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Luke 2:1-21 (KJV)1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

I often talk to other Christians about suffering and pain. People often ask me “Why is God allowing me to go through this?”, and the “this” they are talking about is never a good thing. My answer is usually in two parts.

“I don’t know why”
“But I do know that God loves you”

As I looked at what we call “The Christmas Story” this year and meditated on it I was impressed by God’s Spirit over the suffering that God put His Son Jesus through. Now I know that the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Spirit. And Jesus never doubted the love of His Father. He said in :

John 3:35 (ESV) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

John 5:20 (ESV) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. …

Jesus never doubted the love of His Father. Yet when Jesus came into the world His birth was filled with suffering. When we read the Christmas Story we hear how

Luke 2:1-5 (KJV) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child ….

I want you to notice that

Mary Was Great With Child

She was in her last Trimester, with all the swelling and suffering that goes with pregnancy. Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that all the world should be taxed and there were no exceptions to that rule. You went to your home town and were taxed and counted, or you were guilty of treason and could be killed for it. Caesar didn’t care, and neither did the Roman Government. You went. Mary had to go. Nearly every Christmas Card shows Mary riding on the back of a donkey? Did she? The Bible doesn’t tell us this. As it was 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem it is likely that Joseph put her on some beast of burden to aid her in the journey. The wealthy used horses and wagons for travel, and neither Joseph nor Mary were wealthy. This would have been a hard trip even for a woman who was not “great with Child”.

Where Were Mary and Joseph’s Parents?

Joseph and Mary had parents. According to Matthew 1:16 Joseph’s daddy was called Jacob. In Luke 3:23 we see that Joseph is the Son-In-Law of Heli, who was Mary’s daddy. Yet throughout the Gospels – and particularly in the Christmas Story – the parents of Joseph and Mary are missing in action. In those days families traveled together, and since Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to be taxed it is certain that their parents would also have to go. Since all the family had to go to be taxed and since Mary was “great with Child” wouldn’t their parents have accompanied them? Yet the parents are not mentioned. Why?

I suspect much of this had to do with the virgin birth of Christ. Though the Angel told both Mary and Joseph that Christ was being born of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 1:35 & Matthew 1:20) there is no indication in Scripture that their parents were so informed. It is possible that Mary’s pregnancy was perhaps viewed by the immediate family as an indiscretion, the result of sexual sin. Whether this is the case or not it is a fact that Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem alone. Their parents are not there to help them.

Luke 2:6-7 (KJV) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Where Is The Midwife, The Helpers, The Doctor?

Mary was giving birth to the Son of God – who was there to help her? Only Joseph. Most women in those days were assisted in birth by a midwife, but there is no midwife. Mary and Joseph are dispossessed strangers, homeless. In any birth the Child would be received into loving arms, cleaned up, then placed in its mother’s arms. Mary bore Jesus then, exhausted, put that Baby in a manger, a straw lined trough. More than likely there were animals in the place where they were, and Joseph had to keep the animals from the manger. Can you imagine how humiliating this is for the parents, how humiliating for Joseph who loved his wife.

No doctor delivered Jesus.
No grandparents held the little Jesus in their arms.
He was laid in a manger.
Not in a crib, but a manger.
The Son of God had no room in the Inn.
Just in a manger.

But they weren’t alone. The angels were watching. I can imagine the angels of God watching the birth of the Son of God unfold. Now no angel in his right mind would question what Almighty God was doing. But I suspect what was happening was causing a stir. Joseph and Mary are alone in the barn until Christ is born. God has entered humanity. And God is to be worshiped. The Bible tells us that:

Luke 2:8-9 (KJV) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

God’s glory shined round about these shepherds. His Shekinah Glory filled the night. The Father had just bore a Son, God had become Man, and God must be worshiped. The Apostle wrote:

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV) Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

That word has been in my heart all week. Our God is a consuming fire. His Kingdom shall prevail. Though the darkness try to strangle His glory, the Light shines through the darkness. The suffering has a purpose. It is not indifference that has brought the Son of God to a manger, but it is so that those who are trapped in darkness can see the bright light of God’s love.

God loves His Son, but caused Him to suffer even from the beginning.

