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the old rabbis of israel had a saying they said people marry for four reasons people marry for four reasons some marry for passion some marry for passion some for wealth some for honor some for wealth some for honor and some very few and some very few marry for the glory of god if they marry for passion their children will be stubborn and their children will be stubborn and rebellious rebellious that is given over to their own passions if they marry for wealth then their children will grow up to be then their children will grow up to be greedy if they marry for honor then their children will be ambitious then their children will be ambitious and ruthless and ruthless striving after the honors of this world but if by chance or by providence they marry and they live they marry and they live for the glory of god then their children will be righteous will be righteous and they will preserve israel nazareth was a little obscure town in galilee in galilee the northern part of israel the northern part of israel it was a village like many others it was a village like many others there were simple jewish people who went there were simple jewish people who went about their daily tasks about their daily tasks the men would work in the fields or in the men would work in the fields or in their shops their shops they would meet together to talk about they would meet together to talk about oh perhaps the weather oh perhaps the weather to talk about maybe the latest roman to talk about maybe the latest roman outrage outrage that was perpetrated upon the jews that was perpetrated upon the jews a people in subjection the women went about their tasks and met at the well perhaps to talk about at the well perhaps to talk about who had had a baby who was sick who had had a baby who was sick who had died the children played in the streets sometimes they listen to their mothers sometimes they listen to their mothers when they call them into dinner when they call them into dinner sometimes they didn't pay attention and sometimes they didn't pay attention and went their own way it was a town a little town like many others but when sabbath came all the families would gather together all the families would gather together to the old stone synagogue and there the old rabbi the teacher in nazareth the teacher in nazareth would read to them very carefully would read to them very carefully very perceptively from the words of very perceptively from the words of scripture scripture he was a kind man he was a kind man a good man he wasn't a legal scholar he wasn't one of these erudite teachers from jerusalem of these erudite teachers from jerusalem like the people of nazareth might see on like the people of nazareth might see on occasion when they came through occasion when they came through on their way to some place more on their way to some place more important important and just deign to stop by for a day or and just deign to stop by for a day or two two and enlighten the populace and enlighten the populace no he was a very ordinary man no he was a very ordinary man but a man to whom the scriptures meant but a man to whom the scriptures meant much much he was a man who was very careful and he was a man who was very careful and thoughtful thoughtful and prudent as he taught the young and prudent as he taught the young children the young boys of nazareth and children the young boys of nazareth and brought them up to the time in which brought them up to the time in which they would they would assume their places assume their places as men at the age of 12 or 13 as men at the age of 12 or 13 men who worshiped god in the nation of men who worshiped god in the nation of israel well we pick up our story at one particular sabbath day particular sabbath day after the regular service after the regular service the rabbi had a special announcement the rabbi had a special announcement now it wasn't a total surprise to his now it wasn't a total surprise to his listeners but you have to remember in a listeners but you have to remember in a little village like nazareth little village like nazareth very few things happened very few things happened which no one was aware of which no one was aware of but it was with great joy but it was with great joy that the announcement was received and that the announcement was received and no doubt it went in words something like no doubt it went in words something like this this the rabbi stood before the congregation the rabbi stood before the congregation and said and said joseph the son of jacob the carpenter joseph the son of jacob the carpenter having brought having brought a having brought having brought a satisfactory dowry satisfactory dowry desires the hand of mary desires the hand of mary the daughter of eli the daughter of eli both being of the house of david both being of the house of david and the rabbi would raise his hands in a and the rabbi would raise his hands in a benediction benediction may god may god bless bless their union the following weeks were a time of joyful celebration joyful celebration the old songs were sung again the songs the old songs were sung again the songs of joy in romance in love of joy in romance in love in marriage in marriage we have an example of that sort of song we have an example of that sort of song in what's called in the old testament in what's called in the old testament the song of solomon the song of solomon and just to get a feel for this let's and just to get a feel for this let's look at a few verses look at a few verses the song of solomon the song of solomon chapter four verse 1 behold thou art fair my love my love behold thou art fair thou hast dove's behold thou art fair thou hast dove's eyes within thy locks verse 3 thy lips are like a thread of scarlet thy lips are like a thread of scarlet and thy speech is comely verse 7 thou art all fair my love thou art all fair my love there is no spot in thee there is no spot in thee verse 9 verse 9 thou hast ravished my heart my sister my thou hast ravished my heart my sister my spouse spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes thine eyes with one chain of thy neck with one chain of thy neck how fair is thy love how fair is thy love my sister my sister my spouse my spouse how much better is thy love than wine how much better is thy love than wine and the smell of thine ointments than and the smell of thine ointments than all spices it was a mysterious form of love wasn't it it it was sensual and yet spiritual it was sensual and yet spiritual and it could only be found in a nation and it could only be found in a nation which worshipped yahweh which worshipped yahweh a nation which was pictured in the holy a nation which was pictured in the holy scriptures as being scriptures as being the bride the bride of god of god the wife of god the wife of god raised up from a little child when god raised up from a little child when god speaks of bringing out of egypt speaks of bringing out of egypt a little girl a little girl and raising her up and raising her up and caring for her and feeding her and and caring for her and feeding her and clothing her clothing her and treating that little child as his and treating that little child as his daughter daughter until finally she came to grow into a until finally she came to grow into a woman woman and he loved her and he loved her and married her and married her it's a picture of god giving his it's a picture of god giving his covenant to man covenant to man a covenant of love a covenant that binds a covenant of love a covenant that binds man to god in the greatest union man to god in the greatest union a union and fellowship which is best a union and fellowship which is best exemplified by the union of marriage exemplified by the union of marriage to these people of galilee to the people to these people of galilee to the people of israel of israel marriage was a sacred covenant it marriage was a sacred covenant it pictured god's love for his people we read in the song of solomon chapter 4 and verse 12 and verse 12 a pledge of purity a pledge of purity a garden enclosed is my sister my spouse a garden enclosed is my sister my spouse a spring shut up a fountain sealed a spring shut up a fountain sealed it's a picture of purity it's a picture of purity of a purity that is protected until it of a purity that is protected until it might be enjoyed by the rightful husband might be enjoyed by the rightful husband it is a picture of the devotion that it is a picture of the devotion that israel should have shown to god israel should have shown to god and it's a picture also of that which and it's a picture also of that which was assumed was assumed to be the condition to be the condition of each bride who came to each man of each bride who came to each man in israel for these people and in this time betrothal our engagement was quite betrothal our engagement was quite formal quite binding formal quite binding it had the aspect of a legal contract it had the aspect of a legal contract it was as good as a marriage in the it was as good as a marriage in the sense of law sense of law if a woman were to be betrothed to a man if a woman were to be betrothed to a man then she could not break that betrothal then she could not break that betrothal she was considered to be the wife of she was considered to be the wife of that man even though they had not come that man even though they had not come to live together and consummate that to live together and consummate that marriage marriage if her prospective husband or husband if her prospective husband or husband were to die then she would be a widow were to die then she would be a widow with property rights with property rights if she were to be unfaithful to that if she were to be unfaithful to that promise promise the law prescribed the law prescribed death death if she had been unbetrothed if she had been unbetrothed and were to commit fornication it would and were to commit fornication it would be a totally different matter there be a totally different matter there would be the possibility of dowries would be the possibility of dowries being paid of marriage is being made being paid of marriage is being made after that point but if she were after that point but if she were betrothed to a man betrothed to a man and was then unfaithful with another man and was then unfaithful with another man the penalty was death so the announcement of the rabbi brought about this period of betrothal brought about this period of betrothal which might have lasted for these people which might have lasted for these people something like a year something like a year a suitable interval before the actual a suitable interval before the actual marriage ceremony and before the bride marriage ceremony and before the bride would go to live with her husband finally the time would come when the marriage would be finalized marriage would be finalized and we read of the various incidents and we read of the various incidents that that uh take place at this time uh take place at this time of the bridegroom coming in the of the bridegroom coming in the procession to take his bride of the procession to take his bride of the virgins or the bridesmaids who go out to virgins or the bridesmaids who go out to meet him of the feasting and the joy the meet him of the feasting and the joy the wine of fellowship and joy wine of fellowship and joy the special wedding garments we read of the special wedding garments we read of those those it was an extraordinary a wonderful time it was an extraordinary a wonderful time a time in which all of the people of a time in which all of the people of israel israel the families of the bride in the groom the families of the bride in the groom might look upon this and see re-created might look upon this and see re-created the love that they had for their the love that they had for their husbands and wives and the love that god husbands and wives and the love that god had had for israel this time would finally come and we can imagine that mary looked forward to it imagine that mary looked forward to it with great longing with great longing there would be months of waiting however there would be months of waiting however anticipation anticipation preparing of the feast preparing of the feast preparing of herself in mind and body preparing of herself in mind and body to become truly the wife of joseph to become truly the wife of joseph and in the meanwhile ever present would and in the meanwhile ever present would be the reminders that we've read here in be the reminders that we've read here in the song of solomon a garden enclosed a the song of solomon a garden enclosed a fountain sealed is my sister my spouse fountain sealed is my sister my spouse this was her promise her pledge of this was her promise her pledge of purity how much of our lives is awaiting is awaiting an anticipation for something different an anticipation for something different perhaps we think something better just perhaps we think something better just around the corner around the corner maybe a job promotion maybe a marriage maybe a job promotion maybe a marriage proposal proposal maybe someone's going to put a million maybe someone's going to put a million dollars in our lap dollars in our lap and we wait and we expect and we know and we wait and we expect and we know that things are going to be better and that things are going to be better and we have pictured in our minds as we look we have pictured in our minds as we look into the future i know just how it's into the future i know just how it's going to be going to be i know what will happen i know what will happen but how many times does it happen but how many times does it happen and how many times instead is it that and how many times instead is it that what we might call fate what we might call fate but what might really be the providence but what might really be the providence of god steps in and those things that we of god steps in and those things that we thought we had in our grasp thought we had in our grasp where we had our future laid out for us where we had our future laid out for us where there were no problems all these where there were no problems all these things are overturned and changed in a things are overturned and changed in a moment moment and we can do nothing about it mary had her plans a loving husband a family a quiet a loving husband a family a quiet peaceful life in nazareth all those plans were taken away from her and the very thing that we're talking about happened to mary about happened to mary fate intervened fate intervened her life was changed and it would never her life was changed and it would never be the same again this is what we read and let's turn to it luke chapter one luke 1 verse 26 and in the sixth month the angel gabriel was sent from god into a city of galilee was sent from god into a city of galilee named nazareth to a virgin espoused to a named nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was joseph of the house man whose name was joseph of the house of david and the virgin's name was mary of david and the virgin's name was mary and the angel came in unto her and said and the angel came in unto her and said hail thou that art highly favored the hail thou that art highly favored the lord is with thee lord is with thee blessed art thou among women no greater honor had ever come to a woman than this woman than this but it was an honor that carried an but it was an honor that carried an awesome responsibility awesome responsibility and we read in verse 29 and we read in verse 29 that that when she saw him she was troubled at his when she saw him she was troubled at his saying saying and she cast in her mind the rsv says and she cast in her mind the rsv says she considered in her mind what manner she considered in her mind what manner of salutation this was we get our first glimpse here of the character of mary character of mary she was a person whom we might call she was a person whom we might call a great a great spectator that doesn't mean that she spectator that doesn't mean that she didn't get involved in the affairs didn't get involved in the affairs around her but at every crucial point in around her but at every crucial point in mary's life we read in the scriptures mary's life we read in the scriptures that she considered that she considered or she pondered or she pondered or she kept these things stored up in or she kept these things stored up in her hearts in her heart and meditated on her hearts in her heart and meditated on them them this was the sort of person mary was this was the sort of person mary was and if we follow her through this story and if we follow her through this story we might become people like that we might become people like that oh we're so caught up aren't we we oh we're so caught up aren't we we rush headlong from one thing to another rush headlong from one thing to another all of our lives are laid out for us and all of our lives are laid out for us and we hardly have time to pause and we hardly have time to pause and consider and ask ourselves what does consider and ask ourselves what does this mean or that this little incident this mean or that this little incident that happened should i consider that is that happened should i consider that is that god's hand directing me in another that god's hand directing me in another way way but when we go with mary and we walk but when we go with mary and we walk through her life through her life then when she stops to consider these then when she stops to consider these things then we have to stop too things then we have to stop too and we have to ask ourselves and we have to ask ourselves can we see the hand of god acting in can we see the hand of god acting in these things these things can we find ourselves motivated by these can we find ourselves motivated by these considerations considerations to see the example of mary and live as to see the example of mary and live as she did mary's attitude is one of infinite wonder wonder at the workings of god at the workings of god it is an attitude that comes from it is an attitude that comes from careful bible study careful bible study from frequent prayer verse 30 and the angel said unto her fear not and the angel said unto her fear not mary for thou hast found favor with god mary for thou hast found favor with god now to find favor with god is at least now to find favor with god is at least an implication that the an implication that the that mary was looking for something that mary was looking for something if we find something we're generally if we find something we're generally looking for it this may be an indication looking for it this may be an indication that mary that mary was if not expecting it at least praying was if not expecting it at least praying at this time may i be the one who is the at this time may i be the one who is the mother of the messiah mother of the messiah now how could this be well we should say now how could this be well we should say here that the general notion in israel here that the general notion in israel based upon the scriptures of the coming based upon the scriptures of the coming of the messiah was something along this of the messiah was something along this order despite what was said in isaiah 7 order despite what was said in isaiah 7 and 14 that a virgin shall conceive and and 14 that a virgin shall conceive and bear a son it was generally taken by bear a son it was generally taken by the faithful in israel that what this the faithful in israel that what this passage meant was that a virgin would passage meant was that a virgin would marry marry a man who was of the house of david and a man who was of the house of david and this marriage would then find its this marriage would then find its consummation in the birth of a son who consummation in the birth of a son who would be of course the son of would be of course the son of the man as well as the woman but would the man as well as the woman but would also be the messiah the jews apparently also be the messiah the jews apparently had an aversion and of course they were had an aversion and of course they were before the fact instead of after but before the fact instead of after but they had an aversion to this idea that they had an aversion to this idea that the messiah would literally be the son the messiah would literally be the son of god and the passages that they read of god and the passages that they read like isaiah 7 and 14 which say a virgin like isaiah 7 and 14 which say a virgin shall conceive they took in the more shall conceive they took in the more natural way a virgin shall marry and natural way a virgin shall marry and then by the natural means conceive and then by the natural means conceive and bear a son bear a son so perhaps this is the sort of prayer so perhaps this is the sort of prayer that mary would have in her heart that that mary would have in her heart that she might through joseph beget the man she might through joseph beget the man who would be the messiah we continue though with verse 31 gabriel speaks he shall be great and shall be speaks he shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest called the son of the highest and the lord god shall give unto him the and the lord god shall give unto him the throne of his father david and he shall throne of his father david and he shall reign over the house of jacob forever reign over the house of jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end and of his kingdom there shall be no end now several very interesting things now several very interesting things there maybe the first one that would there maybe the first one that would strike mary's attention would be this strike mary's attention would be this awesome statement awesome statement he shall be great and shall be called he shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest what did that the son of the highest what did that mean even david mean even david the great ancestor of the royal line of the great ancestor of the royal line of israel and judah even david was not israel and judah even david was not called the son of the highest the called the son of the highest the particular singular son particular singular son of god and we can imagine at this point of god and we can imagine at this point mary considers again what does this mean mary considers again what does this mean and perhaps she even misses some of the and perhaps she even misses some of the other parts of gabriel's statement where other parts of gabriel's statement where he says he will be given the throne of he says he will be given the throne of his father david his father david but it's true we look at this and we see but it's true we look at this and we see all of the aspects of christ all of the aspects of christ we see christ who was to be the seed of we see christ who was to be the seed of the woman the woman the first great promise given in genesis the first great promise given in genesis chapter 3 and verse 15 that the seed of chapter 3 and verse 15 that the seed of the woman the woman not necessarily the man but the seed of not necessarily the man but the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the the woman would bruise the head of the serpent would destroy the power of sin serpent would destroy the power of sin in the world in the world we see that his name we see that his name would be jesus we read this in verse 31 would be jesus we read this in verse 31 thou shalt call his name jesus thou shalt call his name jesus gabriel said gabriel said jesus was the name with the long and jesus was the name with the long and joshua we might say was a name with a joshua we might say was a name with a long and varied history in israel long and varied history in israel joshua had delivered his people after joshua had delivered his people after moses died delivered them into the moses died delivered them into the promised land and established them in promised land and established them in that land and paved the way to the that land and paved the way to the kingdom kingdom joshua means the salvation of god joshua means the salvation of god or if we put it in a verb form he who or if we put it in a verb form he who will save will save this was joshua this was jesus this was joshua this was jesus jesus would be jesus would be a savior a savior one who with the power of god would save one who with the power of god would save or redeem his people or redeem his people he would be called the son of the he would be called the son of the highest this leads us to the passage in isaiah 9 which which gives us the theme for our studies gives us the theme for our studies isaiah 9 for unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful counselor the mighty god the everlasting counselor the mighty god the everlasting father the prince of peace father the prince of peace of the increase of his government and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the peace there shall be no end upon the throne of david his father to order it throne of david his father to order it and to establish it with justice and and to establish it with justice and with judgment from henceforth even with judgment from henceforth even forever forever he will be called the wonderful he will be called the wonderful counselor the mighty god counselor the mighty god because god is his father and he is the because god is his father and he is the representative of god and god is made representative of god and god is made flesh flesh through this special man through this special man and he will be given the throne of his and he will be given the throne of his father david father david to rule over the nations in peace and to rule over the nations in peace and righteousness we notice here in verse 6 i should say notice this notice this unto us unto us a child is born a child is born unto us unto us a son is given because that child that a son is given because that child that son that was to be born of mary would be son that was to be born of mary would be the possession of all men the possession of all men would be manifested through all men who would be manifested through all men who would have the faith would have the faith in his god and his father in his god and his father and we have to feel this way we have to and we have to feel this way we have to feel that feel that he was born for our sakes he was born for our sakes that we can enter into this story and we that we can enter into this story and we can follow the events leading up to the can follow the events leading up to the birth of christ and following after it birth of christ and following after it and we can feel that he was born for us and we can feel that he was born for us that he is our personal possession that he is our personal possession that even as a child we can almost that even as a child we can almost tangibly tangibly pick up pick up and touch and touch and love and love this child who exemplified the love of this child who exemplified the love of god to all men he was born god to all men he was born to us we've left mary here uh uh gazing in amazement upon the angel as he gazing in amazement upon the angel as he brought his message brought his message and the angel continues and the angel continues well first of all we find mary asking a well first of all we find mary asking a question verse 34 she finally gets a question verse 34 she finally gets a chance to speak chance to speak the angel has said the angel has said this child will be the son of the this child will be the son of the highest and mary says how shall this be highest and mary says how shall this be seeing i know not a man seeing i know not a man will this happen immediately or will it will this happen immediately or will it happen after i am joined to joseph and happen after i am joined to joseph and how will this be how will this be mary is a little bewildered at the mary is a little bewildered at the prospect and now gabriel speaks very prospect and now gabriel speaks very plainly in verse 35 plainly in verse 35 and the angel answered and said unto her and the angel answered and said unto her the holy spirit shall come upon thee and the holy spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing thing an extraordinary expression to be spoken an extraordinary expression to be spoken of for a child or a man therefore that of for a child or a man therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee holy thing which shall be born of thee will be called the son of god now gabriel uses an expression here the holy spirit shall come upon thee it holy spirit shall come upon thee it isn't immediately obvious in the english isn't immediately obvious in the english version but if we were to look at the version but if we were to look at the backup words in the hebrew and the greek backup words in the hebrew and the greek we'd find that this phrase the holy we'd find that this phrase the holy spirit will come upon thee spirit will come upon thee is reproduced from genesis chapter 1 is reproduced from genesis chapter 1 where we read that the earth was covered where we read that the earth was covered with darkness with darkness and there was chaos and disorder and the and there was chaos and disorder and the spirit of god spirit of god moved upon moved upon the face of the waters the face of the waters it's a picture in each case it's a picture in each case of god as of god as a mother bird a hen perhaps brooding a mother bird a hen perhaps brooding over over the eggs and then the chicks when the eggs and then the chicks when they're hatched they're hatched it's a picture of vast creative power it's a picture of vast creative power the holy the holy spirit moving spirit moving upon the face of the waters upon the face of the waters vast creative power the holy spirit vast creative power the holy spirit moving upon mary moving upon mary but it's a picture also of a sensitive a but it's a picture also of a sensitive a passionate passionate love love the love that a mother has the love that a mother has for her offspring for her offspring the tenderness and the care the tenderness and the care and the holy spirit moved upon mary and the holy spirit moved upon mary and her womb was empty and her womb was empty and the holy spirit caused that a new and the holy spirit caused that a new creation creation would come into being the word of god was made flesh was made flesh god's image god's image was stamped upon was stamped upon human nature paul talks about it in hebrews chapter 1 when he says we behold christ who was when he says we behold christ who was the express image of his father's person the express image of his father's person and again there's a figure of speech and again there's a figure of speech there it's the figure of speech of there it's the figure of speech of perhaps the stamping out of coins or perhaps the stamping out of coins or perhaps an impression stamped in a soft perhaps an impression stamped in a soft clay clay that it might harden that it might harden god has stamped his image god has stamped his image upon human nature and this is christ upon human nature and this is christ the express character or image of the the express character or image of the father's person father's person stamped upon the flesh stamped upon the flesh the word of god made flesh in the womb the word of god made flesh in the womb of mary verse 36 and behold thy cousin elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old she hath also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her age and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren for with god who was called barren for with god nothing shall be impossible nothing shall be impossible now now we read in verse 24 previous to this we read in verse 24 previous to this that elizabeth when she had conceived that elizabeth when she had conceived the child who would become john the the child who would become john the baptist had hid herself so no one knew baptist had hid herself so no one knew of these circumstances she had been hid of these circumstances she had been hid at home for the past five months at home for the past five months now now it is as though gabriel is saying to it is as though gabriel is saying to mary mary we will confirm this great promise we will confirm this great promise by another miracle and when i am gone by another miracle and when i am gone and you wonder did i really see a vision and you wonder did i really see a vision did i really experience this great thing did i really experience this great thing then you will know because you can go to then you will know because you can go to elizabeth and you will see this older elizabeth and you will see this older woman who had been barren for all of her woman who had been barren for all of her life now she is pregnant with a child life now she is pregnant with a child who will be the forerunner who will be who will be the forerunner who will be born months before and then will go born months before and then will go before and prepare the way for the before and prepare the way for the coming of your son when he's revealed to coming of your son when he's revealed to israel israel because because with god with god nothing is impossible nothing is impossible this is the answer to verse 34 when mary this is the answer to verse 34 when mary said how shall this be seeing i know not said how shall this be seeing i know not a man and god provides the answer and he a man and god provides the answer and he says with god nothing is impossible if says with god nothing is impossible if you have the faith you can move you have the faith you can move mountains mountains god will work through you to the god will work through you to the accomplishment of his purpose accomplishment of his purpose there is nothing impossible with god and there is nothing impossible with god and it was the quotation we might say drawn it was the quotation we might say drawn from genesis 18 where sarah a woman of from genesis 18 where sarah a woman of 90 years was told that she would have a 90 years was told that she would have a child of promise and she laughed she child of promise and she laughed she wondered how could this be wondered how could this be and she was told by the angel is and she was told by the angel is anything too difficult for god is anything too difficult for god is anything too hard for god anything too hard for god and now we have that same question that and now we have that same question that same statement made in the most forceful same statement made in the most forceful form form is not only not too hard for god there is not only not too hard for god there is nothing that's impossible with god is nothing that's impossible with god god can do anything he pleases for the god can do anything he pleases for the forwarding of his purpose and mary said verse 38 behold the handmaid of the lord