The Beauty Of Christ's Birth
Introduction
Christmas time to me is always a beautiful time of the year. For a few brief weeks during the year, almost everywhere one looks there are brightly colored lights and brilliant displays. Most everything appears to be a little more cheerful during the Christmas season. Even people’s attitudes seem to be different.
But the beauty of the Christmas season is not found merely in the brightly colored lights and decorations. The real beauty of this blessed season is found in its purpose—that being to honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The beauty of this season lies in the fact that it is a time to reflect upon the wonderful love and grace of God that moved Him to condescend from His eternal throne to become a man, in order to die for men, that He might redeem mankind. What could be more beautiful than that?
I would like to dwell for a few moments on the beauty and meaning of this holiday we call Christmas. The sum total of Christmas is that Christ was sent to provide redemption for sinful and fallen humanity, estranged from God. We must never lose sight of that all-important fact as we celebrate this holiday.
I. The Place Of Christ's Birth
Luke 2:3-7, “And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 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:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.”
A. It Was A Place Prophesied In Scripture
Micah 5: 2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Matthew 2:1-6 records for us that Herod inquired of the priests and scribes as to the birthplace of the prophesied Messiah. In answer to his question, they quoted Micah 5: 2, indicating that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. It is rather ironic that these religious leaders were only about five miles away from their promised Messiah, which they claimed to be so eagerly awaiting, yet they made no effort to search Him out for themselves. Only the Gentile wise men sought out Christ.
B. It Was A Place Of Prophetic Symbolism
1. Bread
Bethlehem is significant in that it means, “The House Of Bread.”
John 6:35, 51, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
We often speak sympathetically and sentimentally about the fact that baby Jesus was born in a seemingly insignificant town, and was then laid in a manger (feeding trough) for His crib. Spiritually speaking however, what better place for He who is “the bread of life” to be born than in Bethlehem, The House Of Bread? What better place for “the living bread which came down from heaven” to be laid than in a feeding trough?
Christ was content with a stable when he was born, so that we, who believe, could have a mansion when we die.
2. Bethlehem
It is significant that the sacrificial lambs were kept and grazed, in the fields around Bethlehem.
John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Revelation 13:8, “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The innkeeper of Bethlehem often gets a bad rap for turning away Joseph and Mary. The fact is however; this was in the wise plan of God. In those days, an inn was nothing more than a large open room where guests simply laid out a sleeping mat on the floor to sleep for the night. There would have been no privacy for a woman giving birth.
It has often been lamented that Christ had the unfortunate misfortune of being born in a stable used for housing animals. However, what more appropriate place for the “Lamb of God” to be born than in a stable?
II. The Proclamation Of Christ's Birth
A. This Proclamation Was Astounding
Luke 3:8-9, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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.”
The words “the angel of the Lord came upon them,” indicate a suddenness of action (v. 9). The idea is that one moment the shepherds saw nothing but the blinking of stars in the sky, and the next moment they saw a glowing, brilliant angel standing in midair.
If the appearance of the angel announcing the birth of Christ frightened the shepherds, the sudden appearance of “a multitude of the heavenly host” only moments later, must have caused their hearts to temporarily stop (v. 13). My imagination runs wild as I try to imagine what it must have been like to suddenly see the night sky light up with the glory of God, and to hear the praises of a numberless multitude of angels echoing across the valleys and hills around Bethlehem. It must have been awesome.
B. This Proclamation Was Assuring
1. The Person Who Proclaimed It
It was assuring because of the Person it proclaimed.
Luke 2:10-11, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The Person proclaimed by the angel would produce “great joy” in the hearts of those who received Him (Rom.5: 11). One aspect of Christ’s earthly ministry was to “bind up the brokenhearted” (Isa.61: 1c).
Christ, and the joy that receiving Him would bring, was “to all people.” Salvation through Christ has always been to the “whosoever” (Rom.10: 13; John 3: 15-16; Rev.22: 17).
The angel said that Christ had been born in the “city of David,” a reference to the Old Testament prophesies concerning the birth of the Messiah (Micah 5: 2). The birth of Christ proved God’s faithfulness.
2. The Peace It Promised
It was assuring because of the peace it promised.
Luke 2:12-14, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Through Christ would come the potential for the cessation of hostility between God and the sinner (“peace”). This is what Paul was speaking of when he said, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom.5: 1).
Through Christ, God was extending His unmerited favor, or grace, toward mankind (same idea as the words, “good will”).
III. The Purpose Of Christ's Birth
Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:29-32, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant (Simeon) depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
A. He Was Born To Die Violently For Sinners
Luke 23:33, “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”
What is crucifixion? A medical doctor provides a physical description:
The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place.
The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain—the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet. As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over—the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level—the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues—the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues. . .Finally he can allow his body to die.
All this the Bible records with the simple words, “And they crucified Him” (Mark 15:24). What wondrous love is this? Adapted from C. Truman Davis, M.D. in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 8.
B. He Was Born To Die Vicariously For Sinners
Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Jesus died in our place. He took the punishment we deserved for our offenses against God. He was the fulfillment of our greatest need. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. Source Unknown.
C. He Was Born To Die Victoriously For Sinners
John 10:18, “No man taketh it (His life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
John 19:30a, “…It is finished…”