He suffered so that He could be a Savior to all the people. The Angel told the Shepherds:

Luke 2:10-11 (KJV) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The birth of Christ is good tidings of great joy to ALL people. To

Red and Yellow, Black and White
They are precious in His sight

The Savior is born, which is Christ the Lord. This helpless Baby is Christ, the Messiah. But He is also “The Lord”. Where will the Lord be found? The Angel tells the Shepherds:

Luke 2:12 (KJV) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

There were perhaps hundreds of babies born that very night all throughout the land, and every one of those babies would be wrapped in swaddling clothes. But only one Baby would be found lying in a manger. Every other baby would be cradled in a crib or in a parents arms. But Mary exhausted would lay her prized bundle down.

The sign of the Savior is that He is lying in a manger.
The sign of the Savior is that He is suffering.

The same Isaiah that foretold the virgin birth of Christ also foretold His suffering. The Prophet wrote:

Isaiah 53:2-9 (ESV) For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Jesus Christ is the Lamb born for our salvation. From the Manger to the Cross to the Grave His life was one of suffering. Yet He chose the suffering. He chose the nails. He chose to come and give Himself for us. He chose to be born of a virgin, and chose to walk among us. The King left the palace and walked among the peasants. But more than this, God walked with us and will walk with us if we but receive Him as He is.

Christmas this year will fall on Sunday, and many will not come to worship Him because other things will take precedence. He IS LORD!

Family, friends, the Christmas meal, the gifts under the Christmas Tree, the children playing with toys. Many will not worship Jesus this Christmas because it inconveniently landed on a Sunday. So the day will take precedence over the Savior.

The Shepherds had the right idea. Though watching their sheep at night they did not hesitate to leave their job and go to see the Savior.

Luke 2:15-16 (KJV)And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The Shepherds did not dawdle, nor did the Angel command that they go to Bethlehem. No, they went with haste to where Jesus laid. Oh Lord, deliver us as your people from indifference. God’s people are to be on fire for Jesus! The Bible says that we are to be …

Titus 2:13-14 (ESV) .. waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

God’s people are called to passionately want to see Him who is the Christ, the Lord. So many are passionate about anyone and anything but Christ. Jesus warned,

Matthew 6:20-21 (ESV) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

For many they treasure the things of this world, the relationships of this world, the business of this world, and yet have little thought of Heaven. If Heaven and the Christ of the Manger and of the Cross is rarely on your minds then will you be in His Heaven one day? The Shepherds did not delay. “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass”. God took the time to tell us. God took the time to be incarnate. We can at least take the time to see Him.

Luke 2:17 (KJV) And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

The Shepherds did not immediately return to their sheep following their visit to the Manger. They went throughout the town telling others about Jesus. Did any others come to the Manger that night? The Bible doesn’t tell us that ANY came. People were busy celebrating, eating, coming together as families, much like we do every Christmas. We are told:

Luke 2:18 (KJV) And all they that heard it WONDERED at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

For many, then Christ is lost in Christmas. They “wondered” the Greek θαυμάζω thaumazō which means “to marvel at, to admire”. They were fascinated by the story, but no one headed over to the Manger to see what the Shepherds saw. And they lost a blessing.

Luke 2:20 (KJV) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

The Shepherds were blessed because they did not stay at home in their comfort zone. They went. They both “heard and saw” the Christ, experiencing Jesus, and were blessed by Him. You will always be blessed when you both hear and do the will of God. Christ was born to be the Savior of all who believe in Him.

Jesus suffered for us, so that He can be with us in our suffering.

May God lead you closer to Him this Christmas Day!

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

We often read Scripture without thinking about or meditating on what we are reading. For instance, the words “unto us” are repeated twice. Who is the “US” that the text addresses? Some would be quick to say “US means US. It is for US”. Well, that is true. But when it was originally written over 2700 years ago neither you nor I were here.

The original US was a broken people. It was for a nation that God lifted up and loved, but who turned from following Him. God addressed His nation saying:

Isaiah 1:4 (KJV) Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Israel was broken by sin. The nation that defeated Egypt, a world power that took over Canaan, was going to be defeated by first Assyria, then Greece, and after 700 years would in the time of the virgin Mary would be under Roman bondage. Because of sin Israel’s Temple would be built not by God’s Children but by Herod, a son of Edom, descendant of Esau. Israel would be ruled not by the rightful ruler, the Descendant of King David, but by Herod the Horrible.

Why?

Because God’s people and God’s nation got away from their God. Compromise set in. Other things began to rule God’s Israel rather than God Himself. His Word was not taken seriously. The Bible says:

Psalm 33:11-12 (ESV) The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Psalm 33:18-21 (ESV) Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

God preserves His people. Israel suffered through many years of bondage to sin and death. Then one day the Promise of God was fulfilled. The Messiah came to a broken people, a sinful people, a repentant people. The promise of the Messiah was fulfilled in the Coming of Jesus Christ. Eternal God was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.