be it unto me handmaid of the lord be it unto me according to thy word and the angel according to thy word and the angel departed from her departed from her mary knew the scriptures there are two mary knew the scriptures there are two passages in the psalms psalm 86 and passages in the psalms psalm 86 and verse 16 verse 16 psalm 116 psalm 116 and verse 16 which speak of the messiah and verse 16 which speak of the messiah as being the son of god's handmaid as being the son of god's handmaid they're rather obscure passages they're they're rather obscure passages they're not passages that would normally be not passages that would normally be understood and quoted by the jews at understood and quoted by the jews at this time and yet mary revealed this time and yet mary revealed something of herself the fact that she something of herself the fact that she had studied these scriptures that at a had studied these scriptures that at a moment's notice she could reach back moment's notice she could reach back into the treasure house of scripture and into the treasure house of scripture and bring out just the right passages that bring out just the right passages that she could see the purpose of god being she could see the purpose of god being worked out and so mary reaches into the worked out and so mary reaches into the scriptures and pulls out the passage and scriptures and pulls out the passage and takes it to herself and says takes it to herself and says lord lord behold me behold me the handmaid of the lord the handmaid of the lord she accepted she accepted this this particular proposal particular proposal it was necessary that she'd give her it was necessary that she'd give her consent consent before the holy spirit work and bring before the holy spirit work and bring forth a son forth a son it was essential the actual account of the conception is of course omitted from luke of course omitted from luke it's as though a veil is drawn across it's as though a veil is drawn across the picture the picture and it's a great mystery isn't it and it's a great mystery isn't it how god was made flesh how god was made flesh in the womb of in the womb of a great mystery a great mystery but really isn't every life a mystery but really isn't every life a mystery and when we can't explain and when we can't explain even scientifically the basis for life even scientifically the basis for life as we see it around us as we see it around us how can we begin to explain how can we begin to explain how it was that god could have a son how it was that god could have a son who would yet be man who would yet be man who would yet partake of the frailties who would yet partake of the frailties of human nature while at the same time of human nature while at the same time he was the only begotten of the father he was the only begotten of the father and impressed with the father's image and impressed with the father's image that he was god manifest in the flesh that he was god manifest in the flesh with a perfect moral character with a perfect moral character which he must struggle as a man to which he must struggle as a man to attain attain how could it be how could it be we don't know we don't know we accept it we accept it god with us the scriptures say god with us the scriptures say and how would it be for mary and how would it be for mary to become one with god in such a way to to become one with god in such a way to be joined together in a perfect union be joined together in a perfect union which must have been a foretaste or a which must have been a foretaste or a preview of the union that we can all preview of the union that we can all experience when paul says in first experience when paul says in first corinthians 15 corinthians 15 god will at last be all in all god will at last be all in all and we will be and we will be in god how did this come about how did it happen what do the scriptures how did it happen what do the scriptures have to say have to say i'd like to read a few verses and i i'd like to read a few verses and i brought the revised standard version brought the revised standard version because i like it better in this because i like it better in this instance a few verses from psalm instance a few verses from psalm 139 as far as i can see with the scriptures this is a unique psalm this is a unique psalm and it's unique in two ways and it's unique in two ways we may have occasion here just to we may have occasion here just to mention the second way very briefly mention the second way very briefly but but it is unique in two different ways it is unique in two different ways it is a psalm which portrays the words it is a psalm which portrays the words of christ even before he was born of christ even before he was born let's look at this i'm reading from the let's look at this i'm reading from the rsv psalm 139 rsv psalm 139 verse 13 verse 13 we could call it the psalm of the womb we could call it the psalm of the womb for thou didst form my inward parts thou for thou didst form my inward parts thou didst knit me together in my mother's didst knit me together in my mother's womb that phrase thou didst knit me together i think in the authorized version it's i think in the authorized version it's something like something like uh uh curiously wrought or worked it is at any curiously wrought or worked it is at any rate the particular hebrew word that had rate the particular hebrew word that had to do with the weaving of the threads to do with the weaving of the threads into the curtains that hung in the into the curtains that hung in the tabernacle where they were very tabernacle where they were very cunningly or very carefully cunningly or very carefully worked by a craftsman into the fabric worked by a craftsman into the fabric that they would reflect the glory of god that they would reflect the glory of god in this fabric in this fabric which symbolized perhaps human nature which symbolized perhaps human nature we're told that the veil before the we're told that the veil before the tabernacle symbolized human nature tabernacle symbolized human nature because it cut man off from god and now because it cut man off from god and now we see here a picture of christ we see here a picture of christ speaking of himself as being knit speaking of himself as being knit together in this same together in this same special craftsman-like way by the hand special craftsman-like way by the hand of god in his mother's womb where the of god in his mother's womb where the image of god the glory of god was being image of god the glory of god was being worked cunningly into the fabric of worked cunningly into the fabric of human nature human nature this is the figure of speech being used this is the figure of speech being used and why because god was making his and why because god was making his tabernacle where he might dwell with man tabernacle where he might dwell with man his tabernacle was being constructed in his tabernacle was being constructed in human flesh human flesh for thou didst form my inward parts thou for thou didst form my inward parts thou didst knit me together in my mother's didst knit me together in my mother's womb womb i praise thee i praise thee for thou art fearful and wonderful for thou art fearful and wonderful wonderful are thy works wonderful are thy works thou knowest me right well thou knowest me right well my frame was not hidden from thee when i my frame was not hidden from thee when i was being made in secret was being made in secret intricately wrought intricately wrought the same phrase the same phrase the same expression at least the same expression at least intricately wrought in the depths of the intricately wrought in the depths of the earth earth thy eyes beheld my unformed substance thy eyes beheld my unformed substance and thy book were written every one of and thy book were written every one of them them the days that were formed for me when is the days that were formed for me when is yet there was none of them yet there was none of them how precious to me are thy thoughts o how precious to me are thy thoughts o god god how vast is the sum of them how vast is the sum of them if i would count them they are more than if i would count them they are more than the sand when i awake the sand when i awake i am still with thee i am still with thee and here we're just going to have to and here we're just going to have to mention very briefly in passing but mention very briefly in passing but there is linked together these two there is linked together these two beautifully expressive thoughts we've beautifully expressive thoughts we've called this the psalm of the womb where called this the psalm of the womb where christ speaks of being intricately christ speaks of being intricately wrought in his mother's womb wrought in his mother's womb it's also it's also the psalm the psalm of the tomb of the tomb because christ had two births because christ had two births first from mary his mother in the first from mary his mother in the natural way and yet being the son of god natural way and yet being the son of god and secondly he was born out of a tomb and secondly he was born out of a tomb of the earth of the earth his life was crushed from him his life was crushed from him and in the silence of that tomb and in the silence of that tomb just as in the silence of the womb just as in the silence of the womb god created his son again god created his son again and breathed new life into this image and breathed new life into this image of himself of himself and so we have a psalm here which blends and so we have a psalm here which blends together together two incidents two incidents and we find christ speaking twice in and we find christ speaking twice in this psalm oh we have to understand it's this psalm oh we have to understand it's figurative i realize but we find christ figurative i realize but we find christ speaking when he was yet in his mother's speaking when he was yet in his mother's womb womb and we find him speaking again and we find him speaking again when he was in the tomb when he was in the tomb and dead and dead when he could say to god when he could say to god thy eyes behold my unformed substance thy eyes behold my unformed substance you knew the days that were written for you knew the days that were written for me you promised that you would raise me me you promised that you would raise me to life to life and when i awake and come forth from the and when i awake and come forth from the tomb tomb i am still with thee it's a picture of a man who was totally in the hands of god before he was born in the hands of god before he was born after he died and the psalm concludes with the words search me o god and know my heart search me o god and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting and lead me in the way everlasting it's a psalm perhaps that we could sing it's a psalm perhaps that we could sing a psalm that we could recite in our a psalm that we could recite in our hearts and our minds hearts and our minds knowing that god has been our god from knowing that god has been our god from the time before we were born the time before we were born that god will be our god and our life that god will be our god and our life even even after we are laid in tombs after we are laid in tombs so it was with christ so it was with christ so it will be with those who are in so it will be with those who are in christ in luke chapter 1 we now return to mary we now return to mary as for mary as for mary what doubts would be in her mind how what doubts would be in her mind how would she explain who would she go to would she explain who would she go to and tell now this wonderful thing that and tell now this wonderful thing that had happened had happened pretty soon it would become obvious to pretty soon it would become obvious to all around her all around her but who would believe who could believe but who would believe who could believe that this miracle had taken hold of this that this miracle had taken hold of this little girl this young woman little girl this young woman mary mary would even joseph believe would even joseph believe and all the time in the background there and all the time in the background there must have been echoing these statements must have been echoing these statements the pledge of purity thou art pure and the pledge of purity thou art pure and perfect my bride my wife the calling of the lord is seldom an unmixed pleasure blessings are not always enjoyable mary was most blessed among women mary was most blessed among women and yet her path through life became and yet her path through life became infinitely more difficult and the things infinitely more difficult and the things that she had looked forward to a quiet that she had looked forward to a quiet home and family life were rudely ripped home and family life were rudely ripped away from her and she was given away from her and she was given something else altogether different and something else altogether different and it was called a blessing blessings are not always enjoyable sometimes the blessing of the lord can sometimes the blessing of the lord can be downright unpleasant when he calls us be downright unpleasant when he calls us to his truth and expects us to do to his truth and expects us to do something in return something in return oh we say to ourselves to do some great oh we say to ourselves to do some great work for god work for god if god just gave me the opportunity what if god just gave me the opportunity what wouldn't i do for him and we forget as wouldn't i do for him and we forget as we read the pages of scripture that the we read the pages of scripture that the great works great works so called in the bible involve things so called in the bible involve things like imprisonment like imprisonment involve things like scandal and gossip involve things like scandal and gossip and torture and torture involve things like slavery this was to involve things like slavery this was to do a great work for god do a great work for god to find yourself sold into slavery like to find yourself sold into slavery like joseph was into egypt to find yourself joseph was into egypt to find yourself cruelly tortured and then taken with cruelly tortured and then taken with ropes and dipped down into a pit of mud ropes and dipped down into a pit of mud and mire like jeremiah was oh they were and mire like jeremiah was oh they were doing great works for god but they doing great works for god but they suffered along the way are we prepared suffered along the way are we prepared to do that perhaps the reason that we to do that perhaps the reason that we are not doing great works for god is are not doing great works for god is because we are not prepared for what all because we are not prepared for what all it entails oh we see the cheers but not the tears but not the tears we see the crown we see the crown but not the cross but not the cross we see the spotlight and we love that we see the spotlight and we love that but we don't like the shadows but we don't like the shadows we'd like to sit with christ on a we'd like to sit with christ on a mountaintop and all the people gather mountaintop and all the people gather around and around and listen enraptured to what we have to say listen enraptured to what we have to say but then we read in scripture and we but then we read in scripture and we walk with christ as he goes into a dark walk with christ as he goes into a dark garden garden where men are afraid and flee in the where men are afraid and flee in the night we watch a man weep bitter tears we watch him wrestle with the serpent in we watch him wrestle with the serpent in himself himself and we're afraid and we're afraid we're afraid to go into that garden we're afraid to go into that garden we are afraid to face the trials we are afraid to face the trials that perfect our faith that perfect our faith and oh perhaps if we could choose and oh perhaps if we could choose the way in which we serve god and maybe the way in which we serve god and maybe even if we could choose the sort of even if we could choose the sort of trials that we would face and pick them trials that we would face and pick them out and circle a day on the calendar and out and circle a day on the calendar and say this particular day i will go and say this particular day i will go and give testimony on behalf of christ and i give testimony on behalf of christ and i might suffer and i'll prepare myself and might suffer and i'll prepare myself and be ready maybe we could accomplish that be ready maybe we could accomplish that but it never works that way does it we but it never works that way does it we always find that as we go about making always find that as we go about making our own plans doing whatever we please our own plans doing whatever we please then all of a sudden god intervenes and then all of a sudden god intervenes and presents us with a proposition or an presents us with a proposition or an opportunity that we might serve him and opportunity that we might serve him and as often as not and i can speak for as often as not and i can speak for myself at least we come to that time and myself at least we come to that time and we say oh i'm just not ready maybe we say oh i'm just not ready maybe another time another time now if someone appointed to me a sunday now if someone appointed to me a sunday evening and said you will go to this evening and said you will go to this place and you will lecture on the truth place and you will lecture on the truth that would be wonderful that would be wonderful i'd be perfectly happy to do that but if i'd be perfectly happy to do that but if instead i find on a friday afternoon instead i find on a friday afternoon when i'm tired when i'm not feeling good when i'm tired when i'm not feeling good when i'm thinking of what i'm going to when i'm thinking of what i'm going to do for the weekend and all of a sudden do for the weekend and all of a sudden i'm presented immediately with this i'm presented immediately with this opportunity to preach the truth as often opportunity to preach the truth as often as not i might turn away and i'd say oh as not i might turn away and i'd say oh another time another time if we could choose our own methods of if we could choose our own methods of serving god then it might be easy but serving god then it might be easy but god is prepared for each one of us a god is prepared for each one of us a very special plan very special plan that we must fit into that we must fit into we can't lay it out for ourselves we we can't lay it out for ourselves we must follow and be directed by god's must follow and be directed by god's providence providence this was mary this was mary mary had prepared herself by long prayer mary had prepared herself by long prayer and meditation and reading of scripture and meditation and reading of scripture all we have to do is look at mary's song all we have to do is look at mary's song from verses 46 through 55 and we see from verses 46 through 55 and we see that she quotes in this short span of 10 that she quotes in this short span of 10 verses from approximately 10 different verses from approximately 10 different old testament books and we've got to old testament books and we've got to remember that this was a woman of remember that this was a woman of probably 14 or 15 or 16 at the oldest probably 14 or 15 or 16 at the oldest because jewish women married at that age because jewish women married at that age in israel and here was a young unmarried in israel and here was a young unmarried girl who had so prepared herself from girl who had so prepared herself from the reading of scripture oh i agree that the reading of scripture oh i agree that very likely she was inspired to say very likely she was inspired to say these words but god doesn't inspire these words but god doesn't inspire people unless his truth is in their people unless his truth is in their minds anyway and mary had prepared minds anyway and mary had prepared herself by the reading of scripture to herself by the reading of scripture to understand how god worked to be ready understand how god worked to be ready to wait for the time when he would to wait for the time when he would reveal himself and she didn't know reveal himself and she didn't know mary was an ordinary girl in israel she mary was an ordinary girl in israel she didn't know there was anything special didn't know there was anything special about her she had no notion whatsoever about her she had no notion whatsoever that one day all nations would call her that one day all nations would call her blessed among women she didn't know this blessed among women she didn't know this she was an ordinary girl but she had she was an ordinary girl but she had prepared herself and she had said no prepared herself and she had said no doubt if the time comes that i can do doubt if the time comes that i can do some work for god i will be ready and some work for god i will be ready and whatever it is and whatever form it whatever it is and whatever form it takes i will step forward and i will say takes i will step forward and i will say behold me the servant of god behold me the servant of god and she found it in an extraordinary way and she found it in an extraordinary way as god in his providence was preparing as god in his providence was preparing to bring his son into the world he to bring his son into the world he looked about for the instrument looked about for the instrument for the receptacle for the receptacle to bear that son to bear that son and he found her and that very ordinary and he found her and that very ordinary girl girl became an extraordinary woman verse 51 he hath showed strength with his arm he he hath showed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the hath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their heart he hath put imaginations of their heart he hath put down the mighty from their seats and down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree exalted them of low degree he hath filled the hungry with good he hath filled the hungry with good things in the rich he hath sent empty things in the rich he hath sent empty away away these were the words of mary in her these were the words of mary in her beautiful song beautiful song there were no kings in nazareth there were no kings in nazareth there were no generals there were no generals there were no great scholars there were no great scholars there were ordinary people like you and there were ordinary people like you and me god chose them and he chooses us and he chooses us not because we're special not because we're special but because we're ordinary but because we're ordinary and he chooses us and he works through and he chooses us and he works through us us and he invests these ordinary people and he invests these ordinary people with the most extraordinary truth in with the most extraordinary truth in holiness holiness so that no flesh so that no flesh would glory in the presence of god so would glory in the presence of god so that to god belongs the glory for all that to god belongs the glory for all accomplishments accomplishments and we will never say that we are the and we will never say that we are the wisest that we are the most numerous wisest that we are the most numerous that we are the most mighty of people we that we are the most mighty of people we can never say that can never say that all we can say is that god chose us all we can say is that god chose us despite our imperfections despite our imperfections despite our weaknesses it's not difficult to believe that god exists but sometimes it is difficult to believe that god takes personal to believe that god takes personal notice notice of you and me of you and me sometimes it's difficult to believe that sometimes it's difficult to believe that the same god the same god who keeps the stars in their courses who keeps the stars in their courses the same god who rules the nations the same god who rules the nations and causes them to do his will that same and causes them to do his will that same god is also a father who steps into the god is also a father who steps into the lives of each one of us lives of each one of us who cares for each one of us who cares for each one of us individually as he did for mary individually as he did for mary who causes us from among all people of who causes us from among all people of the world to be blessed with the truth the world to be blessed with the truth and to be given a great commission and to be given a great commission that that that brothers and sisters is very that brothers and sisters is very difficult to believe that he yearns for us as a father does for his children as a father does for his children psalm 103 verse 13 like as a father pitteth his children so like as a father pitteth his children so the lord piteth them that fear him the lord piteth them that fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembereth for he knoweth our frame he remembereth that we are dust that we are dust as for man his days are his grass is a as for man his days are his grass is a flower of the field so he flourisheth flower of the field so he flourisheth for the wind passeth over it and it is for the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it gone and the place thereof shall know it no more but the mercy of the lord is no more but the mercy of the lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness them that fear him and his righteousness unto children's children to such as keep unto children's children to such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his covenant and to those that remember his commandments to do them his commandments to do them god cares for us as a father does in a god cares for us as a father does in a pitying merciful way for his children pitying merciful way for his children not a sparrow falls unnoticed to the not a sparrow falls unnoticed to the ground ground but god recognizes but god recognizes it it and we are told that we are worth many and we are told that we are worth many sparrows we look at the simple quiet faithful life faithful life of mary this little sparrow this little of mary this little sparrow this little insignificant girl in israel insignificant girl in israel and we are reminded that god cares for and we are reminded that god cares for every one of us the angel says to every one of us thou thou has found favor with god has found favor with god almost before we ask for it almost before we ask for it even if we don't deserve it even if we don't deserve it we have found favor with god we have found favor with god and god has called us to his truth and and god has called us to his truth and we learn the lesson that we are worth we learn the lesson that we are worth many sparrows many sparrows in god's sight in god's sight that we are in fact that we are in fact god's children mary returns to her house not yet to joseph's house not yet to joseph's house she has received a wonderful blessing she has received a wonderful blessing but her path through life has become but her path through life has become much more difficult much more difficult an unwed mother an unwed mother an adulteress an adulteress we will see tomorrow that serious we will see tomorrow that serious problems await her when she returns from problems await her when she returns from elizabeth's house elizabeth's house back to nazareth to face her friends and back to nazareth to face her friends and family but mary said some extraordinary words didn't she when the angel came to her didn't she when the angel came to her and presented her with this great and presented her with this great opportunity opportunity that involves suffering and sacrifice that involves suffering and sacrifice mary mary said said be it unto me according to thy word we said at the beginning the words of the rabbi remember them the words of the rabbi remember them there are some who marry and live for there are some who marry and live for the glory of god the glory of god their children will be righteous their their children will be righteous their children will preserve israel children will preserve israel mary married and lived for the glory of mary married and lived for the glory of god god one special child of hers one special child of hers was totally righteous we go forward 30 some odd years and we find him in a 30 some odd years and we find him in a garden garden we find him we find him face to face with the greatest trial face to face with the greatest trial that a man could face that a man could face and we find him using and we find him using the words that his mother used when the the words that his mother used when the angel came angel came she had said be it unto me according to she had said be it unto me according to thy will according to thy word thy will according to thy word and her son and her son 33 years later 33 years later kneeled in a garden kneeled in a garden and said and said father not my will father not my will but thine be done and mary's son preserved israel

Transcript

our second class takes us to matthew and i should say here if it isn't and i should say here if it isn't already obvious that we will be going already obvious that we will be going back and forth from the gospel of luke back and forth from the gospel of luke to the gospel of matthew back again to the gospel of matthew back again we'll be trying to follow a roughly we'll be trying to follow a roughly chronological order as we go through the chronological order as we go through the circumstances of the birth of christ circumstances of the birth of christ now now we confront here with the gospels of we confront here with the gospels of matthew and luke the same sort of matthew and luke the same sort of problem we have in the gospels problem we have in the gospels throughout but it's particularly noted throughout but it's particularly noted in this story of the birth of christ why in this story of the birth of christ why are certain incidents given in matthew are certain incidents given in matthew but not in luke but not in luke why are other incidents given in luke why are other incidents given in luke but not in matthew and why is it if we but not in matthew and why is it if we want the full picture we have to take want the full picture we have to take the two and bring them together one the two and bring them together one after the other in different sections after the other in different sections well well i think particularly with these early i think particularly with these early chapters of matthew and luke the answer chapters of matthew and luke the answer is obvious is obvious matthew is written from the viewpoint of matthew is written from the viewpoint of joseph joseph and luke is written from the viewpoint and luke is written from the viewpoint of mary of mary now many commentators have recognized now many commentators have recognized this and they've given various reasons this and they've given various reasons for it some have suggested that for it some have suggested that for example luke for example luke not being an apostle who followed jesus not being an apostle who followed jesus from the very beginning had to pick up from the very beginning had to pick up the threads of the story after the fact the threads of the story after the fact and that many of the stories that he and that many of the stories that he puts into his gospel he is taken puts into his gospel he is taken directly from mary and so it becomes directly from mary and so it becomes perfectly logical if we follow that perfectly logical if we follow that viewpoint as a possibility that luke has viewpoint as a possibility that luke has filled in filled in empty spots in his story by talking with empty spots in his story by talking with interviewing mary the mother of jesus interviewing mary the mother of jesus many years after his birth and getting many years after his birth and getting her viewpoint of what happened now her viewpoint of what happened now matthew of course presents us as i said matthew of course presents us as i said the viewpoint of joseph there's a reason the viewpoint of joseph there's a reason for that too if you remember there are for that too if you remember there are two genealogies of jesus we're not going two genealogies of jesus we're not going to look at those in detail what if we to look at those in detail what if we had more time but we don't had more time but we don't the two genealogies follow this same the two genealogies follow this same pattern pattern if we can make the if we can make the most likely guess as to whose most likely guess as to whose genealogies they are genealogies they are the genealogy of matthew the genealogy of matthew takes the line of jesus takes the line of jesus the legal line that is through joseph the legal line that is through joseph his adoptive father his adoptive father it is also if we notice in the first it is also if we notice in the first verses of matthew the royal line verses of matthew the royal line it goes through david of course but then it goes through david of course but then from david it continues through the from david it continues through the kings of judah and this was the line kings of judah and this was the line which finally comes to joseph who then which finally comes to joseph who then by a legal process of taking jesus as by a legal process of taking jesus as his son and giving him a name then his son and giving him a name then passed along the inheritance that came passed along the inheritance that came through the royal line of david through the royal line of david and and though it can't be proven i don't think though it can't be proven i don't think it's too far-fetched to suggest that if it's too far-fetched to suggest that if there had been a king there had been a king in israel in israel at the time jesus was born that king at the time jesus was born that king might very well have been joseph might very well have been joseph and so and so in a legal sense jesus then by becoming in a legal sense jesus then by becoming the son of joseph partakes of this royal the son of joseph partakes of this royal line line now this provides us the reason why now this provides us the reason why joseph is more important in the book of joseph is more important in the book of matthew than he is in the book of luke matthew than he is in the book of luke because matthew is the gospel that because matthew is the gospel that portrays jesus as the king and it portrays jesus as the king and it establishes his lineage and his right to establishes his lineage and his right to the throne through his foster father the throne through his foster father joseph now while we're on the subject i can mention while we're on the subject i can mention that that the gospel of luke then portraying a the gospel of luke then portraying a different genealogy brings us to different genealogy brings us