesus was born. Caesar Augustus was calling himself a god, ruling over the people. This passage was letting the people know that the only true God was coming.

Jesus went form being sovereign to being a servant, from the glory of Heaven to a stable for animals.

Jesus didn’t spend his life climbing the ladder, he spent his life going down the ladder to us.

Would you be willing to give up your humanity to become an insect to communicate with the insects? God left the glory of Heaven to become one of us.

Proverbs 21:1 NKJV The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Caesar Augustus had to decree that all the world be taxed, just so that Mary and Joseph could get to Bethlehem. 

History swings on the hinge of the door of a stable in Bethlehem

2. Where did Jesus come?

            At an inn in Bethlehem

God comes to us in unexpected ways: To Moses in a burning bush, to the wise men through a star...the inn keeper wouldn't let them through the door.

Isn’t it true so many of us are just too busy to have Jesus in our lives. 

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

These are Jesus’ words to stressed out people. Are you stressed out?

Go to Christ and learn how to take a real rest.

One of the hardest times of the year for people who have lost loved ones is Christmas. When you are mourning, don’t fight it, just cry.

Pray for those that have lost loved ones, particularly the ones who have lost loved ones recently during this holiday season.

The manger was not a nice place for Jesus to be born. He sacrificed to be with us. Jesus took a leap down to be with us. Deity in diapers.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Shepherds were the first ones told about Jesus, they were the nobodies back then, yet Jesus went to them. God loves ordinary people.

3. Why did Jesus come on that first Christmas?

To die an agonizing death to ransom us from an eternal death sentence.

The shadow of the cross laid over the birth scene.

The real Christmas tree was a cross covered in blood. That is why the color of Christmas is red.

Jesus was born to die so that we might live.