Jesus Christ is the Child Who was born, but the Son Who was given. He is not the Son Who was born, for Christ is Eternal God, always existent with both Father and Spirit. John declared without apology:

John 1:1-3 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 (KJV) 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.

“The Word was MADE FLESH and dwelt among us”. The Son of God was given, not created, but clothed in flesh in the virgin’s womb. God did a new thing in Christ. The Eternal Son of God became perfect and sinless man. God became the Son of Man, not through Joseph but through the Holy Spirit of God. The Child was born of Mary, but God was never born. The Son of God became like us, but without sin.

The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder

When Jesus Christ came He came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom:

Matthew 4:23 (KJV) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom …

Mark 1:14 (KJV) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Jesus did not preach a quick fix salvation, but invited people into the Kingdom of God. He called people to “Follow Me” and to submit to Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The “Gospel” literally means “Good News”. The Good News is this:

God loves you
God wants His best for you
You will find His best in loving Jesus
And living as a son of God in His Kingdom

Jesus did not merely invite His followers to “come and dine” but to “come and die”. To die to the world. To submit to Him and His Word. To live in the shadow of God. To “Take up your Cross and follow Me”. The Gospel is like a glorious pearl of great price, which Jesus said..

Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV) “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Kingdom of God is offered to every person who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The government shall be upon His shoulder. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The day will come – and I believe it will comne sooner than later – that:

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Government SHALL be on HIS shoulder. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Messiah, the Ruler of all! There is no other Savior, and all other Kingdoms will one day fall to His. He is Lord!

His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful , Counsellor

Isaiah prophesies four names by which Jesus shall be declared, or literally, a Fourfold Name. The King James translators added a comma where no comma is needed. He is, literally, the Wonderful Counselor.

The word “Wonderful” (Hebrew פֶּלֶא pele’) is one of the descriptive terms of God Himself.

“Wonderful” means “to be indescribable or marvelous”. You see the word used of God in:

Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness,awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.(Psalm 77:11)

You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among thepeoples. (Psalm 77:14)

He wrought wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.(Psalm 78:12)

The heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. (Psalm 89:5)

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them. (Psalm 119:129)

O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You haveworked wonders, plans formed along ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)

When Jesus came and walked among us it was clear that He was no ordinary Counselor. When just 12 years old …

Luke 2:46-47 (NIV) {Mary and Joseph}found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

and as Jesus grew the people stayed amazed at Him. The Bible often says:

Luke 4:32 (ESV) and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

Matthew 7:28-29 (ESV) … And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as the Scribes.

Jesus Christ is not just another Rabbi, Prophet, or Teacher. He is Almighty God among us. He is the Wonderful Counselor, and His Words are the Words of the Creator. To heed Him is to heed God Himself.

His Name Shall Be Called The Mighty God

Our Jesus is not only our Great Shepherd, but He is our Mighty God. As Creator He controls the world that He made. In Matthew 8 alone we see Jesus:

Touched a leper, and healed him (Matthew 8:3)
Spoke, and the Centurion’s servant was cured (Matthew 8:13)
Healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever (Matthew 8:15)
Commanded a thousand demons to leave a poor man (Matthew 8:32)

None of these things caused His followers to speak out in amazement. But when there was a great storm on the Sea of Galilee and they were in its midst, the Bible tells us that:

Matthew 8:25-27 (ESV) And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

What sort of man is this, indeed! This is no mere man. This is the Son of God, God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. This is Jesus Christ, the Mighty God! Our Savior!

The Apostle Paul said of Christ that:

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

His Name Shall Be Called .. The Everlasting Father

The Disciple Philip asked Jesus one day

John 14:8 (KJV) …. Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus told Philip:

John 14:9-10 (KJV) … Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

When you see Jesus you see the Father revealed. Jesus often said “I come to do the will of Him that sent Me”:

John 4:34 (ESV) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 6:38 (ESV) For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Luke 2:49 (NKJV) And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

When you see Jesus, you see the Everlasting Father revealed. God loves us in spite of our foolishness and willfulness. And God sent His Son to reach out to whosoever will. To love every person who would be loved of God. To bring as many as possible to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said:

John 10:27-30 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and [my] Father are one.

There is perfect agreement between God the Father and God the Son and God the Spirit. If you call on the name of Jesus, you shall be saved. If you repent, turn, and come to Christ, your salvation is assured. Blessed be the Name of Jesus.