to if i remember right if i remember right the man's name was eli or eli the man's name was eli or eli who in the genealogy we're not going to who in the genealogy we're not going to look at it in detail but in that look at it in detail but in that genealogy in luke he appears to be the genealogy in luke he appears to be the father of joseph but the commentators father of joseph but the commentators have suggested with various reasons that have suggested with various reasons that he was actually the father of mary he was actually the father of mary joseph then would be the son-in-law of joseph then would be the son-in-law of heli and in fact then this line which is heli and in fact then this line which is absolutely different than the lion in absolutely different than the lion in matthew becomes the line of descent matthew becomes the line of descent leading leading through mary to jesus and then becomes through mary to jesus and then becomes the natural descent of jesus the natural descent of jesus an interesting contrast between the two an interesting contrast between the two is and it also fits into this pattern is and it also fits into this pattern that we're elaborating that we're elaborating matthew's genealogy begins with abraham matthew's genealogy begins with abraham it demonstrates that jesus when he it demonstrates that jesus when he finally came and accepted his place in finally came and accepted his place in this genealogy was the son of abraham this genealogy was the son of abraham and the son of david he was the and the son of david he was the fulfillment of the messianic hope of fulfillment of the messianic hope of israel he was the one born to be king of israel he was the one born to be king of the jews and in fact over in matthew the jews and in fact over in matthew chapter 2 when the wise men come they chapter 2 when the wise men come they are coming to see the man who was born are coming to see the man who was born the child who was born the child who was born king of the jews and this aspect of king of the jews and this aspect of christ that he was the jewish king that christ that he was the jewish king that he was the epitome of everything good he was the epitome of everything good about israel that he was the one who was about israel that he was the one who was born to sit upon the throne of david it born to sit upon the throne of david it becomes one of the great themes that becomes one of the great themes that runs throughout the book of matthew runs throughout the book of matthew now when we come to the gospel of luke now when we come to the gospel of luke we have a different picture and the we have a different picture and the genealogy backs this up the genealogy in genealogy backs this up the genealogy in luke luke first of all instead of going forward first of all instead of going forward from an earlier age down to the present from an earlier age down to the present time of jesus the genealogy in luke goes time of jesus the genealogy in luke goes backward and you might have noted that backward and you might have noted that and wondered why and wondered why i have one suggestion the genealogy is i have one suggestion the genealogy is going backward going backward because it leads from jesus all the way because it leads from jesus all the way back to adam back to adam that's very important the gospel of luke that's very important the gospel of luke then presents jesus not so much as a jew then presents jesus not so much as a jew not so much as the king of israel not so much as the king of israel those aspects are there i recognize but those aspects are there i recognize but the emphasis in the gospel of luke is the emphasis in the gospel of luke is upon jesus as the son of man upon jesus as the son of man jesus who was born to redeem all men jesus who was born to redeem all men and so interestingly enough the and so interestingly enough the genealogy in luke comes into play not at genealogy in luke comes into play not at the time of jesus's birth in luke the time of jesus's birth in luke chapter one but we have to go all the chapter one but we have to go all the way over to luke chapter three to get way over to luke chapter three to get that genealogy again i think there's a that genealogy again i think there's a reason that is the genealogy fits into reason that is the genealogy fits into the pattern at the very time that jesus the pattern at the very time that jesus was baptized was baptized and in fact i would suggest provides a and in fact i would suggest provides a reason why jesus was baptized that he reason why jesus was baptized that he was a part of the condemned line that was a part of the condemned line that began with the earliest father of the began with the earliest father of the human race with adam and so he was in human race with adam and so he was in fact the last adam fact the last adam as paul says in first corinthians 15 who as paul says in first corinthians 15 who would bring man back to the garden of would bring man back to the garden of eden who would redeem man from the sin eden who would redeem man from the sin and disappointment and difficulty and and disappointment and difficulty and despair that man had found as a result despair that man had found as a result of that first sin in the garden of eden of that first sin in the garden of eden and so we see also in the gospel of luke and so we see also in the gospel of luke that mary is then portrayed as the woman that mary is then portrayed as the woman who was promised in genesis 3 and again who was promised in genesis 3 and again we're carried right back to the time of we're carried right back to the time of adam adam and eve the seed of the woman adam adam and eve the seed of the woman who would bruise and destroy the power who would bruise and destroy the power of the serpent or the power of sin and of the serpent or the power of sin and so we have a completely different aspect so we have a completely different aspect in luke to the one we have in matthew now that wasn't so much on my subject as it was just a general introduction to it was just a general introduction to the theme here now we're going to have the theme here now we're going to have to look at matthew chapter one to look at matthew chapter one and and to start out with why don't we just read to start out with why don't we just read matthew 1 matthew 1 verses 18 through 25. verses 18 through 25. we're not going to wade through all we're not going to wade through all those names in the genealogy i think those names in the genealogy i think we've covered that sufficiently now the birth of jesus christ was on this wise when as his mother mary was this wise when as his mother mary was espoused to joseph before they came espoused to joseph before they came together she was found with child of the together she was found with child of the holy spirit holy spirit then joseph her husband being a just man then joseph her husband being a just man and not willing to make her a public and not willing to make her a public example was minded to put her away example was minded to put her away privily privily or privately or privately but while he thought on these things but while he thought on these things behold the angel of the lord appeared behold the angel of the lord appeared unto him in a dream saying joseph thou unto him in a dream saying joseph thou son of david son of david fear not to take unto thee mary thy wife fear not to take unto thee mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of for that which is conceived in her is of the holy spirit the holy spirit and she shall bring forth a son and she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name jesus and thou shalt call his name jesus for he shall save his people from their for he shall save his people from their sins sins now all this was done that it might be now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the lord fulfilled which was spoken of the lord by the prophet saying by the prophet saying behold a virgin shall be with child and behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name immanuel which being call his name immanuel which being interpreted is god with us interpreted is god with us then joseph being raised from sleep did then joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the lord had bidden him as the angel of the lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son forth her firstborn son and he called his name jesus now we know from luke chapter one as we were discussing yesterday that were discussing yesterday that mary after she conceived jesus went to mary after she conceived jesus went to the land of judah through a little the land of judah through a little village we're not told what a village it village we're not told what a village it was but we're told in luke chapter 1 in was but we're told in luke chapter 1 in verse 56 that she spent three months verse 56 that she spent three months there with elizabeth and zacharias her there with elizabeth and zacharias her husband husband that she spent this period of time no that she spent this period of time no doubt communing with elizabeth because doubt communing with elizabeth because elizabeth was one who could understand elizabeth was one who could understand for elizabeth herself was subject was for elizabeth herself was subject was the subject of a miraculous conception a the subject of a miraculous conception a conception in her old age of the one who conception in her old age of the one who would be the forerunner of the messiah would be the forerunner of the messiah there's an interesting point there that there's an interesting point there that i should have mentioned yesterday but i i should have mentioned yesterday but i omitted omitted actually i forgot about actually i forgot about that is that as that is that as mary approached elizabeth mary approached elizabeth then then within elizabeth's womb the child moved within elizabeth's womb the child moved this was of course called scripturally this was of course called scripturally the quickening and as i understand it is the quickening and as i understand it is something that does happen at the fifth something that does happen at the fifth or sixth month in fact it may have been or sixth month in fact it may have been a little overdue and elizabeth might a little overdue and elizabeth might have been concerned as to why the child have been concerned as to why the child in her womb this child of promise in her womb this child of promise had not moved had not been quickened as had not moved had not been quickened as yet had not had this spirit of life as yet had not had this spirit of life as they saw it that would cause it to they saw it that would cause it to appear to be alive and manifest that appear to be alive and manifest that that that living presence living presence in the mother's womb in the mother's womb now now it's a very exceptional thing i think it's a very exceptional thing i think it's absolutely unique in the pages of it's absolutely unique in the pages of scripture and just a little point in scripture and just a little point in passing that john the baptist was called passing that john the baptist was called from before his birth to be the one who from before his birth to be the one who would be the witness the forerunner would be the witness the forerunner of the messiah and he is absolutely of the messiah and he is absolutely unique i think in the pages of scripture unique i think in the pages of scripture a being who began his life's work even a being who began his life's work even before he was born who testified to his before he was born who testified to his mother in that special way though he mother in that special way though he knew it not of the coming of the messiah knew it not of the coming of the messiah i think is an extraordinary thought i think is an extraordinary thought and it and it gives us some idea i think of the gives us some idea i think of the uniqueness of john the baptist and this uniqueness of john the baptist and this tremendous commitment that god made on tremendous commitment that god made on his behalf that he had one purpose in his behalf that he had one purpose in life and that was to life and that was to show forth as a forerunner the coming of show forth as a forerunner the coming of the messiah the messiah john the baptist was an extraordinary john the baptist was an extraordinary man we can't spend any time really man we can't spend any time really talking about him talking about him we don't have the time this week but we don't have the time this week but there are amazing pictures of this man there are amazing pictures of this man this man who cared so deeply for the this man who cared so deeply for the hope of israel and who so thoroughly hope of israel and who so thoroughly submerged his own will and his purpose submerged his own will and his purpose that he might show forth christ that he might show forth christ and of course it's an example to us that and of course it's an example to us that we might all in our own individual ways we might all in our own individual ways be forerunners be those who have gone be forerunners be those who have gone before and shown to others what christ before and shown to others what christ is those who have brought christ is those who have brought christ to dwell with others those who have to dwell with others those who have shown forth christ in what they do and shown forth christ in what they do and what they say so we're told that mary spent three months with elizabeth and zacharias this months with elizabeth and zacharias this would obviously mean that by the time would obviously mean that by the time she returned to nazareth she returned to nazareth probably not having told joseph probably not having told joseph certainly not having told joseph certainly not having told joseph anything of what had transpired with the anything of what had transpired with the angel angel by the time she returned to nazareth by the time she returned to nazareth first of all the friends and the first of all the friends and the neighbors maybe the relatives would have neighbors maybe the relatives would have begun to wonder what had happened to begun to wonder what had happened to this young woman who had just so this young woman who had just so recently been betrothed and then all of recently been betrothed and then all of a sudden she disappeared for three a sudden she disappeared for three months maybe the family knew and maybe months maybe the family knew and maybe they didn't say we're only speculating they didn't say we're only speculating here here but at least the villagers would wonder but at least the villagers would wonder what had happened maybe joseph himself what had happened maybe joseph himself wondered why was she gone so long wondered why was she gone so long and then she returned and then she returned and if it wasn't immediately obvious it and if it wasn't immediately obvious it would become obvious very rapidly would become obvious very rapidly that mary was with child that mary was with child we're told in matthew 1 and 18 we're told in matthew 1 and 18 that that she was found with child of the holy she was found with child of the holy spirit which indicates to me that she spirit which indicates to me that she wasn't telling anyone what had happened wasn't telling anyone what had happened i think that's reasonable i think that i think that's reasonable i think that when she was faced with this great when she was faced with this great miracle miracle she must have wondered who will i tell she must have wondered who will i tell and who will believe me and finally in and who will believe me and finally in her mind she reasoned this out her mind she reasoned this out she knew of course that elizabeth and she knew of course that elizabeth and zacharias understood because the angel zacharias understood because the angel had told her but she must have reasoned had told her but she must have reasoned in her mind that it would not be the in her mind that it would not be the prudent thing to go and tell everyone prudent thing to go and tell everyone around her what had happened in fact she around her what had happened in fact she wouldn't be believed and i would just wouldn't be believed and i would just suggest that this is what she must have suggest that this is what she must have thought that if god thought that if god has chosen me in this special way to be has chosen me in this special way to be used as the mother of the messiah then used as the mother of the messiah then god in his own good time will also god in his own good time will also reveal to others and god will pave the reveal to others and god will pave the way way over the rough places and the over the rough places and the difficulties and bring me at last into difficulties and bring me at last into a safe situation and probably she didn't a safe situation and probably she didn't know what it would be know what it would be i feel that i feel that she would have doubted very much whether she would have doubted very much whether or not joseph would accept her but she or not joseph would accept her but she left it in god's hands left it in god's hands there was nothing she could do but go there was nothing she could do but go forward as god had told her and wait for forward as god had told her and wait for god to reveal himself reveal his purpose god to reveal himself reveal his purpose and act in such a way that the and act in such a way that the difficulties would be removed and if the difficulties would be removed and if the difficulties weren't removed they would difficulties weren't removed they would simply have to be accepted simply have to be accepted and taken in their place as a part of and taken in their place as a part of the sufferings the sufferings that were necessary i think mary was that were necessary i think mary was fully prepared for this fully prepared for this so she comes back to nazareth and she is so she comes back to nazareth and she is found with child then perhaps her family found with child then perhaps her family realizes the situation and then of realizes the situation and then of course joseph comes to find out course joseph comes to find out now an interesting point in verse 18 she now an interesting point in verse 18 she was found with child of the holy spirit was found with child of the holy spirit we have to recognize here that this is we have to recognize here that this is matthew's account after the fact what matthew's account after the fact what matthew is saying is matthew is saying is we of course know this child was of the we of course know this child was of the holy spirit as we're reading this holy spirit as we're reading this account it's obvious looking backward account it's obvious looking backward but but he is also saying that she was found he is also saying that she was found with child and no one understood why with child and no one understood why so from joseph's viewpoint from the so from joseph's viewpoint from the viewpoint of the people in the village viewpoint of the people in the village of nazareth of nazareth here was a woman here was a woman who had apparently who had apparently violated her vow of purity to her violated her vow of purity to her husband or her betrothed husband husband or her betrothed husband she was found with child so we come to joseph and as i said we're looking at looking at this particular incident through the this particular incident through the eyes of joseph eyes of joseph what would be done now with those vows what would be done now with those vows of chastity of chastity of pure love that was held up in store of pure love that was held up in store for the one person the beloved the for the one person the beloved the bridegroom bridegroom what was to be done with this what was to be done with this what would joseph do now what would joseph do now i think it's a good question i think i think it's a good question i think it's a question that relates to all of it's a question that relates to all of us in many circumstances of life us in many circumstances of life because matthew specifically says in because matthew specifically says in verse 19 verse 19 joseph was a just man joseph was a just man and that word means righteous and that word means righteous he says at the very beginning to set up he says at the very beginning to set up the whole situation joseph wasn't an the whole situation joseph wasn't an ordinary man he was a righteous man ordinary man he was a righteous man and the question then comes to all of us and the question then comes to all of us and we see it reflected in the attitude and we see it reflected in the attitude and the actions of joseph what does a and the actions of joseph what does a righteous man do righteous man do when he's confronted with the sin of when he's confronted with the sin of someone who is close to him someone who is close to him when in fact when in fact he realizes and this was all the he realizes and this was all the knowledge that joseph had at the time knowledge that joseph had at the time seeing it through his eyes when in fact seeing it through his eyes when in fact he realized that he was the one who was he realized that he was the one who was grievously sinned against grievously sinned against that he was the one who would become a that he was the one who would become a laughingstock in nazareth laughingstock in nazareth that here was the man whose wife had that here was the man whose wife had turned away from him turned away from him what does a righteous man do in that what does a righteous man do in that case case what would we do does a righteous man rebuke does he punish does he punish does he go to the courts and the judges does he go to the courts and the judges and say this woman and say this woman this woman is offended against me this woman is offended against me greatly greatly she should be punished to the full she should be punished to the full extent of the law extent of the law this sort of thing cannot be tolerated this sort of thing cannot be tolerated in israel sometimes god is testing our reactions are we too quick to pass judgment are we too quick to pass judgment do we always know all the facts do we stand up for our rights as though we had any or do we instead as though we had any or do we instead seek to cover the sins of others do any of do any of us know this sort of man man i think we do i think we do i think sometimes when i'm shaving in i think sometimes when i'm shaving in the morning i see him in the mirror the morning i see him in the mirror the man who would say oh i know god can the man who would say oh i know god can forgive forgive but he didn't give us the prerogative but he didn't give us the prerogative the man who might say god can have mercy the man who might say god can have mercy on that poor sinner on that poor sinner but that's certainly not for me to say but that's certainly not for me to say that that sinner could be forgiven that that sinner could be forgiven do we know such a man as that do we know such a man as that who might stand up in the occlusion and say stand up in the occlusion and say there is sin here we must take these there is sin here we must take these sinners and make public examples of them sinners and make public examples of them so that others will not be led astray we so that others will not be led astray we must use the full extent of the law must use the full extent of the law a wise man once said that a wise man once said that most men want justice for others are we that sort of men was joseph was joseph joseph was a righteous man joseph was a righteous man what does righteous mean what does righteous mean does it mean strong indecent and kind does it mean strong indecent and kind and merciful and considerate and merciful and considerate or does it mean harsh and arrogant joseph looked back at his ancestry i can imagine this very easily imagine this very easily he looked back at the other men in his he looked back at the other men in his line line and we can look with him and we can look with him there were men there who were righteous there were men there who were righteous there are in fact in this genealogy in there are in fact in this genealogy in matthew matthew the names of four women the names of four women and each one of these women was and each one of these women was extraordinary in one way or another extraordinary in one way or another and these four women illustrate and these four women illustrate certain things that we've just been certain things that we've just been speaking of of judgment and mercy speaking of of judgment and mercy of understanding of understanding of harshness let's look at them matthew 1 and verse 3 matthew 1 and verse 3 and judah begat feyrez and zara of tamar and judah begat feyrez and zara of tamar and we won't look up the incident it's and we won't look up the incident it's in genesis chapter 38 but what happened in genesis chapter 38 but what happened there there tamar had been the wife of one of tamar had been the wife of one of judah's sons and then he died the wife judah's sons and then he died the wife of a second son and then he died and of a second son and then he died and finally tamar was left without seed finally tamar was left without seed knowing that according to the law she knowing that according to the law she was supposed to bring forth a son was supposed to bring forth a son to perpetuate the name of the house of to perpetuate the name of the house of judah one day judah decided to turn aside turn aside and go in into a harlot and go in into a harlot he had refused all along if i'm he had refused all along if i'm backtracking here a little bit that's backtracking here a little bit that's the case he had refused all along to the case he had refused all along to take tamar and give her to take tamar and give her to another son or to make any provisions by another son or to make any provisions by which the line would be continued and which the line would be continued and then then one day he goes into a harlot the incidents done and passed and forgotten forgotten months and months later he finds that months and months later he finds that his daughter-in-law tamar his daughter-in-law tamar has lane with a man and has conceived has lane with a man and has conceived seed and it isn't according to the law seed and it isn't according to the law or so he thinks and judah immediately or so he thinks and judah immediately says let her be punished let her be put says let her be punished let her be put to death to death a very righteous man a very righteous a very righteous man a very righteous attitude attitude of course no one knew about his sin and then tamar says the man who owns these particular items is the one that i these particular items is the one that i lay with and judah recognizes lay with and judah recognizes that it was himself that it was himself and he says she is more righteous than i another incident we see mentioned in verse 6 mentioned in verse 6 david the king david the king begat solomon of her that had been the begat solomon of her that had been the wife of uriah that is bathsheba david wife of uriah that is bathsheba david was a righteous man we know that he was was a righteous man we know that he was a man after god's own heart and yet he a man after god's own heart and yet he didn't always behave in a righteous way didn't always behave in a righteous way and this particular portion of the and this particular portion of the genealogy genealogy is is a portion that reveals the shame a portion that reveals the shame and the sin of david david took the wife of uriah and committed adultery the wife of uriah and committed adultery and then it was forgotten about or at and then it was forgotten about or at least he tried to cover it up maybe his least he tried to cover it up maybe his conscience bothered him but he pushed it conscience bothered him but he pushed it aside aside and finally and finally sometime later sometime later the prophet nathan came to david and he the prophet nathan came to david and he says i have a story to tell you says i have a story to tell you there was a man with one ewe lamb that there was a man with one ewe lamb that he cherished greatly he cherished greatly and there was another man with many and there was another man with many lambs lambs and he came and stole away the one lamb and he came and stole away the one lamb of that man of that man and he violated that man's interest and and he violated that man's interest and property property and david was righteous and vindictive and david was righteous and vindictive and he said the man who has done that and he said the man who has done that deserves to die was that righteous it was the law was it righteous was it righteous and nathan said you're the man and david recognized that he wasn't being righteous after all being righteous after all but that he was being jealous and harsh but that he was being jealous and harsh and hard and hard and vindictive and vindictive [Music] [Music] now there are two other women in the now there are two other women in the line of line of matthew's genealogy matthew's genealogy they're mentioned in verse five they're mentioned in verse five salman begat boaz of rahab salman begat boaz of rahab rahab was a harlot rahab was a harlot rahab was a woman who didn't belong in rahab was a woman who didn't belong in the house of israel she was a great the house of israel she was a great sinner sinner and yet despite that sin and despite and yet despite that sin and despite that degraded condition in which she was that degraded condition in which she was found she had faith found she had faith and salman and salman who no doubt came into the land with who no doubt came into the land with joshua joshua took this woman who had the great faith took this woman who had the great faith and yet the great sin and yet the great sin and the great shadow that hung over her and the great shadow that hung over her he took this woman and he covered her he took this woman and he covered her sins sins and he brought her into his house and and he brought her into his house and married her was that righteous we're just asking and finally the fourth one boaz begat obed of ruth boaz begat obed of ruth ruth was a moabitus ruth was a moabitus ruth came back into the land of israel ruth came back into the land of israel with her mother-in-law naomi with her mother-in-law naomi and she was rejected by the nearest and she was rejected by the nearest kinsmen kinsmen probably because she was a moabitis probably because she was a moabitis probably because he felt she wasn't probably because he felt she wasn't worthy of his inheritance worthy of his inheritance to bear children through him despite to bear children through him despite what the law said this was a moabitess what the law said this was a moabitess and she was not a jewish and she was to and she was not a jewish and she was to be shunned and put aside never mind be shunned and put aside never mind that she claimed to have faith in the that she claimed to have faith in the god of israel god of israel and so boaz who was not even the nearest and so boaz who was not even the nearest kinsmen stepped forward and took this kinsmen stepped forward and took this woman under his care woman under his care married her married her and begot a child and begot a child through the royal line that continued through the royal line that continued the line of david going on to the the line of david going on to the messiah what would joseph do since he is called a righteous since he is called a righteous man he has found his wife to be with man he has found his wife to be with child he knows it isn't his child child he knows it isn't his child what will he do now what will he do now let's look at the law let's look at the law deuteronomy 22 deuteronomy 22 13. 