Zion East Prospect Church
New Song 122919
  • ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE
    Let’s take just a few minutes to separate truth from tradition.
    WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)
    GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

    I. How did Mary get too Bethlehem?

    a. Donkey is not mentioned in scripture.
    could have been a wagon, the scripture doesn’t say
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth

    II. No room in the Inn or guest room.

    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

    A. Greek for this word guest room, lodging
    B. Manger (phatne) feeding trough
    C. Animals were kept in a cave
    D. manger was made of stone

    III. Angel and the Shepherds

    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

    a. This again was normal for the shepherds to care for the flock
    b. God showed up
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”

    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger

    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

    IV. Three wise men

    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him

    A. three Wisemen
    a. we have no idea how many wise men there were. We figure 3 because of the gift. There could have been a multitude for all we know.
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.

    a. It may be up to two years later that the wise men show up
    Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew 5. The Magi in Bethlehem (2:9–11)

    2:11 Led by the miraculous star, the magi arrive at the house where Jesus resides. Matthew’s “house” is not a contradiction to the “manger” of Luke 2:7 (contra W. Davies and Allison 1988: 248), since perhaps as much as two years have passed since Jesus was born (Matt. 2:16). The focus of the magi is on the child Jesus

    YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)
    Conclusion:
    Video: What is the point.. retuning the nativity
    When we sweep away man made traditions, the eternal truths remain.
    God brought them safely to the birth place that was prophesied in scripture.
    Whether born in a stable or a cave God provided shelter.
    Whether their were three or a multitude of wise men God caused people to bear witness to the truth of Emmanuel .
    A baby boy born of a virgin this day in the city of David, Christ the Lord.