His Name Shall Be Called … The Prince Of Peace

The fourth part of Christ’s fourfold name is Prince of Peace. You cannot have Peace with God unless you have an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible declares:

Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Philippians 4:7 (KJV) … the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

and one of my favorite verses:

1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Where there is turmoil and confusion, Christ is not. But where Christ is, there is peace: peace with God, peace with men. When the Angels announced the birth of Christ into this world they declared:

Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  [11]  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  [12]  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  [13]  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  [14]  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Christ came that we might have peace with God. I pray that this Christmas that you surrender to the joy of Christ, that you accept this greatest Present of all into your life. Our text ends with:

The Zeal Of The Lord Of Hosts Will Perform This

Hebrews 12:4-13 (KJV) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

The “Best Selling” Sermons today are those sermons that focus on “God is Love”. And “God is Love”. But we today misunderstand what “Love” is.

Love is more than a feeling.
Love is an action.
Love does good even if it hurts.

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV) You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your ENEMIES and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Love is not a puddle that we fall into and crawl out of.
Love is an action, a righteous action, regardless of feeling.

You may in your heart despise a person – have an enemy – and yet as a child of God you are to do good and right to that enemy no matter how you feel. This past week God sent the blessing of rain on the just and the unjust. There were people out there that enjoyed the blessing of rain on their yards who were living in lifestyles that God condemns as sinful. There were people out there getting the blessing of rain who use the name of “Jesus Christ” as a curse, and who mock God and His Bible. How do you think that God feels about their behavior? And yet in love He still blesses them.

We love our enemy by doing good to them
regardless as to how we feel
because our Heavenly Father said so!

God expects His Children to obey. Always. God disciplines His Children when they do not obey, and God spanks His Children when they do not heed His discipline. When you were born again by faith in Christ, entered into the Family of God by the Holy Spirit of God, you became what is known as a Child of God. We who believe are Children together in His Family. Children obey the Father. And God Treats Every One Of His Children The Same Way – Like A Good Parent. We read:

Hebrews 12:5 (KJV) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, ..

Some translations like the New International Version mistranslate the first part of this text as “have you forgotten”. That’s wrong. The text says “you have forgotten”.

In the midst of trials and of pain we often forget what
God has told us about trials and of pain.

Trials and pain do not come on us because God doesn’t love us. Trials and pain come on us because God does love us. When Job was suffering on this earth (and Job suffered as few mortals ever suffer) his friend Eliphaz came to him and truthfully said:

Job 5:17-18 (KJV) Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon, and Solomon quoted Eliphaz then added to his statement, writing:

Proverbs 3:11-12 (KJV) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The writer of Hebrews quotes this same truth for the third time.

Hebrews 12:5-6 (KJV) … My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord LOVETH he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he RECEIVETH.

If you are born again into the Family of God then God is your Father. Like a good Father the Almighty does two things to every one of His Children.

God CHASTENS His Children Because He Loves Us
God SCOURGES His Children Because We Are His

The word translated “Chasten” is the Greek παιδεύω paideuō which means “to train, correct, or discipline a child”. The word translated “Scourges” is the Greek μαστιγόω mastigoō which means “to flog or paddle, to practice corporeal or bodily punishment”.

God does two things with every one of His Children. He establishes a standard, then holds them to that standard. This is called discipline. When the child of God rejects the standard that God has set then God paddles that child. THIS IS GOOD PARENTING. Parents are to establish standards for their children, then paddle the children when the standard is not met. God does the same for every child.

1 God Disciplines Or Disciples His Children. I remember the day I went into the United States Air Force. I raised my hand with 50 other men at the Induction Center and swore my allegiance to our Country. Then we got on a bus. When it stopped at Lackland Air Force Base the meanest man I ever saw got on the bus. He proceeded to tell us that he was now our momma, our daddy, our boss, and even our God. I won’t you everything he said, but suffice it to say it was a little flowery. When we got off the bus we stood at attention, standing inside of footprints painted on the asphalt. We then marched (out of step at this point) down to the Barber for our heads to be shaved. We were given uniforms, footlockers, shown how to fold and stow our clothing, and over the next 8 weeks we were DISCIPLINED until we became fit to be in the United States Air Force. We got up at three in the morning, cleaned our barracks, and did everything TOGETHER. We were forced by DISCIPLINE to do what this Drill Instructor told us to do.