13. if any man take a wife and go in unto if any man take a wife and go in unto her and hate her and give occasions of her and hate her and give occasions of speech against her and bring up an evil speech against her and bring up an evil name upon her and say i took this woman name upon her and say i took this woman when i came to her i found her not a when i came to her i found her not a maid skip to verse 21. then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her out the damsel to the door of her father's house and the men of her city father's house and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die shall stone her with stones that she die because she hath wrought folly in israel because she hath wrought folly in israel to play the in her father's house to play the in her father's house so shalt thou put evil away from among so shalt thou put evil away from among you you let her be stoned maybe this wasn't any longer carried out maybe the roman law didn't permit it but maybe the roman law didn't permit it but at the very least at the very least what joseph could have righteously asked what joseph could have righteously asked for was that this woman who had so for was that this woman who had so desecrated his name and his character desecrated his name and his character should be cast out of israel should be should be cast out of israel should be given proverbially what we call the given proverbially what we call the scarlet letter and should be shunned scarlet letter and should be shunned from the company of all those who called from the company of all those who called upon the name of god upon the name of god this woman was an adulteress why didn't joseph do that well well i can imagine that he looked about i can imagine that he looked about because because he was a righteous man and he was a kind he was a righteous man and he was a kind and a decent man and he understood and a decent man and he understood through his own weakness no doubt through his own weakness no doubt that anyone is capable of sin that anyone is capable of sin and so he looked about i would imagine and so he looked about i would imagine for for other possibilities and we read of them other possibilities and we read of them deuteronomy 22 and verse 25 deuteronomy 22 and verse 25 but if a man find a betrothed damsel in but if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field and the man force her and lie the field and the man force her and lie with her then the man only that lay with with her then the man only that lay with her shall die but unto the damsel thou her shall die but unto the damsel thou shall do nothing and perhaps he must shall do nothing and perhaps he must have thought just perhaps this is what have thought just perhaps this is what happened and if it didn't happened and if it didn't why not give the benefit of the doubt to why not give the benefit of the doubt to mary mary or even a third possibility verses 28 or even a third possibility verses 28 and 29 if a man find a damsel that is a and 29 if a man find a damsel that is a virgin which is not betrothed and lay virgin which is not betrothed and lay hold on her and lie with her and they be hold on her and lie with her and they be found then the man that lay with her found then the man that lay with her shall give him to the damsel's father shall give him to the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver and she shall be fifty shekels of silver and she shall be his wife his wife now just possibly now just possibly perhaps joseph thinks this child was perhaps joseph thinks this child was conceived even before the betrothal and conceived even before the betrothal and if that's the case then joseph contrives if that's the case then joseph contrives in his mind how this difficulty may be in his mind how this difficulty may be gotten around gotten around that he will give that he will give mary a private bill of divorcement he mary a private bill of divorcement he won't use the full power of the law to won't use the full power of the law to punish her punish her but he will forgive and he will give her but he will forgive and he will give her a private bill of divorcement so that a private bill of divorcement so that she might go away quietly which allows she might go away quietly which allows for two possibilities if the father of for two possibilities if the father of the child is known the child is known then she might go and marry that man then she might go and marry that man and if the child of the father is not and if the child of the father is not known or not to be found then at least known or not to be found then at least she might go away in privacy to have she might go away in privacy to have this child and not be a public scandal this child and not be a public scandal and a rebuke so we see what a righteous man has chosen chosen now i'd like to leave matthew for just a now i'd like to leave matthew for just a moment and go over to john chapter 8. i moment and go over to john chapter 8. i want to read a few verses and then i'm want to read a few verses and then i'm going to put these two incidents going to put these two incidents together matthew 1 and john 8. john 8 beginning with verse 2 and i'm going to read through verse 11. i'll going to read through verse 11. i'll just read the whole incident so it'll be just read the whole incident so it'll be familiar in our minds and early in the morning he came again into the temple and all the people into the temple and all the people came unto him and he sat down and taught came unto him and he sat down and taught them and the scribes and the pharisees them and the scribes and the pharisees brought into him a woman taken in brought into him a woman taken in adultery and when they had set her in adultery and when they had set her in the midst they say unto him master this the midst they say unto him master this woman was taken in adultery in the very woman was taken in adultery in the very act act now moses and the law commanded us that now moses and the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what do you such should be stoned but what do you say say this they said tempting him this they said tempting him that they might have occasion that they that they might have occasion that they might have to accuse him might have to accuse him but jesus stooped down and with his but jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not heard them not so when they continued asking him he so when they continued asking him he lifted up himself and said unto them he lifted up himself and said unto them he that is without sin among you that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her and let him first cast a stone at her and again he stooped down and wrote on the again he stooped down and wrote on the ground and they which heard it being ground and they which heard it being convicted by their own conscience went convicted by their own conscience went out one by one beginning at the eldest out one by one beginning at the eldest even unto the last and jesus was left even unto the last and jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the alone and the woman standing in the midst midst when jesus had lifted up himself and saw when jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman he said unto her none but the woman he said unto her woman where are those thine accusers woman where are those thine accusers hath no man condemned thee hath no man condemned thee she said she said no man lord no man lord and jesus said unto her neither do i and jesus said unto her neither do i commit condemn thee commit condemn thee go go and sin no more notice the parallel between john chapter 8 in matthew chapter 1. 8 in matthew chapter 1. here is a woman obviously caught in the here is a woman obviously caught in the act of adultery act of adultery there is no defense really and truly is there is no defense really and truly is there no defense for that situation there no defense for that situation in each case we have a man who is in each case we have a man who is thoroughly in a position to know thoroughly in a position to know jesus certainly was by the great divine jesus certainly was by the great divine power that was given him joseph power that was given him joseph certainly was because he knew nothing of certainly was because he knew nothing of the miraculous conception and he knew the miraculous conception and he knew that he wasn't the father of the child that he wasn't the father of the child so joseph was in a position that he so joseph was in a position that he could know for sure at least with the could know for sure at least with the knowledge that any man might have knowledge that any man might have that this woman was a sinner what do we have in these two parallel accounts accounts we have a hasty condemnation on the part we have a hasty condemnation on the part of some i can imagine that very easily of some i can imagine that very easily mary in this obvious state of pregnancy mary in this obvious state of pregnancy returning to the village and all the returning to the village and all the villagers tongues wagging back and forth villagers tongues wagging back and forth and the gossip that went about obvious and the gossip that went about obvious condemnation for this woman condemnation for this woman but the man who was in a true position but the man who was in a true position to know did not condemn to know did not condemn he said in effect i am not without sin he said in effect i am not without sin myself myself and i will try to find a way to forgive and i will try to find a way to forgive and to cover the sins and to cover the sins of this woman that god acts in many ways that god prepared his son for the that god prepared his son for the purpose that he would fulfill purpose that he would fulfill in more ways than simply in more ways than simply giving him a revelation of the truth giving him a revelation of the truth i would suggest that god prepared his i would suggest that god prepared his son son as he prepares all of us for his kingdom as he prepares all of us for his kingdom in such a way that the affairs of life in such a way that the affairs of life the daily circumstances that we run the daily circumstances that we run across and that we learn of might direct across and that we learn of might direct our minds our minds toward true principles toward true principles so there are two ways in which god so there are two ways in which god teaches god gives us his law but then teaches god gives us his law but then in his providence he gives us the in his providence he gives us the circumstances of life that we can take circumstances of life that we can take that love and apply it to those that love and apply it to those circumstances that we can make decisions circumstances that we can make decisions that we can understand as events work that we can understand as events work out what god's purpose really is and out what god's purpose really is and that we come to know more and more of that we come to know more and more of that purpose and that will i believe that purpose and that will i believe that this is the very thing that was that this is the very thing that was happening here happening here that as jesus grew older he must have that as jesus grew older he must have recognized because you can't hide this recognized because you can't hide this sort of thing that as jesus grew older sort of thing that as jesus grew older he recognized in his father joseph as he he recognized in his father joseph as he thought then until god revealed himself thought then until god revealed himself as his true father that jesus saw in as his true father that jesus saw in this man joseph who called himself his this man joseph who called himself his father father a righteous man but a man of kindness a righteous man but a man of kindness and understanding and understanding a man who had taken his mother in and a man who had taken his mother in and joseph must have jesus must have joseph must have jesus must have wondered of the circumstances until wondered of the circumstances until finally he understood and he understood finally he understood and he understood the great love that joseph had for mary the great love that joseph had for mary that would permit him to do such a thing that would permit him to do such a thing and so i can also imagine that in this and so i can also imagine that in this incident incident there were the enemies of jesus who had there were the enemies of jesus who had contrived this very circumstance or at contrived this very circumstance or at least who were happy to find this least who were happy to find this circumstance happening of the woman circumstance happening of the woman taken in adultery that they could bring taken in adultery that they could bring to jesus and they could say what should to jesus and they could say what should be done with this woman because they be done with this woman because they knew if jesus abode by the letter of the knew if jesus abode by the letter of the law he would say let her be stoned and law he would say let her be stoned and if he had said such a thing then their if he had said such a thing then their response might very well have been response might very well have been what should be done with your mother what should be done with your mother in fact this comes out in john chapter 8 in fact this comes out in john chapter 8 and verse 19 and verse 19 for they say unto him after this for they say unto him after this incident incident where is thy father where is thy father it sounds as though they knew something it sounds as though they knew something about the unusual circumstances of about the unusual circumstances of jesus's birth and finally they say in jesus's birth and finally they say in verse 41 of the same chapter verse 41 of the same chapter we be not born of fornication we be not born of fornication and if you put stress on the we i think and if you put stress on the we i think you get the implication you get the implication they are looking at jesus a man who had they are looking at jesus a man who had been born in questionable circumstances been born in questionable circumstances and they said this man proclaims to be a and they said this man proclaims to be a teacher in israel this man proclaims teacher in israel this man proclaims himself righteous we don't know who his himself righteous we don't know who his father is we were not born of father is we were not born of fornication who does this man think he fornication who does this man think he is this was the trap that jesus avoided because jesus usurped the power of the because jesus usurped the power of the law law with the mercy that comes from god which with the mercy that comes from god which is all-powerful is all-powerful which covers a multitude of sins which covers a multitude of sins and jesus gave us a principle by which and jesus gave us a principle by which we can live we can live let him who is without sin cast the let him who is without sin cast the first stone first stone and we look around us and we see no man and we look around us and we see no man without sin without sin except jesus and he declines to cast that stone to cast that stone and he says go and he says go your sins are forgiven verse 20. while he thought on these things 20. while he thought on these things wondering what he should do wondering what he should do joseph received a vision and a dream he is asked now to accept jesus as his child and take him into his house when child and take him into his house when that child is born it will be the son of that child is born it will be the son of joseph because he is told this is a joseph because he is told this is a special child and just like mary now he special child and just like mary now he is brought into the sanctity of this is brought into the sanctity of this covenant to understand that he has been covenant to understand that he has been given a great privilege an opportunity given a great privilege an opportunity but also a great responsibility that he but also a great responsibility that he is the one who will be the father is the one who will be the father the son of god the son of god and he accepts it he accepts it and he accepts it he accepts it willingly and takes her into his house willingly and takes her into his house he willingly bears the shame and he willingly bears the shame and contempt of nazareth contempt of nazareth because if we look at it from the because if we look at it from the outside and we look upon this incident outside and we look upon this incident and it's been enacted i'm sure many and it's been enacted i'm sure many times in varying ways in in human life times in varying ways in in human life in every place we look at this incident in every place we look at this incident as we imagine other people might have as we imagine other people might have and we conclude looking at joseph in and we conclude looking at joseph in these circumstances well these circumstances well there's a man who was very weak there's a man who was very weak or he was else a fool or he was else a fool and that's what joseph was asked to and that's what joseph was asked to accept either the suggestion that he was accept either the suggestion that he was a weak man who couldn't wait until his a weak man who couldn't wait until his true marriage before consummating it a true marriage before consummating it a man who brought shame upon himself and man who brought shame upon himself and his wife his wife or else even worse he was such a fool or else even worse he was such a fool that he was duped into raising the son that he was duped into raising the son of another man and he didn't even know of another man and he didn't even know any better that's what joseph lived with and he accepted it and he couldn't even and he accepted it and he couldn't even explain it explain it because no one would believe him and he because no one would believe him and he lived with that sort of a circumstance lived with that sort of a circumstance the scandal and the gossip of a small the scandal and the gossip of a small town town and if you've ever lived in a small town and if you've ever lived in a small town you know that people never forget you know that people never forget 20 and 30 and 50 years later they 20 and 30 and 50 years later they remember what happened joseph is told in verse 21 and thou shalt call his name jesus this was the shalt call his name jesus this was the very thing i'm saying that in doing this very thing i'm saying that in doing this joseph accepted as a public proclamation joseph accepted as a public proclamation that he was the father of this son of that he was the father of this son of this child he accepts the position and this child he accepts the position and interestingly enough points out another interestingly enough points out another aspect and that is that aspect and that is that jesus would not be recognized as the jesus would not be recognized as the messiah from his very birth but he would messiah from his very birth but he would grow up as though he were an ordinary grow up as though he were an ordinary child and an ordinary man and his child and an ordinary man and his messiahship would be hidden i think messiahship would be hidden i think that's very important in the development that's very important in the development of god's purpose though jesus was of god's purpose though jesus was divinely conceived though he was divinely conceived though he was literally the son of god he grew up as a literally the son of god he grew up as a man like any other man and no man like any other man and no observer knew any different and he observer knew any different and he became one of us in that sense and his became one of us in that sense and his divine parentage then would be divine parentage then would be established by the works that he did and established by the works that he did and finally as paul says in romans chapter 1 finally as paul says in romans chapter 1 he would be confirmed to be the son of he would be confirmed to be the son of god by the resurrection from the dead god by the resurrection from the dead not that he could call himself the son not that he could call himself the son of god who claimed this as a right of god who claimed this as a right because of his birth he had to prove his because of his birth he had to prove his right to be the son of god by the life right to be the son of god by the life that he lived and so now mary must go quietly to the house of joseph there will be no happy wedding no bridesmaids and feasts no laughing bridesmaids and feasts no laughing children around the bride in the children around the bride in the bridegroom bridegroom there will instead be a cloud of there will instead be a cloud of suspicion and they couldn't explain it suspicion and they couldn't explain it away away peter talks about this peter talks about this first peter chapter 2. he says in first peter 2 and 20 for what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults you shall take it patiently your faults you shall take it patiently but if when you do well and suffer for but if when you do well and suffer for it you take it patiently this is it you take it patiently this is acceptable unto god acceptable unto god now what is he saying he's talking about now what is he saying he's talking about the very sort of circumstance of joseph the very sort of circumstance of joseph and mary neither one had sinned in this and mary neither one had sinned in this instance and yet they were being instance and yet they were being punished by the thoughts and the punished by the thoughts and the accusations and the innuendos of their accusations and the innuendos of their friends they were forced to live under a friends they were forced to live under a cloud of suspicion and they were forced cloud of suspicion and they were forced they felt that they must they felt that they must take this cloud of suspicion and live take this cloud of suspicion and live under it in a peaceable and righteous under it in a peaceable and righteous way and never complain and never fight way and never complain and never fight back and never argue and never explain back and never argue and never explain but accept and they were buffeted for but accept and they were buffeted for their faults and jesus as he grew up their faults and jesus as he grew up must have recognized this and he must must have recognized this and he must have seen as i said god develops his son have seen as i said god develops his son in this way and he develops all of us in in this way and he develops all of us in this way by the circumstances of life this way by the circumstances of life jesus must have seen in joseph and mary jesus must have seen in joseph and mary the the careful careful patient patient suffering suffering the grace under pressure the grace under pressure that he later exemplified in his own that he later exemplified in his own life and brought out to perfection and life and brought out to perfection and thereby through joseph and mary in their thereby through joseph and mary in their circumstances god was preparing his son circumstances god was preparing his son to face the same thing to face slander to face the same thing to face slander to face punishment to face persecution to face punishment to face persecution because of imagined sins that he didn't because of imagined sins that he didn't have and always to turn the other cheek have and always to turn the other cheek and so we read for even here unto were and so we read for even here unto were ye called because christ has suffered ye called because christ has suffered for us leaving us an example that you for us leaving us an example that you should follow his steps and jesus should follow his steps and jesus followed the steps of joseph and mary followed the steps of joseph and mary and we follow the steps of jesus and and we follow the steps of jesus and that patient suffering and well-doing that patient suffering and well-doing that joseph and mary were capable of that joseph and mary were capable of doing under god's grace doing under god's grace didn't end with them didn't end with them it had its outcome in the cross it had its outcome in the cross when jesus died when jesus who had no when jesus died when jesus who had no guile and no sin guile and no sin turned the other cheek and submitted turned the other cheek and submitted himself to a cruel death upon the cross himself to a cruel death upon the cross following on in the same actions in the following on in the same actions in the same way of life that he learned from same way of life that he learned from his father and his mother i think it's a his father and his mother i think it's a tremendous exhortation tremendous exhortation to fathers and mothers today that if we to fathers and mothers today that if we do the right things now there might be do the right things now there might be some strange way years from now when some strange way years from now when that righteous action is reproduced in that righteous action is reproduced in our children because children watch our children because children watch and children learn from what they see and children learn from what they see their parents do mary is rightfully prominent in god's plan but we shouldn't obscure joseph plan but we shouldn't obscure joseph joseph was the one whom god chose to be joseph was the one whom god chose to be the father of his son the father of his son not the biological father but the not the biological father but the spiritual father the one who was given spiritual father the one who was given the responsibility of instructing this the responsibility of instructing this child and raising it up child and raising it up as jesus would be a little toddler in as jesus would be a little toddler in the home the home he would look to this man strong and he would look to this man strong and kind and righteous he would call him kind and righteous he would call him father father and i think it's a remarkable thing this is what a man should teach his family family he can do it with his works as well as he can do it with his works as well as his words and he can raise up his his words and he can raise up his children so that when they see him and children so that when they see him and they call him father they call him father they are being prepared to accept their they are being prepared to accept their heavenly father heavenly father and they see in the character and the and they see in the character and the attitudes attitudes of their human father of their human father the reflection of the love and the mercy the reflection of the love and the mercy and the understanding and the power of and the understanding and the power of god who is their heavenly father god who is their heavenly father it's a tremendous responsibility it's a tremendous responsibility that fathers have that fathers have to reflect to reflect god to their children what do we know of joseph we know that joseph wasn't wealthy we know that joseph wasn't wealthy we know that he wasn't a great scholar we know that he wasn't a great scholar we know that he wasn't influential we know that he wasn't influential but we know that he was righteous but we know that he was righteous we know that he did his part faithfully we know that he did his part faithfully and without complaint and without complaint we know that when god called upon him we know that when god called upon him he was ready there's a man like joseph in every ecclesia ecclesia or at least there should be or at least there should be he's quiet and dependable and kind he's quiet and dependable and kind he doesn't get any headlines he doesn't get any headlines he's not called off to speaking he's not called off to speaking engagements he's not called to serve on committees and take a prominent place and take a prominent place no no he just does what he is called upon to he just does what he is called upon to do in the best way that he knows how do in the best way that he knows how he sweeps the floors he sweeps the floors he turns off the lights he turns off the lights he closes the doors when other people he closes the doors when other people are gone are gone and he's always and he's always there he does the little things there he does the little things which after all which after all aren't really so little after all are aren't really so little after all are they jesus says of such as this is the kingdom of heaven we look at matthew chapter one verses 24 and 25 then joseph being raised up from sleep then joseph being raised up from sleep that is the angel of the lord had bidden that is the angel of the lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife and knew him and took unto him his wife and knew her not her not until she had brought forth her until she had brought forth her firstborn son and he called his name firstborn son and he called his name jesus and of course with these verses jesus and of course with these verses we're carried over into we're carried over into the third session which will be tomorrow the third session which will be tomorrow the trip to bethlehem the birth of jesus the trip to bethlehem the birth of jesus the coming of the shepherds now i'd like to close our session this morning with a brief prayer our father in heaven may we always be strengthened by the may we always be strengthened by the example of thy son example of thy son by all the examples of the righteous men by all the examples of the righteous men and women of scripture and women of scripture that we might consecrate our bodies and that we might consecrate our bodies and our minds and our spirits to thy service our minds and our spirits to thy service that we might understand more of thee in that we might understand more of thee in thy purpose thy purpose that we might make your character that we might make your character our characters that we might be more and our characters that we might be more and more like thee as we see the reflection more like thee as we see the reflection of thy glory of thy glory in the face of thy son in the face of thy son in his name we offer this prayer in his name we offer this prayer amen

Transcript

someone told me once that the only people in the bible who put the only people in the bible who put things around their necks hang things around their necks hang themselves so i hope that isn't the case i should confide something confide something to you to you this study arose out of this study arose out of the impending birth of the impending birth of my son that is my son that is our son mine and barbara's our son mine and barbara's and um i can have a very real feeling for this subject and i can understand i think subject and i can understand i think much more than i ever could before much more than i ever could before how fathers and mothers how fathers and mothers would feel for their children would feel for their children and and i think that i think that in the experiences of the last few in the experiences of the last few months because i'm a new father months because i'm a new father i've come to see something more of the i've come to see something more of the love that god has for us love that god has for us as his children as his children and and i believe that when jesus was born it was as though the the only son of god was born and yet only son of god was born and yet when jesus was born when jesus was born then at that time then at that time and ever since and ever since because of that birth of jesus because of that birth of jesus we have all we have all become sons become sons and daughters of god and daughters of god that through the birth of christ that through the birth of christ as we understand it we can experience as we understand it we can experience something more of what it means to be something more of what it means to be the son of god the son of god that god is calling all of us that god is calling all of us his children his children when he calls christ into being now our subject our subject this morning is the basic christmas story we find it in luke christmas story we find it in luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 20. chapter 2 verses 1 through 20. this is the story that we generally have this is the story that we generally have in our minds when we come to the in our minds when we come to the christmas season and for that little christmas season and for that little brief span of time everybody's happy and brief span of time everybody's happy and joyful and you're going to the joyful and you're going to the department stores and wonderful music is department stores and wonderful music is playing and everybody smiles to one playing and everybody smiles to one another another and people exchange gifts with other and people exchange gifts with other people that they probably didn't even people that they probably didn't even talk to for most of the year talk to for most of the year this is the romantic christmas story this is the romantic christmas story the pretty manger scene the little the pretty manger scene the little smiling baby laid away in the manger the smiling baby laid away in the manger the mother with a halo around her head mother with a halo around her head smiling away there at the side smiling away there at the side the soft music the soft music the christmas trees the eggnog the the christmas trees the eggnog the sleigh rides in the snow sleigh rides in the snow it's a beautiful thing christmas this is what we usually think of when we think of the birth of christ i think think of the birth of christ i think we're making a serious mistake because we're making a serious mistake because while we grow older and our perceptions while we grow older and our perceptions of the man christ should deepen and of the man christ should deepen and broaden year by year as we come to know broaden year by year as we come to know more of christ and the fellowship of his more of christ and the fellowship of his sufferings and the understanding of his sufferings and the understanding of his life and his teachings that as we do life and his teachings that as we do this with the life of christ and the this with the life of christ and the death of christ and the resurrection of death of christ and the resurrection of christ and the mediation that christ has christ and the mediation that christ has for us in heaven for us in heaven we continue to grow and increase our we continue to grow and increase our knowledge but yet somehow i think for knowledge but yet somehow i think for most of us and it was true in my case most of us and it was true in my case that the birth of christ is somehow put that the birth of christ is somehow put to the side and becomes maybe because of to the side and becomes maybe because of the traditional christmas story it the traditional christmas story it becomes a children's story becomes a children's story something that something that we never grow beyond and so we become or we never grow beyond and so we become or we remain children always in we remain children always in understanding the birth of christ and we understanding the birth of christ and we see it in the very simplest terms and see it in the very simplest terms and perhaps miss some of the deep perhaps miss some of the deep significant lessons that god would have significant lessons that god would have us learn us learn from that story of the birth of his only from that story of the birth of his only son it probably would be appropriate here to mention just in passing and i'm not mention just in passing and i'm not going to put any great emphasis on it going to put any great emphasis on it but as probably many of us know the but as probably many of us know the traditional date for christmas is traditional date for christmas is certainly off by a few months at the certainly off by a few months at the very least we don't know for a fact that very least we don't know for a fact that december 25th was the time when christ december 25th was the time when christ was born there's no biblical basis for was born there's no biblical basis for that at all and in fact many of the that at all and in fact many of the traditional things that have come to traditional things that have come to center around the christmas story have center around the christmas story have their origins in various pagan religions their origins in various pagan religions and fertility rights and that sort of and fertility rights and that sort of thing so thing so while we may be getting into difficulty while we may be getting into difficulty as we celebrate christmas in the as we celebrate christmas in the ordinary way i would suggest the ordinary way i would suggest the greatest difficulty is what i was just greatest difficulty is what i was just saying that saying that these ideas of christmas of the these ideas of christmas of the christmas carols and we three kings of christmas carols and we three kings of orient and little town of bethlehem that orient and little town of bethlehem that if we get so caught up in this the if we get so caught up in this the biggest danger might be that we're biggest danger might be that we're missing the real significance of the missing the real significance of the bible story and it becomes as i said bible story and it becomes as i said something of a children's game a time something of a children's game a time for toys and laughter instead of deep for toys and laughter instead of deep spiritual insights that should be found spiritual insights that should be found there it really happened to a young woman as we said who was to a young woman as we said who was probably 14 15 or 16 probably 14 15 or 16 i think that joseph was not much older i think that joseph was not much older because if we go by the ordinary because if we go by the ordinary circumstances of jews in this time than circumstances of jews in this time than a young man would marry at the age of 18 a young man would marry at the age of 18 or 19 or 20. or 19 or 20. and i think that there's nothing in the and i think that there's nothing in the biblical account that indicates that biblical account that indicates that joseph was an older man that's basically joseph was an older man that's basically a catholic idea a catholic idea which is formulated for the purpose of which is formulated for the purpose of proving that the other children the ones proving that the other children the ones who are called the brothers of jesus who are called the brothers of jesus were actually his were actually his foster brothers and cousins the the sons foster brothers and cousins the the sons and then the daughters of joseph by an and then the daughters of joseph by an earlier marriage i don't think there is earlier marriage i don't think there is no no i think there is no proof in the i think there is no proof in the scriptures for this sort of an idea scriptures for this sort of an idea and in fact it's much more likely that and in fact it's much more likely that joseph also as with mary was very young joseph also as with mary was very young so it really happened to a young man and so it really happened to a young man and a young woman a young woman not much older than children themselves not much older than children themselves and i think there's an important lesson and i think there's an important lesson there there's a lesson that god is no there there's a lesson that god is no respecter of persons and that god can respecter of persons and that god can choose the very young to fulfill his choose the very young to fulfill his purpose purpose and that we don't need to be aged people and that we don't need to be aged people who spent 30 or 40 years in the truth who spent 30 or 40 years in the truth before we're useful to god before we're useful to god that god can choose and use anyone he that god can choose and use anyone he pleases even the very young even the pleases even the very young even the very inexperienced to fulfill his very inexperienced to fulfill his purpose purpose if indeed god chooses to do so and in if indeed god chooses to do so and in fact fact do we say then that god chooses us or do do we say then that god chooses us or do we choose god i think both are true and we choose god i think both are true and i think that young people can be i think that young people can be encouraged to make a commitment to do encouraged to make a commitment to do great things for god to put themselves great things for god to put themselves in a position where through their faith in a position where through their faith and their trust in god god can work in and their trust in god god can work in them to do wonderful things them to do wonderful things and perhaps we discourage that by saying and perhaps we discourage that by saying to young people you sit quietly and to young people you sit quietly and listen for x number of years before you listen for x number of years before you take part in the meeting or before you take part in the meeting or before you go out to preach the truth young people go out to preach the truth young people should be encouraged like joseph and should be encouraged like joseph and mary they're capable of great and mary they're capable of great and wonderful things if god is with them and wonderful things if god is with them and if they are with god joseph and mary it's one of the greatest love stories in it's one of the greatest love stories in the bible the bible it's a love beginning in the freshness it's a love beginning in the freshness of youth of youth and maturing through the years and maturing through the years a love that was centered upon the a love that was centered upon the development of a special child and there development of a special child and there were other children too were other children too a love that made sacrifices a love that made sacrifices a love that was giving instead of taking a love that was giving instead of taking a love that was centered upon the a love that was centered upon the fulfillment of god's purpose and the scriptures say what god hath joined together joined together no man can put asunder no man can put asunder and the scriptures might just as well and the scriptures might just as well say and they do in other words that what say and they do in other words that what god hath joined together god hath joined together not even death not even death can put asunder can put asunder theirs was a love that didn't even end theirs was a love that didn't even end at the graveside at the graveside but it will continue into eternity for but it will continue into eternity for that very reason because it was a love that very reason because it was a love centered upon god's purpose centered upon god's purpose a love that looked outside of a love that looked outside of itself and did all things and felt all itself and did all things and felt all things to the glory of god things to the glory of god this was their love luke chapter 2 and verse 1. and it came to pass in those days that and it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from caesar there went out a decree from caesar augustus that all the world should be augustus that all the world should be taxed taxed the laws of the gentiles here serve a the laws of the gentiles here serve a divine purpose divine purpose and in a strange and wonderful way even and in a strange and wonderful way even caesar who was the mighty ruler of the caesar who was the mighty ruler of the world world became a servant of god became a servant of god we see that principle throughout the old we see that principle throughout the old testament men like nebuchadnezzar and testament men like nebuchadnezzar and darius who even though they didn't darius who even though they didn't realize what they were doing were at one realize what they were doing were at one time or another god's servants time or another god's servants and caesar here is fulfilling the same and caesar here is fulfilling the same purpose the great augustus with his purpose the great augustus with his mighty armies and his multitude of mighty armies and his multitude of bureaucrats that spanned the empire was bureaucrats that spanned the empire was no more than the lowliest servant and he no more than the lowliest servant and he didn't even know it because god used him didn't even know it because god used him and his decrees for the forwarding of and his decrees for the forwarding of his eternal purpose his eternal purpose and we see here also that because of and we see here also that because of this decree this decree the mother of jesus came to be in the the mother of jesus came to be in the right place at the right time right place at the right time and we see jesus then even before he was and we see jesus then even before he was born being pushed one way and another born being pushed one way and another at the whim of a roman emperor at the whim of a roman emperor jesus himself being subject to the jesus himself being subject to the powers that be even before he was born powers that be even before he was born and yet the wonderful thing that comes and yet the wonderful thing that comes out of that is that god's purpose was out of that is that god's purpose was being fulfilled that even though jesus being fulfilled that even though jesus unbeknownst to himself was being carried unbeknownst to himself was being carried from one place to another just because from one place to another just because an emperor said so yet god was an emperor said so yet god was overriding this and that emperor was the overriding this and that emperor was the servant of god for the fulfillment of servant of god for the fulfillment of god's purpose and it's a theme that is god's purpose and it's a theme that is played out time after time throughout played out time after time throughout the bible and it's a theme that is the bible and it's a theme that is echoed again when we come to that time echoed again when we come to that time 33 years later when jesus was to die and 33 years later when jesus was to die and again another roman emperor made another again another roman emperor made another decree and criminals were punished and decree and criminals were punished and those who were guilty of treason for so those who were guilty of treason for so they said christ was were executed and they said christ was were executed and christ again became no more than just christ again became no more than just a piece of flesh a piece of merchandise a piece of flesh a piece of merchandise that was to be processed by the roman that was to be processed by the roman empire and in this case put to death empire and in this case put to death jesus subject to the powers that be and jesus subject to the powers that be and yet god's purpose yet god's purpose god's eternal purpose was being god's eternal purpose was being fulfilled in his death as it was in his fulfilled in his death as it was in his life and in his birth life and in his birth that all things worked together for the that all things worked together for the glory of god we are told in verse 2 that this taxing or enrollment or census was the first or enrollment or census was the first one made when cyrenius was governor of one made when cyrenius was governor of syria syria there was in fact and we have to there was in fact and we have to remember that luke was a very careful remember that luke was a very careful and precise historian there was in fact and precise historian there was in fact a second census which is referred to in a second census which is referred to in acts 5 and verse 37 a census that acts 5 and verse 37 a census that happened about 10 years later and an happened about 10 years later and an interesting sidelight is that for many interesting sidelight is that for many years the critics of the bible said that years the critics of the bible said that luke had really fouled up his genealogy luke had really fouled up his genealogy his chronology that is because he had his chronology that is because he had placed the birth of christ 10 or 15 placed the birth of christ 10 or 15 years earlier of later than it should years earlier of later than it should have been have been and yet they just did not have the and yet they just did not have the evidence of that earlier census but evidence of that earlier census but later developments later later developments later external sources secular sources have external sources secular sources have proved that luke did indeed know exactly proved that luke did indeed know exactly what he was talking about and he placed what he was talking about and he placed the first census and the second census the first census and the second census in precisely the right places as it was in precisely the right places as it was proven out by secular history and we read that all went to be taxed everyone into his own city everyone into his own city and joseph also went up from galilee out and joseph also went up from galilee out of the city of nazareth into judea unto of the city of nazareth into judea unto the city of david which is called the city of david which is called bethlehem because he was of the house bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of david and lineage of david now now it was probably not decreed exactly by it was probably not decreed exactly by the roman authorities that every man the roman authorities that every man should return to the place where he was should return to the place where he was born but the jewish mentality would be born but the jewish mentality would be this according to their law a man would this according to their law a man would be restricted and confined his true be restricted and confined his true place of residence would be where his place of residence would be where his family family had grown up for his father and his had grown up for his father and his father before him had been born and this father before him had been born and this of course is based in the law of the of course is based in the law of the inheritance as we know the 12 tribes inheritance as we know the 12 tribes coming into the promised land each tribe coming into the promised land each tribe received its allotted inheritance and it received its allotted inheritance and it was divided and subdivided to the was divided and subdivided to the families and the individuals so that families and the individuals so that when it came time for a census or a when it came time for a census or a taxing the jews themselves would then taxing the jews themselves would then say every man should be counted in this say every man should be counted in this census in the place where his family census in the place where his family originated he should return even though originated he should return even though he was living in a completely different he was living in a completely different place he should return to the place place he should return to the place where his family had received their where his family had received their inheritance and so joseph returned to inheritance and so joseph returned to this place being of the house and this place being of the house and lineage of david bethlehem of course the lineage of david bethlehem of course the city of david the city of david's family city of david the city of david's family their inheritance in judah their inheritance in judah it's also been suggested that mary it's also been suggested that mary really didn't need to return because really didn't need to return because this sort of a census would probably this sort of a census would probably have only involved the male members of have only involved the male members of the society the society but if that were the case even then it's but if that were the case even then it's easy to imagine that mary would avail easy to imagine that mary would avail herself of the opportunity to go back herself of the opportunity to go back because she could hardly have been because she could hardly have been unaware of the prophecy that said that unaware of the prophecy that said that the messiah was to be born in bethlehem the messiah was to be born in bethlehem and so here became the opportunity or and so here became the opportunity or the pretense for mary to do that very the pretense for mary to do that very thing that she might have known already thing that she might have known already that she should do and that was to go that she should do and that was to go with joseph despite the hardship of the with joseph despite the hardship of the trip to go with joseph to the trip to go with joseph to the ancestral home and there to give birth ancestral home and there to give birth to jesus at the right place at the right to jesus at the right place at the right time the providence of god working in time the providence of god working in conjunction with the powers that be for conjunction with the powers that be for the fulfillment of god's purpose and so they went it was probably a three or four day journey or four day journey and we have to imagine this there were and we have to imagine this there were no super highways and no fine no super highways and no fine air-conditioned cars to drive you along air-conditioned cars to drive you along from one motel to another or one from one motel to another or one restaurant to another restaurant to another there was instead there was instead old beaten paths that wound through the old beaten paths that wound through the wilderness wilderness there were thieves and robbers on every there were thieves and robbers on every side there was fear of wild animals side there was fear of wild animals and so they would travel in this way and and so they would travel in this way and instead of a fine restaurant there would instead of a fine restaurant there would be be a pack of food carried with them dry and a pack of food carried with them dry and stale stale instead of a fine hotel to stay in with instead of a fine hotel to stay in with air conditioning and hot showers there'd air conditioning and hot showers there'd be a little camp by the side of the road be a little camp by the side of the road or maybe some distance removed from the or maybe some distance removed from the road perhaps in a cave so that they road perhaps in a cave so that they could build a campfire and they could could build a campfire and they could scare away the wild animals or they scare away the wild animals or they could be protected could be protected from from criminals thieves that might attack them criminals thieves that might attack them this is the way they traveled this is the way they traveled [Music] [Music] what did joseph and mary discuss what did joseph and mary discuss in those evenings by the fire in those evenings by the fire they were cut off from the past by the they were cut off from the past by the hand of god they had had a course set hand of god they had had a course set for their lives and god had intervened for their lives and god had intervened and said no don't go this way and said no don't go this way go that and they had gone they were cut go that and they had gone they were cut off from the past by the hand of god and off from the past by the hand of god and they didn't know what the future held they didn't know what the future held but they went forward in faith but they went forward in faith that could be us that could be us on that road on that road in fact we're on a road in fact we're on a road and we don't know where that road ends and we don't know where that road ends and we don't know what twists and turns and we don't know what twists and turns we're going to take along the way we're going to take along the way but we're told in scripture commit your but we're told in scripture commit your way into the lord and put your trust in way into the lord and put your trust in him him and he will bring to pass the and he will bring to pass the fulfillment of his purpose fulfillment of his purpose trust in the lord trust in the lord oh it seems so easy doesn't it if we're oh it seems so easy doesn't it if we're well fed and we have money in the bank well fed and we have money in the bank and if we think we know where we're and if we think we know where we're going next week or next year and we have going next week or next year and we have our lives all laid out in front of us our lives all laid out in front of us then it's easy isn't it to trust in the then it's easy isn't it to trust in the lord lord but what happens when darkness comes or but what happens when darkness comes or disease disease what happens when we're paralyzed by what happens when we're paralyzed by fears in the night fears in the night when we're afraid of what the day will when we're afraid of what the day will bring when we're afraid for our jobs bring when we're afraid for our jobs when we're afraid for our families when we're afraid for our families then is the time that we really have to then is the time that we really have to remember as joseph and mary did in their remember as joseph and mary did in their time of uncertainty time of uncertainty how essential it is that we trust in the how essential it is that we trust in the lord not just when the sun is shining lord not just when the sun is shining but when the clouds but when the clouds obscure its sight and so they traveled a route that took them from them from nazareth in the north nazareth in the north not directly through samaria to the not directly through samaria to the south on the way to judah but rather if south on the way to judah but rather if you can envision a map they traveled you can envision a map they traveled from nazareth from nazareth over to the sea of galilee area then over to the sea of galilee area then around to the east around to the east through a territory called perea through a territory called perea then back across at jericho up to then back across at jericho up to jerusalem and bethlehem beyond this was jerusalem and bethlehem beyond this was the normal way in which a jew would the normal way in which a jew would travel from galilee to travel from galilee to jerusalem into judah jerusalem into judah and it's an interesting contrast that and it's an interesting contrast that some 30 years later the sun that mary some 30 years later the sun that mary carried in her womb would make that same carried in her womb would make that same trip and yet he would go directly trip and yet he would go directly through through from from nazareth nazareth from galilee to judea and he would go from galilee to judea and he would go directly through samaria and he would directly through samaria and he would find their people of faith who had been find their people of faith who had been shunned by the jews for hundreds of shunned by the jews for hundreds of years and he would find them years and he would find them at the well and he would give them the at the well and he would give them the water of life and he would not be afraid water of life and he would not be afraid of the traditions that shunned those of the traditions that shunned those like the samaritans who were unclean but like the samaritans who were unclean but he would confront those traditions and he would confront those traditions and he would find people who loved god and he would find people who loved god and who wanted to serve god and so they traveled through perea and they would cross jericho and they would they would cross jericho and they would approach jerusalem approach jerusalem and i'd like to and i'd like to look at a couple of verses here and you look at a couple of verses here and you might say this is very fanciful might say this is very fanciful but but if you don't think this has any meaning if you don't think this has any meaning i i i would be i would be perfectly happy to let you pass it over perfectly happy to let you pass it over and dismiss it to me it is a beautiful and dismiss it to me it is a beautiful picture it is filling out the scriptural picture it is filling out the scriptural picture uh in a way i think that picture uh in a way i think that god allows us to do as we use a bit of god allows us to do as we use a bit of i hope spiritual imagination to i hope spiritual imagination to understand the bible story understand the bible story and the verses i want to look at are in and the verses i want to look at are in zechariah chapter nine zechariah chapter nine so as you turn that up i'll describe so as you turn that up i'll describe what's happening what's happening zechariah chapter nine verses nine and zechariah chapter nine verses nine and ten ten now we've taken this story and we've now we've taken this story and we've found found joseph and mary joseph and mary coming down from the north to the south coming down from the north to the south approaching the city of jerusalem approaching the city of jerusalem because if you understand that the because if you understand that the trip that would be made they would have trip that would be made they would have to go right by or right through to go right by or right through jerusalem on their way to bethlehem jerusalem on their way to bethlehem which was just a few miles to the south which was just a few miles to the south and so we find them they climb the and so we find them they climb the mountains they stand at the top and you mountains they stand at the top and you look down at the beautiful city of look down at the beautiful city of jerusalem in goals and whites and the jerusalem in goals and whites and the temple is dazzling in its purity an temple is dazzling in its purity an awesome a majestic sight it is the place awesome a majestic sight it is the place which god is chosen to put his name out which god is chosen to put his name out of all of the earth and they approach of all of the earth and they approach this city i think it's easy to imagine this city i think it's easy to imagine that they're approaching that they're approaching uh in the evening of the last day only a uh in the evening of the last day only a few miles left to go and they must hurry few miles left to go and they must hurry on on they would like to stop and look at the they would like to stop and look at the city but mary's tired perhaps she's city but mary's tired perhaps she's beginning to feel beginning to feel the pangs of impending childbirth the pangs of impending childbirth and so they approach the city and the and so they approach the city and the city stands awesome city stands awesome and silent and silent and they come to the city and they come to the city and no one notices and no one notices and they pass by and they pass by under the very walls of the city under the very walls of the city and the prophecy of zechariah that we're and the prophecy of zechariah that we're looking at here provides an echo and a looking at here provides an echo and a background for this scene background for this scene zechariah 9 in verse 9 rejoice greatly o zechariah 9 in verse 9 rejoice greatly o daughter of zion shout o daughter of daughter of zion shout o daughter of jerusalem behold thy king cometh unto jerusalem behold thy king cometh unto thee thee and he was passing by in the womb of his and he was passing by in the womb of his mother mother he is just and having salvation he is he is just and having salvation he is lowly lowly and riding upon an ass and riding upon an ass and there was mary and there was mary the child in her womb the king was coming for the very first time to his city and the city recognized time to his city and the city recognized it not and with a brief glance mary and it not and with a brief glance mary and joseph passed on by joseph passed on by and the city was silent and the city was silent they looked back they looked back the city had not recognized its king who the city had not recognized its king who was meek and lowly and riding upon an was meek and lowly and riding upon an ass ass and they passed over the hill and they passed over the hill on to bethlehem on to bethlehem and it was night but one day one day that king will come again to his one day that king will come again to his city city one day he will in the words of one day he will in the words of zechariah zechariah cut off the chariot from ephraim and the cut off the chariot from ephraim and the horse from jerusalem and he shall speak horse from jerusalem and he shall speak peace unto the nations and his dominion peace unto the nations and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea and from shall be from sea even to sea and from the river even to the ends of the earth the river even to the ends of the earth one day one day that king will come again to his city no that king will come again to his city no longer will he be ignored no longer will longer will he be ignored no longer will he be rejected but he will be received he be rejected but he will be received as the king who will rule over the as the king who will rule over the nations and jerusalem will open its arms nations and jerusalem will open its arms and receive him who is the king of glory and receive him who is the king of glory and its doors will be thrown wide and and its doors will be thrown wide and the king of glory will come into his the king of glory will come into his city and all men will rejoice because city and all men will rejoice because god's dominion is established through god's dominion is established through his son his son it didn't happen that day it didn't happen that day but it will but it will one day it will happen back to luke chapter 2 out of this apparent disarray and this out of this apparent disarray and this disorder and the laws of caesar and the disorder and the laws of caesar and the laws of the jews out of this whole laws of the jews out of this whole mix of various circumstances yet the mix of various circumstances yet the right people come to the right place at right people come to the right place at the right time and god's son is born in the right time and god's son is born in that very place which god had decreed that very place which god had decreed 700 years before would be 700 years before would be the site of his son's birth verse 6 and it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought she should be delivered and she brought forth her son forth her son jesus was born of a woman born under the jesus was born of a woman born under the law paul says in galatians 4 and 4 and law paul says in galatians 4 and 4 and he was born under the law so that by his he was born under the law so that by his life and his death he might redeem those life and his death he might redeem those who were under the curse of that law and who were under the curse of that law and he might provide a way of escape he might provide a way of escape he was made as we are a man subject he was made as we are a man subject to the curse of adam to the curse of adam to vanity to vexation to vanity to vexation to sinful flesh to sinful flesh and death and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end and they no room for them in the end and they were forced to go to the stable we know were forced to go to the stable we know the story the story no human setting can improve upon the no human setting can improve upon the luster of this jewel luster of this jewel that god provided for our salvation if that god provided for our salvation if jesus had been born in a palace he would jesus had been born in a palace he would have been no more the son of god than have been no more the son of god than when he was born in a manger when he was born in a manger and in fact god is teaching us that he and in fact god is teaching us that he chooses the weak things and the foolish chooses the weak things and the foolish things to confound those who are strong things to confound those who are strong and those who think they are so wise and those who think they are so wise those who think how could a king be born those who think how could a king be born in a stable and god says in a stable and god says my son my son and my king and my king will be born there and in fact he will not be a great king but he will be a fragile crying but he will be a fragile crying baby baby this is the way god works this is the way god works when god's people cry for deliverance he when god's people cry for deliverance he doesn't go and find the strongest and doesn't go and find the strongest and the wisest and the mightiest man to the wisest and the mightiest man to deliver them when god's people cry and deliver them when god's people cry and long for deliverance and salvation god long for deliverance and salvation god causes that a little baby causes that a little baby that you could hold in your hands would that you could hold in your hands would be born be born and from that inauspicious beginning and from that inauspicious beginning god would bring salvation god would bring salvation to his people to his people there was no room for them in the end there was no room for them in the end and jesus throughout his life repeats and jesus throughout his life repeats this theme jesus says i stand at the this theme jesus says i stand at the door and knock and if any man will open door and knock and if any man will open unto me i will come in and make my abode unto me i will come in and make my abode with him with him but even before he was born he was but even before he was born he was standing at the door and knocking and he standing at the door and knocking and he was turned aside was turned aside and he was sent into the stable and he was sent into the stable do we have room for jesus in our lives do we have room for jesus in our lives or when he comes and knocks do we say or when he comes and knocks do we say well yes you can come in but the guest well yes you can come in but the guest room is filled and if you'd like to room is filled and if you'd like to maybe go down the road to the motel or maybe go down the road to the motel or if you'd like to use the garage or if if you'd like to use the garage or if you'd like to stand aside and take your you'd like to stand aside and take your proper place we'll find room for you but proper place we'll find room for you but it won't be the best of accommodations it won't be the best of accommodations is this the way we approach christ or is is this the way we approach christ or is this the way we receive christ when he this the way we receive christ when he comes to us his life he was a stranger in a pilgrim the son of man hath not where to lay his the son of man hath not where to lay his head head the foxes have holes and the birds of the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests the air have nests but the son of man stands at the door but the son of man stands at the door and knocks and even yet even yet though and knocks and even yet even yet though he sits enthroned at the right hand of he sits enthroned at the right hand of god god even yet he's looking for a place to even yet he's looking for a place to dwell with each one of us even yet he's dwell with each one of us even yet he's an outcast and a stranger in a pilgrim an outcast and a stranger in a pilgrim who wants to find a home who wants to find a home in the lives and the hearts and the in the lives and the hearts and the minds minds of every one of us if we receive him and of every one of us if we receive him and if we don't shut him aside if we don't shut him aside to a lesser place and we read that at the same time verse 8 8 there were in the in this country there were in the in this country shepherds abiding in the field keeping shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night watch over their flocks by night they were simple men they were simple men they were men who stayed outside who they were men who stayed outside who worked hard for a living they were quiet worked hard for a living they were quiet men they sat together around the men they sat together around the campfire probably campfire probably and the sheep were scattered about and the sheep were scattered about and sometimes there was a rustle or a and sometimes there was a rustle or a noise and they knew that perhaps noise and they knew that perhaps a thief a thief or maybe a wolf had entered into the or maybe a wolf had entered into the flock and then they arose with their flock and then they arose with their crooks and their weapons and they went crooks and their weapons and they went forth and repelled the enemies but then forth and repelled the enemies but then they would return again to the campfire they would return again to the campfire as their fathers had done and their as their fathers had done and their fathers before them fathers before them quiet simple people quiet simple people shepherds on the hills shepherds on the hills and yet they were very special people and yet they were very special people i think we could say that i think we could say that they were god's