DISCIPLINE is a necessity for any organization. DISCIPLINE is necessary for a family. Many Preachers today preach a Gospel far removed from the Gospel that Christ and the Apostles taught. Salvation is certainly a gift of God, freely given, and it cannot be earned by your own works. How is a person saved? The Bible is quite clear:

Romans 10:9-13 (ESV) …. if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”.

Salvation begins when you CONFESS with your mouth JESUS IS LORD. You confess and you believe. If He is LORD then you surrender to Him. You cannot be saved if YOU ARE LORD. You can only be saved if HE IS LORD TO YOU.

This is very important, and clears up much confusion in the Family of God. HE IS LORD. You can’t be saved if He is not LORD to you. And once He is LORD to you, your actions will show it.

Several years ago I was preaching in West Tennessee and a gentleman came forward to be saved. When he came forward I asked him what I ask everyone:

“Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”

His reply was “Yes I have”. Then I asked:

“Will you allow me to Baptize you in water?”

His reply was “No, I don’t want to be baptized”. I told him “Jesus commands you to be baptized”. His response was “I don’t want to be baptized”.

This man was not saved! The Child Of God Obeys The One Who Saved Him

Now listen, Beloved. We are saved by Grace, not by keeping the Law. But once saved by Grace we enter into the Family of God. We obey God, the One Who saved us. You are not saved by being baptized, but if you are saved you will obey the Head of the Family.

The Head of the Family has rules that He expects us as His Children to follow.
This has ALWAYS been the case.
He IS Lord In Your Heart, Or You Are NOT Saved.

A Christ Follower is called “Disciple”. Read these verses:

Matthew 5:1 (KJV) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his DISCIPLES came unto him:

Matthew 8:23 (KJV) And when {Jesus} was entered into a ship, his DISCIPLES followed him.

Matthew 9:10 (KJV) And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his DISCIPLES.

Matthew 9:11 (KJV) And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his DISCIPLES, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Matthew 9:19 (KJV) And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his DISCIPLES.

Matthew 9:37 (KJV) Then saith {Jesus} unto his DISCIPLES, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Matthew 10:1 (KJV) And when {Jesus} had called unto him his twelve DISCIPLES, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

All of these texts are taken out of Matthew. Did you know that the word DISCIPLE (μαθητής mathētēs) is found 243 times in the New Testament, each time related to a follower of Christ? I have heard preachers say that “You are saved by Grace, but once saved CHOOSE to be a Disciple”. This is hogwash! Every one of God’s Children are under His Discipline, Disciples of God. He is Lord, and He is Head of His Family.

Isaiah 64:8 (ESV) But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

The Fatherhood of God is tied to the great truth that He is the Potter, we are the clay. Think about that analogy for a moment. The Potter takes clay from out of the world. He presses the clay into a ball, then puts it in the middle of a spinning wheel. With His hands He forces the clay, until it becomes the vessel that it should be. This is the discipline of God.

The Apostles were DISCIPLES before they ever were Apostles. Children of God follow God. God disciplines His Children as a good Father disciplines His Family. He establishes standards, then with His hand insures we meet those standards.

Salvation is a free giftEphesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Once saved, God disciplines usEphesians 2:10 (KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 God Chastises Or Spanks (μαστιγόω mastigoō) His Children When We Are Disobedient.

Hebrews 12:6 (KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and SCOURGETH (μαστιγόω mastigoō) every SON whom he RECEIVETH.

Those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior are God’s Children. The Bible says:

John 1:12-13 (KJV)  But as many as received {Jesus}, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  [13]  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Galatians 3:26 (KJV)  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

God chastens or paddles His Children in a variety of ways. I believe God starts with the conscience. He pushes against our conscience, making us feel out of sorts when we do that which does not honor and glorify Him. God the Holy Spirit – the Indweller of every Son of God – begins to speak to our conscience.

John 16:13 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

God begins just as a good Parent begins by speaking to our conscience, telling us what is right and wrong, and then confirming what He has said by His Bible, the Word of God. What the Spirit says will never depart from the witness of the Scripture.

God is patient with us, calling, guiding. But at a certain point God will go beyond the warning voice. The King James say He scourges His children. This is not pleasant. God told the Corinthian Christians who had wandered far from Him and into a cesspool of sin and selfishness:

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (KJV)  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  [28]  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  [29]  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  [30]  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  [31]  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  [32]  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians “for THIS CAUSE many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep”. Sickness and disease are often ways that God addresses the disobedient child.

When Israel left Egypt, God drowned the unbelieving Egyptian army in the Red Sea.
When Israel left God, God caused them to wander 40 years until the disobedient died.

Now don’t get me wrong – not every sickness is a paddling from God, but every trial is used by God to make us more His Children. The Bible says:

1 Peter 1:3-7 (KJV)3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

James 1:2-3 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Not all trials are paddlings from God, but all trials do shape us

• If we belong to Jesus trials cause us to look upward to Jesus when suffer.

• Trials prove our faith as to whether it is genuine or counterfeit.

• Trials show where our love lies. Job said in the midst of terrible trial, (Job 13:15 NASB) “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him…”

• Trials show us that salvation is more than just receiving Heaven. God saves us to bring Heaven to us, not just to bring us to Heaven.

Hebrews 12:9-10 (KJV) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Trials bring the holiness of God to us. If we are His children, we are to be holy as He is holy. The Lord says:

1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of {living}; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God demands that His Children be His Children. So trials come to paddle us if necessary. But God uses every trial so that we will learn that we are to be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live. Our Heavenly Father chastens us that we might be partakers or partners in His holiness.

3 God Does Not Chastise Those Who Are NOT His Children.

Hebrews 12:6-8 (KJV) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Like a loving Father the Lord disciplines His Children. But those who are not His He does not discipline. No person whips another person’s children. Trials fall on everyone, whether good or evil. But trials that come to the lost are not the correction of the Father. Trials may lead the unbeliever to look up. I remember the case of the Philippian Jailer who thought all his prisoners had escaped in Acts 16. He started to kill himself when the Apostle Paul cried out:

Do yourself no harm – we are all here

This frightened man ran in to Paul and Silas and cried out “What must I do to be saved?” Trials can lead the lost to Christ. If you are tried, hear the word of Christ:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

If you are a Child of God, rest in Him in the midst of trials. Search your hearts. Insure that you are not in sin. If you are, CONFESS that sin before Him. Repent. Turn. If you’re running from God, Jonah, turn before the whale swallows you. And if you are not His … come to Him. Receive Christ as your Lord and Savior today, right now! May God work in your hearts

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:18 (KJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

This is the time of year that we focus on the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have begun what the Church calls “Advent”. An “Advent” is the arrival of an event or a person that changes human history in a significant way. We have – in my lifetime – seen ..

The ADVENT of Television
The ADVENT of Computers
The ADVENT of the Internet
The ADVENT of Social Media
The ADVENT of the Smart Phone

Each one of these things – along with their creators – made a significant contribution (for better or for worse) to humanity. But there is one Advent that we recognize every year about this time. That fallen angel Lucifer – also known as Satan (and yes, I believe there is a Satan, for I see his handiwork every day) doesn’t want you to know about this Advent. He attacks this Advent in subtle ways. But Satan cannot overpower the significance of this Advent. It is the Greatest Advent in all of human history.

It is the ADVENT of Jesus Christ.
His ADVENT changed history and humanity forever.
This is what Christmas is about.

1 We See In Matthew Chapter 1 Verses 2-17 A History We Cannot Ignore. When people read the Bible (and few read the Bible anymore – I hope you are one of the few!) they come to passages like we find at the beginning of Matthew. They start reading:

Matthew 1:2-7 (KJV) Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

They get about this far and think “What in the world? Begat? This is boring!” So they skip forward, but in so doing miss something very important.

• Why did Matthew go through such a boring list of names?

• And what does “Begat” mean?

The word “Begat” (the Greek γεννάω gennaō) is used 39 times in this text. The word means “to be fathered by or to be born of”. This is an unbroken genealogy which starts with Abraham and ends at Joseph, the earthly Stepfather of Christ. This list of names is important because it established the legal, Jewish right of Jesus Christ to be the King of the Jews, the Promised Messiah. There are TWO ROOTS to this Family Tree. Those roots are found in verse 1:

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

a Abraham Is A Root Because God Made A Promise To Abraham. When God met Abraham (this is recorded in the very first Book of the Bible) the Lord promised him:

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God promised Abraham – a childless old man – that He would “make of you a great nation”. This meant that Abraham, a man who could NOT naturally have children would SUPERNATURALLY be given a child.

His wife Sarah – well past child bearing years – would have a child, and that child would have children that would develop into “a great nation”. But this wasn’t all of God’s promise. God told Abraham

“in you ALL the FAMILIES of the earth shall be blessed”

God promised Abraham “there will be an ADVENT through you that will impact human history”. God promised Abraham that something WORLD CHANGING would happen through Abraham. God said later in

Genesis 18:18 (ESV) … Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

The Messiah – the Savior of the world – would come through Abraham. Many have come and claimed to be Messiah’s or Saviors. There have been Mohammeds, Buddhas, Hubbards, Smiths, Russels, gods and goddesses that people have followed after. But God promised the Messiah, the One and only Savior of the world would come to us through the Lineage of Abraham, And God keeps His promises. God repeated this promise in:

Genesis 22:18 (ESV).. and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.