favorite people because they were god's favorite people because out of the ranks of men like those out of the ranks of men like those shepherds he had chosen abraham and shepherds he had chosen abraham and isaac he had chosen moses his great king isaac he had chosen moses his great king had once upon a time been a shepherd who had once upon a time been a shepherd who sat on a hillside and sang hymns of sat on a hillside and sang hymns of praise and the only audience he had were praise and the only audience he had were the sheep round about him the sheep round about him these were god's favorite people in these were god's favorite people in times past god had spoken on the times past god had spoken on the mountainsides and by the brooks and the mountainsides and by the brooks and the streams and he had talked to men like streams and he had talked to men like these shepherds these shepherds but now the light had gone down in but now the light had gone down in israel the sun had vanished now god no israel the sun had vanished now god no longer spoke by open voice longer spoke by open voice and now and now instead instead there were mean-spirited men there were mean-spirited men in long flowing robes who strolled in long flowing robes who strolled quietly about a temple and argued about quietly about a temple and argued about technicalities and call that religion technicalities and call that religion and they said that the men who sat on and they said that the men who sat on the hills were sinners because they the hills were sinners because they didn't take their own particular didn't take their own particular interpretation of the law interpretation of the law but god was about to reverse that whole but god was about to reverse that whole process and god was again once more process and god was again once more going to reveal himself to these simple going to reveal himself to these simple men of the hills the shepherds and we read that verse 9 lo the angel of the lord came upon them in the glory of the lord came upon them in the glory of the lord shone round about them and they the lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and the angels said unto them fear not now let's think about these shepherds for a let's think about these shepherds for a minute and again i'm going to take this minute and again i'm going to take this to a passage in the old testament that to a passage in the old testament that you might not immediately think is you might not immediately think is relevant to this subject but bear with relevant to this subject but bear with me micah chapter 4. micah 4 now we're probably familiar with micah chapter 5 in verse 2 but thou micah chapter 5 in verse 2 but thou bethlehem though thou be little among bethlehem though thou be little among the thousands of israel yet out of thee the thousands of israel yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in israel an obvious be ruler in israel an obvious fulfillment uh in the birth of christ in fulfillment uh in the birth of christ in bethlehem i want to back up a few verses bethlehem i want to back up a few verses i want to get the theme that micah is i want to get the theme that micah is developing here as he stands and looks developing here as he stands and looks forward 700 years into the future forward 700 years into the future let's look at micah 4 and verse 8 let's look at micah 4 and verse 8 and thou o tower of the flock the and thou o tower of the flock the stronghold of the daughter of zion unto stronghold of the daughter of zion unto thee shall it come even the first thee shall it come even the first dominion now the tower of the flock in dominion now the tower of the flock in the hebrew is an expression a name which the hebrew is an expression a name which is migdal idea the tower of the flock is migdal idea the tower of the flock and this was in fact a place near and this was in fact a place near bethlehem where special shepherds would bethlehem where special shepherds would watch over special sheep watch over special sheep these were the sheep that were being these were the sheep that were being kept in the very last days before they kept in the very last days before they were to be transported up to jerusalem were to be transported up to jerusalem to be offered as sacrifice and so at the to be offered as sacrifice and so at the tower of the flock these shepherds would tower of the flock these shepherds would watch over these sheep and would wait watch over these sheep and would wait for the time when they should take them for the time when they should take them up to the temple this will come in to be up to the temple this will come in to be very important in a minute or two very important in a minute or two and thou o tower of the flock the and thou o tower of the flock the stronghold of the daughter of zion unto stronghold of the daughter of zion unto thee shall it come even the first thee shall it come even the first dominion the first dominion of god's dominion the first dominion of god's kingdom which means the first place kingdom which means the first place where god chose to make his kingdom where god chose to make his kingdom visible to men visible to men was on the hills of bethlehem and when was on the hills of bethlehem and when he said through the angel a child is he said through the angel a child is born this day for you in the city of born this day for you in the city of david he was saying this child is the david he was saying this child is the beginning of my kingdom and the very beginning of my kingdom and the very first place where this kingdom will be first place where this kingdom will be proclaimed will be on the hills of proclaimed will be on the hills of bethlehem unto you will it come o migdal bethlehem unto you will it come o migdal eder the tower of the flock unto you eder the tower of the flock unto you will it come the first dominion of the will it come the first dominion of the kingdom kingdom and these shepherds heard these and these shepherds heard these wonderful words wonderful words the kingdom shall come to the daughter the kingdom shall come to the daughter of jerusalem of jerusalem now why does thy cry out why dost thou now why does thy cry out why dost thou cry out aloud verse 9 is there no king cry out aloud verse 9 is there no king in thee there was no king in israel in thee there was no king in israel is thy counselor perished there were no is thy counselor perished there were no counselors worth the name counselors worth the name for pangs have taken thee as a woman in for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail and just a mile or two away travail and just a mile or two away across the hills a woman was in travail across the hills a woman was in travail with child with child be in pain and labor to bring forth o be in pain and labor to bring forth o daughter of zion like a woman in travail daughter of zion like a woman in travail for now shall thou go forth out of the for now shall thou go forth out of the city and thou shalt dwell in the field city and thou shalt dwell in the field we skip to we skip to verse 13 verse 13 arise and thresh o daughter of zion for arise and thresh o daughter of zion for i will make thine horn iron and i will i will make thine horn iron and i will make thy hoofs brass and thou shalt beat make thy hoofs brass and thou shalt beat in pieces many people and i will in pieces many people and i will consecrate their gain unto the lord and consecrate their gain unto the lord and their substance unto the lord of the their substance unto the lord of the whole earth the lord of the whole earth whole earth the lord of the whole earth was revealing himself through the birth was revealing himself through the birth of this special son who would be the of this special son who would be the dominion of his kingdom dominion of his kingdom and we read in verse 2 thou bethlehem and we read in verse 2 thou bethlehem though thou be little among the though thou be little among the thousands of judah yet out of thee shall thousands of judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me who shall be ruler he come forth unto me who shall be ruler in israel and his goings forth have been in israel and his goings forth have been from of old from everlasting from of old from everlasting to this time to this time he was slain from the foundation of the he was slain from the foundation of the world this child yet unborn world this child yet unborn therefore will he give them up until the therefore will he give them up until the time that she which travaileth hath time that she which travaileth hath brought forth brought forth verse 4 of chapter 5 and he shall stand verse 4 of chapter 5 and he shall stand and feed which is a word that means to and feed which is a word that means to be a shepherd he shall stand and be a be a shepherd he shall stand and be a shepherd in the strength of the lord in shepherd in the strength of the lord in the majesty of the name of the lord his the majesty of the name of the lord his god for now he shall be great unto the god for now he shall be great unto the ends of the earth and this man shall be ends of the earth and this man shall be the peace when the assyrian will come the peace when the assyrian will come into the land into the land this man who was being born in bethlehem this man who was being born in bethlehem this man who was the first dominion of this man who was the first dominion of god's kingdom god's kingdom now back again to luke chapter 2 [Music] verse 10 and the angel said unto them fear not fear not how many times it is that how many times it is that when an angel appears to a man or a when an angel appears to a man or a woman woman the first thing he says is fear not and the first thing he says is fear not and i think it's perfectly natural because i think it's perfectly natural because if an angel were to appear to us if an angel were to appear to us the first thing we would do is tremble the first thing we would do is tremble in fear in fear and yet do you realize and yet do you realize that an angel will appear to each one of that an angel will appear to each one of us us at some time probably when we least at some time probably when we least expect it and we'll say expect it and we'll say the time has come the time has come the time for the judgment will we fear the time for the judgment will we fear you can bet i will you can bet i will and yet and yet always when the angel appeared and the always when the angel appeared and the person feared there was always that person feared there was always that response fear not response fear not and it's repeated throughout the and it's repeated throughout the scriptures and jesus picks it up himself scriptures and jesus picks it up himself and he says fear not little flock and he says fear not little flock little flock of sheep for it is your little flock of sheep for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom kingdom and it's a great source of comfort to me and it's a great source of comfort to me to know that even though i might fear to know that even though i might fear i can hope for i can expect that word in i can hope for i can expect that word in return from the angel who says to me return from the angel who says to me do not be afraid do not be afraid god desires to give you his kingdom god desires to give you his kingdom and if you just put yourself in the and if you just put yourself in the right place and if you trust in god right place and if you trust in god that kingdom will come for you that kingdom will come for you i'd like to look at the angel's i'd like to look at the angel's proclamation here each word is so proclamation here each word is so important important fear not he says or they say fear not he says or they say fear not fear not so much of our lives is fearful isn't it so much of our lives is fearful isn't it sometimes we're afraid to get out of bed sometimes we're afraid to get out of bed in the morning we don't know what's in the morning we don't know what's going to happen going to happen and god says fear not and god says fear not because if god be for us who can be because if god be for us who can be against us and he who spared not his own against us and he who spared not his own son but delivered him up for our sakes son but delivered him up for our sakes will he not richly give us all things will he not richly give us all things why should we fear fear not for behold i bring you good tidings good tidings being the gospel tidings good tidings being the gospel the good news of salvation good tidings the good news of salvation good tidings which will bring to you a great joy and which will bring to you a great joy and a rejoicing and a comfort and a peace a rejoicing and a comfort and a peace and a happiness which shall be to all people i'm coming to you the shepherds the angel says but to you the shepherds the angel says but this is going to encompass all people this is going to encompass all people and all men are going to partake of this and all men are going to partake of this same hope for unto you is born this day same hope for unto you is born this day unto you and this is what we've unto you and this is what we've emphasized each day that jesus is born emphasized each day that jesus is born to us that it is as though he is born to us that it is as though he is born anew in each of our lives and when we anew in each of our lives and when we think about his birth we realize that think about his birth we realize that god sent his son for each one of us as god sent his son for each one of us as an individual for unto you is born this an individual for unto you is born this day and there is an immediacy day and there is an immediacy there is a feeling of immediate there is a feeling of immediate necessity about this he is born this day necessity about this he is born this day and it's very important and it's another and it's very important and it's another theme that's repeated throughout the theme that's repeated throughout the bible jesus was going about from one bible jesus was going about from one city to another and zacchaeus was in a a city to another and zacchaeus was in a a tree that he might see him and jesus tree that he might see him and jesus said come down zacchaeus said come down zacchaeus for this day i will abide in your house for this day i will abide in your house and paul preaches to the athenians and and paul preaches to the athenians and he says god winked at your times of he says god winked at your times of ignorance but now he commands all men to ignorance but now he commands all men to repent this day is the time and there's repent this day is the time and there's something immediate about that there's something immediate about that there's something that should sink into our something that should sink into our hearts that if we don't do today what we hearts that if we don't do today what we should tomorrow it may be too late and should tomorrow it may be too late and if we don't reach out today to do god's if we don't reach out today to do god's will and bring his truth to others will and bring his truth to others tomorrow the darkness may come and no tomorrow the darkness may come and no man can work man can work unto you is born this day in the city of unto you is born this day in the city of david david linking jesus with david his ancestor linking jesus with david his ancestor linking jesus with the man who was the linking jesus with the man who was the first great king from judah and jesus first great king from judah and jesus the last the one who would reign upon the last the one who would reign upon the throne of his father david forever the throne of his father david forever and ever there is born to you a savior and ever there is born to you a savior which is the meaning of the name jesus which is the meaning of the name jesus who is christ the messiah the anointed who is christ the messiah the anointed one and he is the lord he is the ruler one and he is the lord he is the ruler of the universe and this shall be a sign for you you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising god and the heavenly host praising god and saying glory to god in the highest and saying glory to god in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men and on earth peace good will toward men and there's another passage here let's just there's another passage here let's just drop back for one second to the last drop back for one second to the last part of the book of job part of the book of job job chapter 38 job chapter 38 i'm going to use this for a bookmark so i'm going to use this for a bookmark so i can flip back a little quicker job i can flip back a little quicker job chapter 38 chapter 38 verses 6 and 7 verses 6 and 7 god is speaking to job and he is telling god is speaking to job and he is telling job of his awesome power and he says job of his awesome power and he says where were you when i laid the where were you when i laid the foundations of the earth foundations of the earth job 38 job 38 verse 4 verse 4 if thou hast understanding tell me these if thou hast understanding tell me these things who hath laid the measure thereof things who hath laid the measure thereof if thou knowest if thou knowest or who hath stretched the line upon it or who hath stretched the line upon it whereupon are the foundations thereof whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened who laid the cornerstone of the fastened who laid the cornerstone of the universe when the morning stars sang universe when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of god shouted together and all the sons of god shouted for joy he's speaking of the creation for joy he's speaking of the creation when god by his decree from heaven by when god by his decree from heaven by his word sent forth and created the his word sent forth and created the worlds the universes in the earth and worlds the universes in the earth and caused light to come in vegetation and caused light to come in vegetation and life where were you when i did these life where were you when i did these things god said and obviously job must things god said and obviously job must answer answer i wasn't i wasn't and now again at the beginning of a new and now again at the beginning of a new creation when god through his son is creation when god through his son is establishing a new heavens and a new establishing a new heavens and a new earth wherein will dwell righteousness earth wherein will dwell righteousness and it all begins with his son at the and it all begins with his son at the beginning of a new creation the morning beginning of a new creation the morning stars sing together and the shepherds on stars sing together and the shepherds on the hills hear their song and all the the hills hear their song and all the sons of god in the heavens the angels sons of god in the heavens the angels that behold his presence shout aloud for that behold his presence shout aloud for joy when the foundations of the earth joy when the foundations of the earth are laid and the one who will be the are laid and the one who will be the cornerstone of god's temple is brought cornerstone of god's temple is brought into being into being and while we're in the old testament and while we're in the old testament there's one other passage we think of there's one other passage we think of jesus the little babe in the manger and jesus the little babe in the manger and we look at isaiah chapter one we look at isaiah chapter one i find this beautifully expressive i find this beautifully expressive isaiah chapter one and verse three again isaiah chapter one and verse three again one of those little cameos that seems to one of those little cameos that seems to be calling to be lifted out of its be calling to be lifted out of its context and put in another place context and put in another place to reflect a greater light upon this to reflect a greater light upon this incident of the babe in the manger incident of the babe in the manger jesus jesus born in bethlehem isaiah 1 3 god is born in bethlehem isaiah 1 3 god is rebuking his people who are a rebuking his people who are a disbelieving a slothful a selfish people disbelieving a slothful a selfish people and he says and he says verse 3 the ox knoweth his owner in the verse 3 the ox knoweth his owner in the ass his master's crib but israel does ass his master's crib but israel does not know my people doth not consider and not know my people doth not consider and picture this in a little stable there in picture this in a little stable there in a manger lies the child who will be king a manger lies the child who will be king lies the child who will grow to be lies the child who will grow to be the ruler of the earth the lord of all the ruler of the earth the lord of all things the king of all creation things the king of all creation and outside is darkness and outside is darkness and israel does not know and the people and israel does not know and the people round about do not consider that their round about do not consider that their king is lying in their midst and yet king is lying in their midst and yet is it fanciful is it fanciful is it just imaginary to to suppose that is it just imaginary to to suppose that even there even there the ox and the ass in the stable will the ox and the ass in the stable will look and wonder look and wonder what is happening and they will be quiet what is happening and they will be quiet as they are in the presence as they are in the presence of their owner and their master because of their owner and their master because he's the master of all things and yet he's the master of all things and yet israel which should know doth not israel which should know doth not consider and the people sit in darkness consider and the people sit in darkness while the great light is in their midst while the great light is in their midst luke chapter 2 verse 15 and it came to luke chapter 2 verse 15 and it came to pass as the angels were gone away from pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven the shepherds said one them into heaven the shepherds said one to another let us now go even unto to another let us now go even unto bethlehem and see this thing which has bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the lord hath made come to pass which the lord hath made known unto us and they came with haste known unto us and they came with haste and found mary and joseph and the babe and found mary and joseph and the babe lying in a manger and when they had seen lying in a manger and when they had seen it they made known abroad the sayings it they made known abroad the sayings which were told them concerning the which were told them concerning the child and all they that heard it child and all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds now remember what them by the shepherds now remember what we said about migdal eder in the tower we said about migdal eder in the tower of the flock if these were in fact of the flock if these were in fact special shepherds then the very next special shepherds then the very next thing they might be doing would be going thing they might be doing would be going into the temple and making known in the into the temple and making known in the very center of jewish religious life very center of jewish religious life what they had seen and this might have what they had seen and this might have been the very thing that then provoked been the very thing that then provoked those like simeon and anna to lift up those like simeon and anna to lift up their heads and know that their their heads and know that their redemption was drawing nigh for there redemption was drawing nigh for there had been born in the city of david a had been born in the city of david a child who would be savior and then we child who would be savior and then we read in verse 20 that the shepherds read in verse 20 that the shepherds returned glorifying and praising god so returned glorifying and praising god so they went to one place to tell and then they went to one place to tell and then we read that they returned which would we read that they returned which would be possibly that they returned to their be possibly that they returned to their own homes and as they went they own homes and as they went they continued this story and they became the continued this story and they became the first christian missionaries first christian missionaries the first ones who declared the coming the first ones who declared the coming of christ of christ verse 19 and again we see mary mary kept verse 19 and again we see mary mary kept all these things and pondered them in all these things and pondered them in her heart mary is almost a spectator and her heart mary is almost a spectator and not a participant she takes a detached not a participant she takes a detached view which sees the single incidents view which sees the single incidents around her as part of a great design of around her as part of a great design of god little threads being woven into the god little threads being woven into the fabric of her life some dark and some fabric of her life some dark and some golden and yet god knows the pattern and golden and yet god knows the pattern and she has the faith to recognize that as she has the faith to recognize that as these things are being worked out these things are being worked out that she must ponder them that she must that she must ponder them that she must meditate that she will one day know and meditate that she will one day know and understand the perfection of god's understand the perfection of god's purpose and she will marvel at the purpose and she will marvel at the handiwork of god and we can do the same handiwork of god and we can do the same as we ponder our lives sometimes the as we ponder our lives sometimes the experiences are difficult and bitter experiences are difficult and bitter sometimes they're joyful and yet all sometimes they're joyful and yet all together they're placed and put in their together they're placed and put in their proper places by the great master weaver proper places by the great master weaver who is designing the fabric of our life who is designing the fabric of our life that one day it will be a beautiful that one day it will be a beautiful piece and it will reflect his glory and piece and it will reflect his glory and his work in our lives his work in our lives and the shepherds returned glorifying and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising god for all the things that and praising god for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told they had heard and seen as it was told unto them unto them it was truly a miracle it was truly a miracle it was one of the greatest of all it was one of the greatest of all miracles the birth of the son of god miracles the birth of the son of god and yet isn't every birth a miracle and and yet isn't every birth a miracle and a mystery isn't it like a replay of a mystery isn't it like a replay of creation where again life comes into creation where again life comes into being and we rejoice at the power of god being and we rejoice at the power of god isn't every child a holy child because isn't every child a holy child because it receives life from a god who is holy it receives life from a god who is holy above all things above all things isn't every child a gift from god isn't every child a gift from god because god has given us all things because god has given us all things because god is showing through continued because god is showing through continued life his continuing love and forgiveness life his continuing love and forgiveness and mercy upon us and mercy upon us isn't every child a special child like isn't every child a special child like samuel or john the baptist or even like samuel or john the baptist or even like jesus because it comes from a god who jesus because it comes from a god who cares for all his creation and that cares for all his creation and that child is to be dedicated by righteous child is to be dedicated by righteous parents to the service of god even as parents to the service of god even as joseph and mary dedicated their child joseph and mary dedicated their child like joseph and mary many of us here like joseph and mary many of us here have been entrusted with future kings have been entrusted with future kings and queens who will reign over the earth and queens who will reign over the earth and who will apply to the nations the and who will apply to the nations the lessons that they've learned from their lessons that they've learned from their parents parents may we be given the strength the wisdom may we be given the strength the wisdom and the faith to teach them in the right and the faith to teach them in the right way that they might truly grow up as way that they might truly grow up as jesus did to be kings and rulers to jesus did to be kings and rulers to reflect the glory of god and in fact aren't we all children of god and we see in the birth of this son god and we see in the birth of this son this special son this special son our birth and we are born again for we our birth and we are born again for we recognize that christ is born in us and recognize that christ is born in us and that we come to reflect the glory of that we come to reflect the glory of christ and that we manifest our sonship christ and that we manifest our sonship as he did by the love that we show for as he did by the love that we show for one another and by the service that we one another and by the service that we give unto god this is the great lesson give unto god this is the great lesson then of the nativity of the birth in then of the nativity of the birth in bethlehem bethlehem that god so loved the world and he loved that god so loved the world and he loved us that he gave his only son us that he gave his only son that he sent him into the world to live that he sent him into the world to live and to die for us and he expects us to and to die for us and he expects us to love one another as that son has loved love one another as that son has loved us us this this is what john speaks of when he says is what john speaks of when he says there has been given to us power that we there has been given to us power that we might become the sons of god might become the sons of god that god whose word was made flesh will that god whose word was made flesh will be made flesh again in us if we take be made flesh again in us if we take that word and become that word and become sons and daughters of the living god sons and daughters of the living god but after all but after all this sonship is not what we do this sonship is not what we do it's what we receive it's what we receive and we go into the manger and we see the and we go into the manger and we see the child child and we recognize the great gift that has and we recognize the great gift that has been given unto us been given unto us sonship is not what we earn sonship is not what we earn it is what god has given to us it is what god has given to us out of his mercy out of his mercy behold the amazing gift of love behold the amazing gift of love the father hath bestowed the father hath bestowed on us on us the sinful sons of men the sinful sons of men to call us to call us sons of god

Transcript