God is “not slack in His promises”. Though this genealogy in Matthew 1 focuses on God’s promise to the Jews, it also fulfills God’s promise to the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul declared:

Galatians 3:6-9 (KJV) …. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

We have an Amazing God Who keeps His Promises. The Messiah would come, and His lineage could be traced through Abraham. But this is not the only Root of this blessed Tree:

b David Is A root Because God Made A Promise To The Shepherd King David.

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

The Messiah would not just be descendant from Abraham, but He MUST be Descendant from the Shepherd King David. I often wondered why, of all the people on the face of the earth, why it was

to shepherds who were watching their sheep by night (Luke 2:8-14)

that the Angel of the Lord went to first on the night that Jesus came into the world. When

the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)

wasn’t there anybody else outside at night that needed that good news? I suspect that the reason God told the shepherds first is because these people were doing the lowest and the least job. I can imagine them gathering around a campfire, cold and lonely, talking among themselves how one of their own was chosen by God to be King of Israel. Oh what a rags to riches story that would be! It would be like working in a hot sweaty factory and one of those who suffered with you was suddenly promoted to President of that Company! What a great story that would be! The David that Jesus came from is King David, the King who was Shepherd, a lowly Shepherd, until God called him. God promised David:

2 Samuel 7:8-13 (ESV) … ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 12 … I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

The Messiah had to come from the line of David, of the house of Judah. The Messiah would be legally entitled to be King of Israel serving on an eternal Throne. The Messiah – also called “Shiloh” (Hebrew שִׁילֹה Shiyloh)

Genesis 49:10 (NASB) “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

“Shiloh” means “He Whose It Is”. The throne of Judah, the throne of David would be occupied by mere mortals until “He Whose it is” would come. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the King of Israel, the Savior of the world was, is, and always will be Jesus Christ. Others are faint shadows of “He Whose it is”. Jesus Christ is the Promised Messiah. He comes from both Abraham and David, and is the fulfillment of God’s Promise!

2 God’s Promise Is Always Fulfilled, Regardless As To What Man May Do. When a school bus crashed the other week and six children were killed because of human carelessness I had people ask me:

Was this God’s intent?
Did He want those children killed?
Is God really in control?

When horrible things happen we are tempted to think that God lost control of the steering wheel. But God never loses control, even when people make bad decisions.

When things happen that we don’t understand God tells us:

Psalm 46:10 (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

At the end of this genealogy we read:

Matthew 1:17 (KJV)17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Do you see what this text is telling you? Here is a bunch of names – many of which we do not know literally from Adam – but God had a plan. Read the text again:

All the generations from Abraham to David ARE FOURTEEN GENERATIONS

and from David until the carrying away in Babylon are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS

and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS

This is not just some random list of names. This list is precise. It goes from fourteen to fourteen to fourteen. God is specifically in control. Every name on this list is there because God allowed it to be on the list.

Are these perfect people?
Are you kidding me?

a Consider The Life Of Isaac, The Promised Child. Abraham had this child by Sarah he was a hundred years old.

Surely this Child would be phenomenal. He was.
He was a phenomenal milksop.

He let people walk all over him. When others challenged his right to his father’s wells, Isaac just moved away and let them have them. God affirms His Covenant with Isaac in

Genesis 26:4 (ESV) I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,

and yet just two verses later we read:

Genesis 26:6-7 (ESV) .. Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance.

The man would not even protect his wife. Isaac was a poor parent, and he ignored the directives and prophecies of God. This led to his son Jacob to deceive his older brother Esau in order to get the blessing of his father. God would keep His promise in spite of Isaac’s shortcomings.

b Consider The Life Of Jacob, Isaac’s Younger Son. Jacob is a con man. He cons his father Isaac into blessing him instead of his older brother. But God told the mother of these two children Rebekah:

Genesis 25:23 (ESV) And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

It was God’s intent that Jacob be the one whom the lineage of Christ would go through. Yet did God ask Jacob and his mother to deceive? No. God does not appreciate lying. The Bible tells us that there will be no liars in Heaven (Revelation 21:8). God says:

Proverbs 12:22 (ESV) Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

God does not condone sin – but Jacob was going to be the one through Whom Messiah would come. If Rebekah and Isaac had honored God’s will then it would have happened righteously. Nonetheless, God is in control.

c Consider The Lives Of Judah And Thamar (verse 3). Jacob had twelve children, but only Judah (the KJV translators here use Judas) was to rule over these twelve. Judah was to be the Tribe of Israel where the Ruler or King came. Tamar’s husband died, and the third son of Judah was supposed to marry her. He refused to do so, so Tamar committed incest with Judah (you can read about this in Genesis 38). God does not condone sexual sin, but condemns it, but

God does not condemn the innocent Child who had nothing to do with that union.

I have heard people justify abortion in the event of rape – but why penalize the child because of the evil of the parent? All life matters. All life is valuable. All are made in the image of God!

Matthew 1:3 (KJV)3 And Judas (Judah) begat Phares (Perez) and Zara (Zerah) of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

d Consider The Lives Of Perez and Zerah (see Genesis 38:27-29) who were twins. In the case of twins the firstborn was the one who came from the womb first. Zerah stuck his hand out first and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his hand, but then Perez was born first.

The scarlet thread of the midwife was on Zerah,
but the Scarlet Thread of the Messiah was on Perez
God is in control, no matter what man might do

e Consider These Imperfect People And How God Used Them. I’d love to go through all of these names today, but time just doesn’t permit it. But I do want to look at just a few more names in this list of forty two men and four women.

Matthew 1:5-6 (KJV) And Salmon begat Booz (Boaz) of Rachab (Rahab); and Booz (Boaz) begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (Uriah);

Salmon begat (fathered) Boaz of Rahab

Rahab was a prostitute, a woman who sold herself to others. When Israel was going to go into the Promised Land Rahab hid the spies in Jericho (see Joshua 2:1ff). Rahab believed on the God of Israel, the same God Who loves us. Rahab was saved by Grace. The Old Testament doesn’t tell us all the details, but in the New Testament we see an ex-prostitute in the lineage of the Messiah.

God saves whosoever will.
God has a purpose for whosoever will.
God loves whosoever will.
God changes whosoever will come unto Him in faith.
Boaz begat (fathered) Obed of Ruth

Ruth was descended from the Moabite people, a hated people. The Moabites originated from Lot committing incest with his eldest daughter (see Genesis 19:32-27). The Moabites tried to stop Israel from going into Canaan (see Exodus 15:15), and became one of the most hated enemies of Israel. She was a Gentile, despised, but God loved her. God loves everyone. The Apostle Peter said:

Acts 10:34-35 (ESV) “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

God does not look at your color.
God does not look at your past.
God does not care where you came from,
Nor does He care what you think you’re worth.
God loves you, and calls you to His side.
He calls you through the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord!

and God will forgive. He does not condone sin, but He does forgive.

Even David Himself failed.

David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (Uriah)

David took another man’s wife, then had that man named Uriah killed. God does not condone murder. God does not condone adultery. Yet God does not punish the innocent Solomon for his parents sins. The lineage of the Messiah continued through flawed people,

Begating and begating

But I want you to notice something interesting.

3 Joseph Did Not “Begat” Jesus. The lineage of the Messiah is traced from Abraham, through David, and up to Joseph, where we read:

Matthew 1:16 (KJV) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

The text doesn’t follow the pattern of …

Joseph begat Jesus of Mary

It doesn’t say that. The birth of Jesus is not tied to Joseph, but to Mary. The Bible goes on to say:

Matthew 1:18 (KJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married. Before they came together sexually, before they “slept with one another” as people so flippantly say,

She was found with Child OF THE HOLY GHOST (Spirit)

Christ was supernaturally born. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Bible says that the sign of the Messiah, the Savior is that He would be born of a virgin

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23 (KJV)22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

God would enter humanity. Every birth is a miracle, but Christ’s Advent is a double miracle. He was born of a virgin. He was born of God. God became man, not through perfect man, but the perfect came through the imperfect because God is always in control.

It is this same God that calls you to salvation.

God sent His Son into this world to be our Messiah. Jesus Christ was and is without sin,

Hebrews 7:26 (ESV) …. holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Jesus came to this earth to pay for our sins, and to call whosoever will, whosoever broken, whosoever will believe in Him to salvation. Jesus Christ is the Greatest Gift you can receive this Christmas. Receive Him. Believe Him. Follow Him, to the glory of God in the highest!

May God lead a lost soul to Himself through His Word and Spirit!