class was finished and a couple of folks asked questions asked questions that uh there was one thing i should that uh there was one thing i should have said because it have said because it led to a misunderstanding led to a misunderstanding that is um back over to luke chapter two that is um back over to luke chapter two we our class yesterday carried us we our class yesterday carried us through verse 38 and i purposely didn't through verse 38 and i purposely didn't have verse 39 read because i think have verse 39 read because i think there's a gap in time there now if you there's a gap in time there now if you read luke 2 and 38 you find that as this read luke 2 and 38 you find that as this incident finished then we move into incident finished then we move into verse 39 and we're told when they had verse 39 and we're told when they had performed that is joseph and mary had performed that is joseph and mary had performed all things according to the performed all things according to the law of the lord they returned into law of the lord they returned into galilee to their own city nazareth galilee to their own city nazareth now that now that appears to be saying that immediately appears to be saying that immediately after they left the temple they went to after they left the temple they went to nazareth and i was stating in the class nazareth and i was stating in the class that i felt they had made their home in that i felt they had made their home in bethlehem and they continued there for a bethlehem and they continued there for a period of time now this appears to be a period of time now this appears to be a contradiction my way of reconciling that contradiction my way of reconciling that and i'm not the only one is that and i'm not the only one is that between verses 38 and 39 there is a between verses 38 and 39 there is a large gap of time maybe as much as three large gap of time maybe as much as three or four years or four years we have we have if i could just give the framework if i could just give the framework joseph and mary joseph and mary going to bethlehem jesus is born on the going to bethlehem jesus is born on the eighth day he circumcised on the 40th eighth day he circumcised on the 40th day after his birth they go to the day after his birth they go to the temple which is just a short distance temple which is just a short distance from bethlehem from bethlehem the sacrifices are offered and there we the sacrifices are offered and there we saw simeon and anna and then my saw simeon and anna and then my conjecture my supposition is that they conjecture my supposition is that they return to bethlehem and they remain return to bethlehem and they remain there for there for somewhere between a year and two years somewhere between a year and two years we'll see the reason for this we'll see the reason for this today because we're going to see the today because we're going to see the wise men coming from a great distance wise men coming from a great distance and finding and finding jesus as the child he's called the jesus as the child he's called the little child no longer the baby and little child no longer the baby and finding him in a house no longer a finding him in a house no longer a manger or a stable manger or a stable they come to bethlehem and herod they come to bethlehem and herod inquires of them when was the time you inquires of them when was the time you first saw the star and they told him first saw the star and they told him approximately two years so there seems approximately two years so there seems to be the picture here of the wise men to be the picture here of the wise men coming much later than the shepherds did coming much later than the shepherds did perhaps as much as two years or at least perhaps as much as two years or at least approaching that time approaching that time and they find joseph mary and jesus and they find joseph mary and jesus still in bethlehem which gives us the still in bethlehem which gives us the implication that after this long period implication that after this long period of time of time since joseph and mary were still there since joseph and mary were still there they must have chosen to make their home they must have chosen to make their home in bethlehem there are several good in bethlehem there are several good reasons for this reasons for this one that we might mention would be one that we might mention would be perhaps their fear of perhaps their fear of the the scandal and the gossip that the the scandal and the gossip that would be their lot if they returned to would be their lot if they returned to nazareth nazareth so according to this sort of a timetable so according to this sort of a timetable the wise men come the wise men come they leave again and return to their own they leave again and return to their own lands and as a result of their coming lands and as a result of their coming herod's herod's anger and hatred is aroused and joseph anger and hatred is aroused and joseph is warned in a dream to take mary and is warned in a dream to take mary and jesus into egypt and they go into egypt jesus into egypt and they go into egypt possibly when jesus is somewhere between possibly when jesus is somewhere between one and two years old and they remain one and two years old and they remain there and again this would be a there and again this would be a conjecture conjecture it's easy enough to imagine they remain it's easy enough to imagine they remain there maybe even several years uh we there maybe even several years uh we can't be sure but then can't be sure but then when they heard that herod had died they when they heard that herod had died they returned and it was as though they were returned and it was as though they were going into judea we're told this in the going into judea we're told this in the last part of matthew 2 but joseph last part of matthew 2 but joseph received another dream that turned him received another dream that turned him aside to nazareth now it would seem aside to nazareth now it would seem natural that they would be going back natural that they would be going back into judea if that's where they'd been into judea if that's where they'd been living already before they had gone into living already before they had gone into exile so it looks as though all along exile so it looks as though all along joseph had intended that they make their joseph had intended that they make their home in bethlehem but finally he was home in bethlehem but finally he was turned aside by the dream that came from turned aside by the dream that came from god to go into nazareth now that's the god to go into nazareth now that's the basic framework of what's happening and basic framework of what's happening and then we finally find jesus at the age of then we finally find jesus at the age of four or five or six so possibly four or five or six so possibly finally coming with his family to make finally coming with his family to make his home in nazareth his home in nazareth in galilee in galilee now now the only difficulty with that is if we the only difficulty with that is if we read continuously luke 2 verse 38 and read continuously luke 2 verse 38 and then verse 39 it appears as though they then verse 39 it appears as though they leave the temple and go right back to leave the temple and go right back to our right to nazareth our right to nazareth i think then that there is a gap of time i think then that there is a gap of time between verse 38 and verse 39 into which between verse 38 and verse 39 into which we fit all of the stories that we're we fit all of the stories that we're going to consider today which is matthew going to consider today which is matthew chapter 2. chapter 2. and and i should mention that this is only one i should mention that this is only one possibility there are a couple of other possibility there are a couple of other possibilities for reconciling what looks possibilities for reconciling what looks to be a contradiction or a difficulty to be a contradiction or a difficulty but i think this is the one that makes but i think this is the one that makes the most sense and takes into account the most sense and takes into account the most of the facts in the most the most of the facts in the most reasonable way and you can take it or reasonable way and you can take it or leave it okay put that aside now leave it okay put that aside now into matthew chapter two i'm suggesting then that as much as two years has passed or a as much as two years has passed or a year and a half year and a half and then we are told that after jesus and then we are told that after jesus was born in bethlehem of judea in the was born in bethlehem of judea in the days of herod the king behold days of herod the king behold then there came wise men from the east then there came wise men from the east to jerusalem to jerusalem how did the wise men learn of the birth how did the wise men learn of the birth of christ again several possibilities of christ again several possibilities here and we'll just mention them quickly here and we'll just mention them quickly uh it suggested that because daniel was uh it suggested that because daniel was in babylon and that he received a in babylon and that he received a prophecy that spoke of the 70 weeks or prophecy that spoke of the 70 weeks or the 70 periods of seven and because that the 70 periods of seven and because that time period was about to run out or at time period was about to run out or at least a few years from coming to a least a few years from coming to a conclusion it suggested that some of the conclusion it suggested that some of the wise men uh the magicians more likely wise men uh the magicians more likely the the scholars of all sorts of the the scholars of all sorts of knowledge in a place like babylon would knowledge in a place like babylon would recognize remember daniel the great man recognize remember daniel the great man the great ruler would remember his the great ruler would remember his prophecy and would realize then that a prophecy and would realize then that a king was about to be born in king was about to be born in some particular place and then god would some particular place and then god would intervene with the revelation to lead intervene with the revelation to lead them there them there others suggest that the persians were others suggest that the persians were the ones because the persians were very the ones because the persians were very interested in numerology and astronomy interested in numerology and astronomy and they would be particularly concerned and they would be particularly concerned with the stars of the heavens and with the stars of the heavens and special signs in the heavens now special signs in the heavens now i wouldn't say definitely that either of i wouldn't say definitely that either of those possibilities those possibilities is wrong but i have what seems to me a is wrong but i have what seems to me a more biblical possibility as to where more biblical possibility as to where the wise men came from the wise men came from as to from where the wise men came as to from where the wise men came okay let's look at a couple of passages okay let's look at a couple of passages then psalm 72 then psalm 72 these are really prophecies and they're these are really prophecies and they're going to develop this thought going to develop this thought psalm 72 as we recognize i think even before we turn to it it's a prophecy of the turn to it it's a prophecy of the kingdom and that's obvious kingdom and that's obvious of david's greater son who will rule of david's greater son who will rule over the earth in righteousness but as over the earth in righteousness but as our brother was suggesting in the last our brother was suggesting in the last class often prophecies have more than class often prophecies have more than one fulfillment the first fulfillment one fulfillment the first fulfillment being an initial and partial fulfillment being an initial and partial fulfillment which serves as sort of a guide post which serves as sort of a guide post leading us on to the greater fulfillment leading us on to the greater fulfillment in the future and i think the same thing in the future and i think the same thing that sort of thing is happening here that sort of thing is happening here several verses in psalm 72 verse 10 several verses in psalm 72 verse 10 the kings of tarshish and of the isles the kings of tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents the kings of sheba shall bring presents the kings of sheba and siba shall offer gifts sheba and and siba shall offer gifts sheba and sibo were territories in the southern sibo were territories in the southern part of the arabian peninsula part of the arabian peninsula peopled by peopled by arab nations arab nations verse 11 yea all kings shall fall down verse 11 yea all kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him before him all nations shall serve him so we see we're going from the so we see we're going from the the particular and the precise to the the particular and the precise to the absolute there were a few kings that absolute there were a few kings that brought gifts then all kings would bring brought gifts then all kings would bring gifts and this is sort of what i'm gifts and this is sort of what i'm saying a two-step fulfillment saying a two-step fulfillment and verse 15 speaking of the king who and verse 15 speaking of the king who would reign the messiah the son of david would reign the messiah the son of david he shall live and to him shall be given he shall live and to him shall be given of the gold of sheba prayer shall be of the gold of sheba prayer shall be made for him continually and daily shall made for him continually and daily shall he be praised he be praised so again we have sheba mentioned as one so again we have sheba mentioned as one of the arab lands to the south of israel of the arab lands to the south of israel and gold is brought from sheba to be and gold is brought from sheba to be given as a present to the messiah and given as a present to the messiah and the parallel there just seems so precise the parallel there just seems so precise even if it's a partial an imperfect even if it's a partial an imperfect fulfillment fulfillment when psalm 72 is considered as a whole when psalm 72 is considered as a whole but still the point is there that gold but still the point is there that gold is brought from sheba and is given to is brought from sheba and is given to christ and sheba being one of the arab christ and sheba being one of the arab lands we have a direct link then perhaps lands we have a direct link then perhaps with matthew chapter 2 just a suggestion with matthew chapter 2 just a suggestion now the other prophecy that now the other prophecy that gives the same picture is isaiah 60. gives the same picture is isaiah 60. remember that simeon said as we were remember that simeon said as we were looking at it yesterday that this looking at it yesterday that this special child jesus who was born special child jesus who was born would be among other things a light to would be among other things a light to lighten the gentiles lighten the gentiles now isaiah 60 now isaiah 60 which simeon could have been thinking of which simeon could have been thinking of among other passages among other passages reads as follows reads as follows verse 1 arise verse 1 arise shine for thy light is come and the shine for thy light is come and the glory of the lord is risen upon thee for glory of the lord is risen upon thee for behold the darkness shall cover the behold the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people but earth and gross darkness the people but the lord shall arise upon thee and his the lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen glory shall be seen upon thee and the gentiles shall come to upon thee and the gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising it's a picture of gentile thy rising it's a picture of gentile peoples and especially kings for that peoples and especially kings for that matter coming to the rising of a bright matter coming to the rising of a bright light to be found in israel and if we light to be found in israel and if we have any doubt that this refers to the have any doubt that this refers to the messiah all we have to do is go back to messiah all we have to do is go back to the real beginning of this prophecy and the real beginning of this prophecy and remember the chapter division sometimes remember the chapter division sometimes in isaiah and other books don't mean in isaiah and other books don't mean that much the real beginning of the that much the real beginning of the prophecy is isaiah 59 and verse 20 where prophecy is isaiah 59 and verse 20 where we're told that the redeemer shall come we're told that the redeemer shall come to zion and unto them that turn from to zion and unto them that turn from transgression in jacob and so when the transgression in jacob and so when the redeemer himself was born redeemer himself was born as we have been studying the last couple as we have been studying the last couple of days then a great light arises in of days then a great light arises in israel and gentile kings israel and gentile kings come to bring gifts and to worship this come to bring gifts and to worship this particular redeemer this special particular redeemer this special redeemer now redeemer now that doesn't tell us much all by itself that doesn't tell us much all by itself but in verse but in verse 6 we're told something of more detail 6 we're told something of more detail about these kings who come about these kings who come we're told in verse 6 the multitude of we're told in verse 6 the multitude of camels shall cover thee the dromedaries camels shall cover thee the dromedaries of midian and ephah all they from sheba of midian and ephah all they from sheba shall come they shall bring gold and shall come they shall bring gold and incense and again we have a direct link incense and again we have a direct link with matthew chapter 2 and the gold and with matthew chapter 2 and the gold and the frankincense and the myrrh that were the frankincense and the myrrh that were brought by the wise men brought by the wise men they bring they bring in the prophecy of isaiah they bring in the prophecy of isaiah they bring this from midian from ephah from sheba this from midian from ephah from sheba and in verse 7 the flocks of kedar shall and in verse 7 the flocks of kedar shall be gathered together unto thee the be gathered together unto thee the realms of nebioth shall minister unto realms of nebioth shall minister unto thee thee and so forth now and so forth now as we said here's possibly another as we said here's possibly another prophecy that has two fulfillments and prophecy that has two fulfillments and the obvious one brings us into the the obvious one brings us into the kingdom age when all nations will be kingdom age when all nations will be giving their glory and their presence giving their glory and their presence and their gifts of service and sacrifice and their gifts of service and sacrifice to god and to christ his representative to god and to christ his representative at jerusalem but if there is an initial at jerusalem but if there is an initial fulfillment then these wise men are fulfillment then these wise men are bringing their gifts of gold and incense bringing their gifts of gold and incense and they're coming from arab lands and they're coming from arab lands midian ifa sheba midian ifa sheba kidar and nebiyath i think that's an interesting point i think think it's something that might even be it's something that might even be fulfilled in a strange way in the future fulfilled in a strange way in the future when christ does return that the arab when christ does return that the arab peoples in the land have great wealth peoples in the land have great wealth and uh perhaps it isn't too far-fetched and uh perhaps it isn't too far-fetched to imagine that at some point to imagine that at some point after christ has returned and the after christ has returned and the kingdom is being established that these kingdom is being established that these arab peoples not in mass but at least in arab peoples not in mass but at least in part will turn to him and will give part will turn to him and will give service to him and will bring him the service to him and will bring him the gifts that they possess and in fact if gifts that they possess and in fact if we watch the signs of the times we we watch the signs of the times we recognize that uh within the next few recognize that uh within the next few years most of the wealth in the whole years most of the wealth in the whole world is going to be concentrated in the world is going to be concentrated in the arabian nations particularly saudi arabian nations particularly saudi arabia great wealth that could be arabia great wealth that could be brought to christ brought to christ not necessarily that christ needs the not necessarily that christ needs the wealth but as a symbol of devotion and wealth but as a symbol of devotion and recognition and service to the king who recognition and service to the king who will be set up in jerusalem so you can will be set up in jerusalem so you can perhaps put that on the back burner and perhaps put that on the back burner and consider that as a a possibility in the consider that as a a possibility in the future future back to matthew chapter 2. back to matthew chapter 2. now you'll notice uh now you'll notice uh i suggested in both psalm 72 and isaiah i suggested in both psalm 72 and isaiah 60 that these men were kings and of 60 that these men were kings and of course it's a popular thing as we know course it's a popular thing as we know something more of the traditional something more of the traditional christmas story than most people it's a christmas story than most people it's a popular thing to say that uh when we popular thing to say that uh when we have this final christmas carol that have this final christmas carol that begins we three kings of orient are well begins we three kings of orient are well we recognize that we don't know for sure we recognize that we don't know for sure that there were three of them we don't that there were three of them we don't know for sure that they were kings and know for sure that they were kings and we don't know if they came from the we don't know if they came from the orient as such the orient being even orient as such the orient being even further to the east further to the east well i'm suggesting that they could have well i'm suggesting that they could have been kings but been kings but don't quote me on that as something don't quote me on that as something dogmatic but based on psalm 72 and dogmatic but based on psalm 72 and isaiah 60 these indeed could have been isaiah 60 these indeed could have been kings who came from the arabian nations kings who came from the arabian nations as to there being three of them of as to there being three of them of course that's only based on the idea course that's only based on the idea that three gifts were given and that three gifts were given and otherwise there's no basis in scripture otherwise there's no basis in scripture and with that sort of thing we can and with that sort of thing we can dismiss most of the dismiss most of the christian songwriters as being bible christian songwriters as being bible students they just don't quite get it students they just don't quite get it all together all together okay the wise men came okay the wise men came we know they traveled a great distance we can suppose that they traveled in their journeys past cities and oases their journeys past cities and oases that there were comfortable places that that there were comfortable places that they could have stopped but yet they they could have stopped but yet they were following a great light that led were following a great light that led them on them on in their determination they brought to in their determination they brought to jesus a gift that was greater even than jesus a gift that was greater even than gold gold they brought him their obedience they brought him their obedience and it's the greatest thing that we can and it's the greatest thing that we can bring to god that we can bring to christ bring to god that we can bring to christ as his representative we can give as his representative we can give wonderful gifts we can give of our money wonderful gifts we can give of our money we can give of our energies and our we can give of our energies and our efforts and sometimes we're very proud efforts and sometimes we're very proud of the fact and we become like people of the fact and we become like people that jesus spoke of in his parables that jesus spoke of in his parables those whom he saw in the temple who those whom he saw in the temple who would cast in of their great abundance would cast in of their great abundance and would think they were doing and would think they were doing wonderful things but the greatest thing wonderful things but the greatest thing we can give to god is our obedience and we can give to god is our obedience and this is the gift the true gift that the this is the gift the true gift that the wise men brought wise men brought what did we learn from the wise men we what did we learn from the wise men we learned that they submerged their learned that they submerged their problems because they had a common goal problems because they had a common goal they may have even come from different they may have even come from different places and then as they began to follow places and then as they began to follow this great light led on by the knowledge this great light led on by the knowledge that at the end they would find the king that at the end they would find the king they were brought together and perhaps they were brought together and perhaps they didn't even like one another they didn't even like one another perhaps they argued perhaps they had perhaps they argued perhaps they had problems but problems but it is easy to imagine that their it is easy to imagine that their practicality would urge them to submerge practicality would urge them to submerge their problems and their difficulties their problems and their difficulties because they had a common goal and they because they had a common goal and they traveled together and they were called traveled together and they were called wise men and if we are wise we realize wise men and if we are wise we realize that we're following a common goal even that we're following a common goal even though we might disagree about though we might disagree about particulars even though in this sort of particulars even though in this sort of an analogy some of us might think we an analogy some of us might think we should climb right over the mountain and should climb right over the mountain and others think we should go around but yet others think we should go around but yet we're both going we're all going to the we're both going we're all going to the same same goal we're seeking the kingdom goal we're seeking the kingdom and we must travel together which is and we must travel together which is just another way i think of just another way i think of expressing what paul said that we should expressing what paul said that we should be subject to one another that we should be subject to one another that we should love one another that we should submerge love one another that we should submerge these difficulties because we are all these difficulties because we are all one body and we have one head and that one body and we have one head and that head is christ what was the star again i'm going to make a suggestion again i'm going to make a suggestion here which might be new and i'm not here which might be new and i'm not in doing this saying that other in doing this saying that other possibilities are possibilities are far off the mark far off the mark you're free to keep the thoughts that you're free to keep the thoughts that you you have perhaps developed already i'm just have perhaps developed already i'm just offering another suggestion what was the offering another suggestion what was the star star some have suggested that the star was uh some have suggested that the star was uh what's called a supernova a great star what's called a supernova a great star explosion in the heavens and there are explosion in the heavens and there are different possibilities suggested by different possibilities suggested by astronomers who've looked into this astronomers who've looked into this thing as to how this might have happened thing as to how this might have happened others figure that uh the various others figure that uh the various planets that can be seen at particular planets that can be seen at particular times from the earth like mercury and times from the earth like mercury and venus got together in a sort of a venus got together in a sort of a special conjunction in the heavens that special conjunction in the heavens that would be seen late in the evening or would be seen late in the evening or early in the morning and this was a sign early in the morning and this was a sign that the astronomers were looking for that the astronomers were looking for others suggest something special like a others suggest something special like a comet or a meteor that they then saw in comet or a meteor that they then saw in the heavens and they followed the heavens and they followed i don't particularly like any of those i don't particularly like any of those suggestions suggestions it's because i have what i think is a it's because i have what i think is a better one and better one and you can follow my reasoning and if you you can follow my reasoning and if you think so wonderful tell me about it think so wonderful tell me about it later if you think i don't make any later if you think i don't make any sense keep it to yourself sense keep it to yourself [Music] what do we know about the star we're told that the star was seen by the wise told that the star was seen by the wise men that they could follow it men that they could follow it to judea to judea we're told that we're told that the star led them first to jerusalem the star led them first to jerusalem because that's where they found herod because that's where they found herod now we're told or at least we're not now we're told or at least we're not told that herod saw the star apparently told that herod saw the star apparently he was blind to it whatever it was he was blind to it whatever it was so so it might be reasonable to suppose that it might be reasonable to suppose that this was a star or a great light that this was a star or a great light that could be seen by some could be seen by some and not seen by others and not seen by others and uh as i'm going through these points and uh as i'm going through these points i'll just mention here uh maybe you'll i'll just mention here uh maybe you'll see where i'm getting but see where i'm getting but in exodus in exodus remember that the glory of god became a remember that the glory of god became a great light to the jews and became great great light to the jews and became great darkness to the egyptians who pursued darkness to the egyptians who pursued after them and in fact became a wall after them and in fact became a wall through which they could not pass as through which they could not pass as they were seeking to they were seeking to follow and attack the jews who were follow and attack the jews who were fleeing from egypt fleeing from egypt okay enough of that the star disappeared from the wise men's view after they reached jerusalem we see view after they reached jerusalem we see this in verse 8 and verse 9 this in verse 8 and verse 9 and it reappeared suddenly because we and it reappeared suddenly because we read in verse 9 and lo read in verse 9 and lo which is behold the star which they saw which is behold the star which they saw in the east went before them it's the in the east went before them it's the idea that the star brought them as far idea that the star brought them as far as jerusalem then they didn't quite know as jerusalem then they didn't quite know where to go from here and they were where to go from here and they were asking and then again as herod had told asking and then again as herod had told them you must go to bethlehem as they them you must go to bethlehem as they started toward bethlehem lo or behold started toward bethlehem lo or behold the star appeared again and led them the the star appeared again and led them the rest of the journey till it came to the rest of the journey till it came to the place where the young child was place where the young child was what else do we know about the star we what else do we know about the star we know then as a sort of a conclusion that know then as a sort of a conclusion that the star changed directions because the star changed directions because unless they were coming from the direct unless they were coming from the direct north we suppose in any of our north we suppose in any of our possibilities they were coming from the possibilities they were coming from the east let's figure out the directions east let's figure out the directions they were coming from the east they were coming from the east they came to jerusalem following the they came to jerusalem following the star and then finally the star led them star and then finally the star led them south a few miles to bethlehem south a few miles to bethlehem so a very strange star isn't it that can so a very strange star isn't it that can change directions change directions besides the fact that this star would besides the fact that this star would lead them to a precise place and if we lead them to a precise place and if we can imagine here what was happening then can imagine here what was happening then it was almost like a procession here was it was almost like a procession here was the star leading them the star leading them in a rather strange way apparently not in a rather strange way apparently not too far away that they couldn't tell the too far away that they couldn't tell the exact direction that they should go exact direction that they should go leading them and they followed behind in leading them and they followed behind in a procession a procession and finally the star stopped over a and finally the star stopped over a certain place and they knew they had certain place and they knew they had come to their destination now if we put come to their destination now if we put all this together all this together what do we have we have a remarkably what do we have we have a remarkably similar picture to what happened to the similar picture to what happened to the jews as they left egypt jews as they left egypt they followed a great light the glory of they followed a great light the glory of god the glory of god led them out of god the glory of god led them out of egypt and they followed sometimes during egypt and they followed sometimes during the day the glory of god disappeared and the day the glory of god disappeared and became a pillar at night it could be became a pillar at night it could be seen brightly at least this is the seen brightly at least this is the one way of reading the narrative one way of reading the narrative sometimes the great light the glory of sometimes the great light the glory of god's presence the pillar of fire god's presence the pillar of fire sometimes it stopped sometimes it stopped and they knew that they must camp and and they knew that they must camp and wait for further direction and finally wait for further direction and finally when they got to the promised land it when they got to the promised land it disappeared or more particularly it was disappeared or more particularly it was taken the glory of god was taken and taken the glory of god was taken and made its presence in the tabernacle and made its presence in the tabernacle and later in the temple so what we have later in the temple so what we have there have here is the wise men there have here is the wise men following in a sort of procession following in a sort of procession following a great light which was called following a great light which was called a star and yet was it a star or was it a star and yet was it a star or was it in fact the glory of god leading the way in fact the glory of god leading the way to bring others to his son who was the to bring others to his son who was the true light of the world i think that if true light of the world i think that if we see this as a direct intervention we see this as a direct intervention from god and we don't bother in looking from god and we don't bother in looking out into all the possibilities and out into all the possibilities and science that have been suggested around science that have been suggested around us then we may be coming closer to the us then we may be coming closer to the truth of the matter verse 3 when herod the king had heard these things he was troubled in all these things he was troubled in all jerusalem with him for they had come jerusalem with him for they had come into the city now they were wondering into the city now they were wondering where should they go where is he that is where should they go where is he that is born king of the jews and so herod hears born king of the jews and so herod hears and if you know something about the man and if you know something about the man heritage you know that when he hears and heritage you know that when he hears and when he is upset the whole city is upset when he is upset the whole city is upset too and we know that because herod was a too and we know that because herod was a man who if you ever crossed him you man who if you ever crossed him you might as well write your will might as well write your will herod herod put to death even one of his wives and put to death even one of his wives and even some of his children he was in fact even some of his children he was in fact finally toward the end of his life a finally toward the end of his life a madman consumed with the idea that madman consumed with the idea that others were plotting against him to take others were plotting against him to take his throne his throne he was a very wise man a very cunning he was a very wise man a very cunning man but apparently his depravity man but apparently his depravity his eagerness for power his ambition his eagerness for power his ambition finally drove him right over the brink finally drove him right over the brink and he becomes practically a caricature and he becomes practically a caricature of the rulers of this world who are led of the rulers of this world who are led astray by the pursuit of power and astray by the pursuit of power and riches and can't see in their very midst riches and can't see in their very midst that which is much greater than the that which is much greater than the world can offer and when herod had gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the the chief priests and scribes of the people he demanded of them where christ people he demanded of them where christ should be born and they said unto him in should be born and they said unto him in bethlehem of judea for thus it is bethlehem of judea for thus it is written and thou o bethlehem in the land written and thou o bethlehem in the land of judah art not the least among the of judah art not the least among the princes of judah for out of these shall princes of judah for out of these shall come a governor that shall rule my come a governor that shall rule my people israel and of course that's a people israel and of course that's a prophecy from micah 5 we've mentioned it prophecy from micah 5 we've mentioned it once before in one of our other classes once before in one of our other classes herod had to turn to those who were the herod had to turn to those who were the scholars in israel to find out where the scholars in israel to find out where the king was to be born and yet when he king was to be born and yet when he heard of his birth heard of his birth he he determined at that point to kill him to determined at that point to kill him to remove any opposition to his own rule remove any opposition to his own rule his own authority his own authority jesus was to be born in bethlehem jesus was to be born in bethlehem the name bethlehem means the house of the name bethlehem means the house of bread bread out of the house of bread came jesus who out of the house of bread came jesus who was the bread of life who was in fact was the bread of life who was in fact the bread that came down from heaven the the bread that came down from heaven the manna of god such that if a man eat he manna of god such that if a man eat he would never hunger again and so herod says in verse 8 speaking to the wise men being very crafty and the wise men being very crafty and cunning and that's just the way herod cunning and that's just the way herod could be herod says in verse 8 could be herod says in verse 8 go and search diligently for the young go and search diligently for the young child and when you have found him bring child and when you have found him bring me word again that i may come and me word again that i may come and worship him and of course we know what worship him and of course we know what he was plotting he was plotting the he was plotting he was plotting the death of the child to remove anything death of the child to remove anything that opposed him that opposed him go in search and when you find him come go in search and when you find him come back and i will come and lay everything back and i will come and lay everything before him he who will be the true king before him he who will be the true king in israel in israel what a lie it was what a despicable lie what a lie it was what a despicable lie and yet there's a lesson there i think and yet there's a lesson there i think that if we take the attitude of herod that if we take the attitude of herod and if we say to others you go in search and if we say to others you go in search and you find what's right and wrong and and you find what's right and wrong and then you come back and tell me then you come back and tell me rather than saying if this is the truth rather than saying if this is the truth or if this is the king let us go and or if this is the king let us go and find it or him find it or him then we can be guilty of the same lie if then we can be guilty of the same lie if we send others as our representatives on we send others as our representatives on our behalf to find the truth for us to our behalf to find the truth for us to live the truth to preach the truth and live the truth to preach the truth and then we say will you come back later and then we say will you come back later and get us just like herod said get us just like herod said we are deceiving god and we are we are deceiving god and we are deceiving ourselves deceiving ourselves and we may not be those who literally and we may not be those who literally would seek the death of christ but we're would seek the death of christ but we're doing what paul says in hebrews 10 is doing what paul says in hebrews 10 is despite our scorn to the one who died despite our scorn to the one who died for us and we're treading him under foot for us and we're treading him under foot and we're treating him as an open and we're treating him as an open shameful and contemptible thing shameful and contemptible thing that he is not worth enough that we that he is not worth enough that we would go and find the place where he is would go and find the place where he is and seek to obey him to the best of our and seek to obey him to the best of our ability and so the wise men come in verse 11 and they enter into the house remember we they enter into the house remember we said this is now a house and not the said this is now a house and not the stable indicating that joseph and mary stable indicating that joseph and mary have apparently taken up residence here have apparently taken up residence here they saw the young child with mary his they saw the young child with mary his mother and they fell down and worshiped mother and they fell down and worshiped him and when they had opened their him and when they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts treasures they presented unto him gifts gold and incense and myrrh gold and incense and myrrh gold is a symbol of tried faith it's gold is a symbol of tried faith it's used by peter in first peter chapter one used by peter in first peter chapter one and verse seven it is a comparison of and verse seven it is a comparison of uh the preciousness of faith which has uh the preciousness of faith which has been tried by fire been tried by fire i think that's important they came and i think that's important they came and they finally when they arrived they finally when they arrived offered the gift of a tried faith you offered the gift of a tried faith you know when we begin our journey in the know when we begin our journey in the truth our probation and our sojourn truth our probation and our sojourn through the world through the world leading to the kingdom we have a faith leading to the kingdom we have a faith no doubt but it's a faith that hasn't no doubt but it's a faith that hasn't been tried but when we finally come to been tried but when we finally come to the end and find jesus if we can present the end and find jesus if we can present to him the gift of a faith that has been to him the gift of a faith that has been tried in the fires of life that has been tried in the fires of life that has been purified in difficulties and purified in difficulties and persecutions and hard decisions then in persecutions and hard decisions then in fact it will be a gift that is worth fact it will be a gift that is worth much it will be a gift that has been much it will be a gift that has been tempered by obedience and by long tempered by obedience and by long careful looking forward to the end it careful looking forward to the end it will be a tried faith which is in the will be a tried faith which is in the sight of god even more precious than sight of god even more precious than gold which perishes gold which perishes they brought also frankincense which is they brought also frankincense which is symbolized which is a symbol in symbolized which is a symbol in scripture of the prayers of the saints scripture of the prayers of the saints psalm 141 and verse 2 revelation 8 and psalm 141 and verse 2 revelation 8 and verse 4. verse 4. and finally they brought myrrh and finally they brought myrrh which symbolizes self-sacrifice and was which symbolizes self-sacrifice and was used in preparing bodies for burial and used in preparing bodies for burial and was in fact used in the burial of christ was in fact used in the burial of christ so they brought three gifts one which so they brought three gifts one which symbolized kingship symbolized kingship the gold the gold the gold of the king the gold of a crown the gold of the king the gold of a crown one which symbolized christ's role as a one which symbolized christ's role as a mediator between god and man the mediator between god and man the frankincense the prayers of the saints frankincense the prayers of the saints that arose to god is a sweet-smelling that arose to god is a sweet-smelling savor savor and they brought myrrh the symbol of and they brought myrrh the symbol of death burial self-sacrifice speaking of death burial self-sacrifice speaking of the sacrificial role of christ and the sacrificial role of christ and giving his life for the sins of the giving his life for the sins of the world and so the three gifts then speak world and so the three gifts then speak of the three aspects of christ's work on of the three aspects of christ's work on our behalf our behalf and if we take them in the reverse order and if we take them in the reverse order we have first of all myrrh his sacrifice we have first of all myrrh his sacrifice secondly christ as a mediator through secondly christ as a mediator through the frankincense that arise that arises the frankincense that arise that arises in prayer and thirdly christ is the king in prayer and thirdly christ is the king who will come and reign like wise men we follow the star we travel a long road we follow the star we travel a long road but we keep our eye on that which is set but we keep our eye on that which is set before us before us and god says in his holy word in the old and god says in his holy word in the old testament that his word his scriptures testament that his word his scriptures are a light unto our path are a light unto our path a lamp that leads us forward that gives a lamp that leads us forward that gives us light in a dark and perverse and us light in a dark and perverse and crooked and cruel and evil world that crooked and cruel and evil world that leads us onward through the darkness leads us onward through the darkness toward the light of god's kingdom in toward the light of god's kingdom in god's glory we follow a long road and some of us fall asleep along the and some of us fall asleep along the trail trail but we know that when we come to the end but we know that when we come to the end we will find all of those who have we will find all of those who have accompanied us on the journey accompanied us on the journey along with the wise men along with the wise men who took one journey and found a babe in who took one journey and found a babe in a manger but perhaps a manger but perhaps we suspect then began a longer journey we suspect then began a longer journey of service and devotion to god and will of service and devotion to god and will in fact at the end of that journey like in fact at the end of that journey like us find not a baby in a not a baby in a us find not a baby in a not a baby in a house not a baby hell in his mother's house not a baby hell in his mother's arms but will in fact find a king upon a arms but will in fact find a king upon a throne what happened to the gifts i think it's a reasonable i think it's a reasonable supposition that the gold itself if it supposition that the gold itself if it was worth much if there was much of it was worth much if there was much of it as a matter of fact would then be used as a matter of fact would then be used providentially to sustain the family as providentially to sustain the family as they fled into egypt because here was they fled into egypt because here was joseph already who perhaps left one job joseph already who perhaps left one job in one home had gone into bethlehem and in one home had gone into bethlehem and the times were difficult and he wouldn't the times were difficult and he wouldn't have much to take care of his family and have much to take care of his family and now again he's being asked to leave and now again he's being asked to leave and go into egypt well there were uh go into egypt well there were uh large communities of jews in egypt and large communities of jews in egypt and there the little family could be there the little family could be sheltered and protected but here they sheltered and protected but here they were again going into another strange were again going into another strange place and the gold then would be place and the gold then would be providentially provided to make that providentially provided to make that trip and to support them perhaps until trip and to support them perhaps until joseph could find work to take care of joseph could find work to take care of his family what happened to the myrrh is it too far-fetched to suppose that is it too far-fetched to suppose that mary with a sword piercing her own soul mary with a sword piercing her own soul also and knowing that this child that also and knowing that this child that was born to her would be a child was born to her would be a child destined to die and die in a special way destined to die and die in a special way is it too much to suppose that mary is it too much to suppose that mary as she took the thoughts of god and kept as she took the thoughts of god and kept them and pondered them might also take them and pondered them might also take the myrrh and keep it and wrap it up and the myrrh and keep it and wrap it up and cherish it and look forward to the time cherish it and look forward to the time in sorrow and yet with joy in sorrow and yet with joy that that myrrh would serve its purpose that that myrrh would serve its purpose that the gift of the kings who came from that the gift of the kings who came from the east the east which which showed the kingship of christ even at showed the kingship of christ even at his birth would then seal his perfect his birth would then seal his perfect life as he was prepared for burial i life as he was prepared for burial i don't think it's too far-fetched i think don't think it's too far-fetched i think in fact that could have been what mary in fact that could have been what mary did did waiting for the sacrifice of christ now we move into the second section of matthew 2 the second section of matthew 2 verse 13. verse 13. and when they were departed behold the and when they were departed behold the angel of the lord appeared to joseph in angel of the lord appeared to joseph in a dream saying arise and take the young a dream saying arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into egypt child and his mother and flee into egypt and be thou there until i bring thee and be thou there until i bring thee word for herod will seek the young child word for herod will seek the young child to destroy him to destroy him when he arose he took the young child when he arose he took the young child and his mother by night and departed and his mother by night and departed into egypt and was there until the death into egypt and was there until the death of herod that it might be fulfilled of herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the lord by the which was spoken of the lord by the prophet saying out of egypt have i prophet saying out of egypt have i called my son called my son this portion of matthew could be called this portion of matthew could be called the egypt section it is the anti-type of the egypt section it is the anti-type of old testament history found in genesis old testament history found in genesis and exodus our brother in our previous and exodus our brother in our previous class was pointing out to us how god class was pointing out to us how god operated in old testament times and this operated in old testament times and this becomes a pattern of what god does in becomes a pattern of what god does in the new testament with his son there was the new testament with his son there was a plural son in old testament times who a plural son in old testament times who was called the firstborn and this was was called the firstborn and this was the nation of israel the nation of israel this nation of israel then gives way to this nation of israel then gives way to a certain extent in god's purpose and we a certain extent in god's purpose and we come to the new testament and we find come to the new testament and we find that to a certain degree this israel is that to a certain degree this israel is rejected or at least set aside for the rejected or at least set aside for the time being while god now begins to work time being while god now begins to work with an individual son who is also with an individual son who is also called his firstborn son so there is his called his firstborn son so there is his firstborn in the plural national sense firstborn in the plural national sense and the firstborn in the singular and the firstborn in the singular individual sense which is christ individual sense which is christ and we find christ undergoing the same and we find christ undergoing the same sort of trials in his early life leading sort of trials in his early life leading up to up to the time of his ministry and even his the time of his ministry and even his death and his resurrection the same death and his resurrection the same things that we see happening to israel things that we see happening to israel in the old testament we see him going in the old testament we see him going down into egypt being delivered out of down into egypt being delivered out of egypt all for the preservation of his egypt all for the preservation of his life we see him thereafter as a matter life we see him thereafter as a matter of fact being baptized which was of fact being baptized which was patterned by the nation of israel being patterned by the nation of israel being baptized in the red sea after his baptized in the red sea after his baptism we see jesus going into the baptism we see jesus going into the wilderness where for 40 days he was wilderness where for 40 days he was tempted and was perfect and showed tempted and was perfect and showed himself truly to be the firstborn of god himself truly to be the firstborn of god in his perfect obedience which again was in his perfect obedience which again was patterned by the 40 years trek of the patterned by the 40 years trek of the jews in the wilderness leading to the jews in the wilderness leading to the promised land we have so many analogies promised land we have so many analogies like this developed in christ and christ like this developed in christ and christ of course is the true israel israel of course is the true israel israel meaning the prince with god christ is meaning the prince with god christ is the one who truly deserves the right to the one who truly deserves the right to be prince or king and to rule with god be prince or king and to rule with god because of his perfect obedience christ because of his perfect obedience christ becomes therefore the true israel as he becomes therefore the true israel as he was in fact the true judah the one who was in fact the true judah the one who truly gives praise to god in all of his truly gives praise to god in all of his life and all of his actions life and all of his actions now we call this the egypt section also now we call this the egypt section also because of joseph like the first joseph because of joseph like the first joseph in old testament times this joseph in old testament times this joseph dreamed dreams and god gave him special dreamed dreams and god gave him special revelations and then he acted like the revelations and then he acted like the first joseph this joseph led israel and first joseph this joseph led israel and the person of christ into egypt that his the person of christ into egypt that his life might be preserved and then saw life might be preserved and then saw that it was in fact preserved and that it was in fact preserved and finally israel and the person of christ finally israel and the person of christ the hope of israel returned out of egypt the hope of israel returned out of egypt back into the promised land and so they fled into egypt we have to imagine this scene like we do the others imagine this scene like we do the others this little lonely family wondering this little lonely family wondering where god is going to send them next and where god is going to send them next and yet they obey because they are told and yet they obey because they are told and joseph takes this initiative and moves joseph takes this initiative and moves as god has told him not knowing where as god has told him not knowing where they will go not knowing where they will they will go not knowing where they will finally wind up but going forward in finally wind up but going forward in faith because god has said this must be faith because god has said this must be done done and we think of the sort of trip it was and we think of the sort of trip it was and here they were already cut off from and here they were already cut off from their family and now another step would their family and now another step would be taken and who would know what would be taken and who would know what would come of them it's almost as though come of them it's almost as though they're submerged and buried in egypt they're submerged and buried in egypt until the time that god calls them back until the time that god calls them back do we have that kind of faith do we have do we have that kind of faith do we have the kind of faith that would accept what the kind of faith that would accept what god tells joseph here be thou there in god tells joseph here be thou there in egypt until i bring the word not saying egypt until i bring the word not saying oh wait six months or so and then i'll oh wait six months or so and then i'll call you but saying be there until call you but saying be there until and until is such a word we don't know and until is such a word we don't know the end of it and this was joseph and the end of it and this was joseph and this was their situation this was their situation we i think have the same philosophy if we i think have the same philosophy if we can truly say if the lord will we we can truly say if the lord will we will do this or that instead of trying will do this or that instead of trying to circumvent his purpose and step to circumvent his purpose and step around it and go forward and do our own around it and go forward and do our own thing and say tomorrow i will go into thing and say tomorrow i will go into the city and do this or that and buy and the city and do this or that and buy and sell but if we save sell but if we save with all that we do or if at least that with all that we do or if at least that thought is implicit that if the lord thought is implicit that if the lord will these things will happen and if we will these things will happen and if we truly commit ourselves into his hands truly commit ourselves into his hands then i think our way through life will then i think our way through life will be led in a much better a much more be led in a much better a much more faithful way than if we try to take our faithful way than if we try to take our fate into our own hands what about this prophecy verse 15 out of egypt have i called my son egypt have i called my son as we've been hearing this week hosea is as we've been hearing this week hosea is a very enigmatic prophecy and i think a very enigmatic prophecy and i think there are two themes as our brother has there are two themes as our brother has been developing in the book of hosea been developing in the book of hosea there is god's loving treatment of his there is god's loving treatment of his nation israel under the figures of an nation israel under the figures of an unfaithful wife being brought back to unfaithful wife being brought back to him or perhaps a wayward child as we him or perhaps a wayward child as we read in hosea 11 a child that was going read in hosea 11 a child that was going astray until god takes that child and astray until god takes that child and lifts it up and carries it in the right lifts it up and carries it in the right way and sustains it until it goes way and sustains it until it goes forward and so this theme is the theme forward and so this theme is the theme of god's continuing love for his nation of god's continuing love for his nation and there is a second theme that works and there is a second theme that works right in with it and that is israel's right in with it and that is israel's continuing rejection of him and so we continuing rejection of him and so we have god's love is shown through the have god's love is shown through the many wonderful things that he did to the many wonderful things that he did to the nation of israel caring for them as a nation of israel caring for them as a father does for a child and yet they father does for a child and yet they rejected him and we carry this forward rejected him and we carry this forward to the book of matthew particularly the to the book of matthew particularly the gospel of matthew even more than the gospel of matthew even more than the other gospels and we see in the gospel other gospels and we see in the gospel of matthew of matthew two two main themes we see god's love for his main themes we see god's love for his people and giving them a king and we see people and giving them a king and we see secondly as sort of the secondly as sort of the uh uh what's the musical word you have uh one what's the musical word you have uh one sound and then the alternate sound the sound and then the alternate sound the opposite uh this sort of a thing where opposite uh this sort of a thing where there is first of all god's love in there is first of all god's love in giving his people a king and secondly as giving his people a king and secondly as a result of that there is the people's a result of that there is the people's rejection of that king there is love rejection of that king there is love shown by god to man and then there is shown by god to man and then there is man's rejection of god's love it's shown man's rejection of god's love it's shown throughout the book of matthew here was throughout the book of matthew here was god sending his son to be king and bring god sending his son to be king and bring peace and redeem israel and here was peace and redeem israel and here was herod the the pseudo king of israel herod the the pseudo king of israel rejecting this offer and right through rejecting this offer and right through christ's life and his ministry the same christ's life and his ministry the same thing is done and his parables reflect thing is done and his parables reflect this of the son who comes from his this of the son who comes from his father to the vineyard and the father father to the vineyard and the father says surely they will reverence my son says surely they will reverence my son and i will send him to them and yet they and i will send him to them and yet they reject the son they reject god's offer reject the son they reject god's offer of love this is indeed what is happening of love this is indeed what is happening here and we're seeing the pattern of here and we're seeing the pattern of christ's whole life and what happened at christ's whole life and what happened at his birth that here was god's offer of his birth that here was god's offer of love to the nation of israel and it was love to the nation of israel and it was rejected and this rejection is shown in herod's brutal brutal murder of the children of bethlehem murder of the children of bethlehem after jesus had left we read of this in after jesus had left we read of this in verse 16. then herod when he saw that he verse 16. then herod when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men because they was mocked of the wise men because they had turned aside and gone the other way had turned aside and gone the other way without returning to telling where the without returning to telling where the little child was when herod saw that he little child was when herod saw that he was mocked he was exceeding wrath and was mocked he was exceeding wrath and sent forth and slew all the children of sent forth and slew all the children of bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under according from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men there's our inquired of the wise men there's our two-year period that we were talking two-year period that we were talking about before about before then was fulfilled that which was spoken then was fulfilled that which was spoken by jeremiah the prophet in rhema was by jeremiah the prophet in rhema was there a voice heard lamentation and there a voice heard lamentation and weeping and great mourning rachel weeping and great mourning rachel weeping for her children and would not weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are not be comforted because they are not in this citation from jeremiah chapter in this citation from jeremiah chapter 31 verse 15 we have together life and 31 verse 15 we have together life and death the life of christ being preserved death the life of christ being preserved but at the same time the death of the but at the same time the death of the other children to be found in bethlehem other children to be found in bethlehem the birth of god's only begotten son the the birth of god's only begotten son the death of other children the creation death of other children the creation itself subject to vanity and here in itself subject to vanity and here in fact is the reason why god sent his son fact is the reason why god sent his son into the world that all the world is into the world that all the world is subject to the hatred that was subject to the hatred that was exemplified by herod exemplified by herod killing and being killed hating and killing and being killed hating and being hated turning aside from god in being hated turning aside from god in every particular and this is why israel every particular and this is why israel needed god's son the picture is a broad one we won't bother especially with the analogy in bother especially with the analogy in jeremiah which speaks of israel itself jeremiah which speaks of israel itself as being the children of rachel first as being the children of rachel first carried into the land of captivity then carried into the land of captivity then brought again you'll find it in jeremiah brought again you'll find it in jeremiah 31 verses 10 and 15 and 16 and 17. that 31 verses 10 and 15 and 16 and 17. that is the basis the foundation of this is the basis the foundation of this prophecy but what we see here is a sort prophecy but what we see here is a sort of to me a sort of of to me a sort of broad overview of what human history has broad overview of what human history has been that there have been deaths in the been that there have been deaths in the midst of life that even as god works his midst of life that even as god works his purpose there are so many who turn aside purpose there are so many who turn aside there's so many who perish without hope there's so many who perish without hope and there have been many rituals and there have been many rituals throughout the history throughout the history of this world this earth and mankind of this world this earth and mankind many rachels who have wept for their many rachels who have wept for their children that died who have wept for children that died who have wept for their husbands who have wept for their their husbands who have wept for their fathers fathers because israel rejected their god because israel rejected their god because mankind rejected the offer of because mankind rejected the offer of hope and love and truth hope and love and truth and this is in fact what we see and this is in fact what we see the human condition around us and so we read in verse 19 when herod was dead behold an angel of the lord was dead behold an angel of the lord appeareth in a dream appeareth in a dream to joseph in egypt saying arise and take to joseph in egypt saying arise and take the young child and his mother and going the young child and his mother and going to the land of israel for they are dead to the land of israel for they are dead which sought the young child's life and which sought the young child's life and he arose and took the young child and he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of his mother and came into the land of israel but when he heard that archelaus israel but when he heard that archelaus did reign in judea in the room of his did reign in judea in the room of his father herod he was afraid to go thither father herod he was afraid to go thither notwithstanding being warned of god in a notwithstanding being warned of god in a dream he turned aside into the parts of dream he turned aside into the parts of galilee and now as i suggested at the galilee and now as i suggested at the beginning this is where to fit together beginning this is where to fit together the two parallel gospels this is where the two parallel gospels this is where we put luke 2 and verse 39 they now come we put luke 2 and verse 39 they now come into galilee into the city of nazareth into galilee into the city of nazareth and he came and dwelt in a city called and he came and dwelt in a city called nazareth that it might be fulfilled nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets he which was spoken by the prophets he shall be called a nazarene shall be called a nazarene why was it that joseph intended that he why was it that joseph intended that he felt that bethlehem near jerusalem would felt that bethlehem near jerusalem would be the right place probably because it be the right place probably because it was the city of david and here was was the city of david and here was david's greater son david's greater son probably because it was the proper home probably because it was the proper home for the son of the highest in that it for the son of the highest in that it had the greatest rabbis just a few miles had the greatest rabbis just a few miles away in jerusalem there was the temple away in jerusalem there was the temple in the center of god's worship there in the center of god's worship there would be the best schools here would be would be the best schools here would be the best opportunities and the best the best opportunities and the best training for god's son at least joseph training for god's son at least joseph thought so and yet he was wrong thought so and yet he was wrong god sent his son into nazareth into a god sent his son into nazareth into a little secluded backwater of israel it little secluded backwater of israel it was as though in the minds of the was as though in the minds of the ordinary jews to live in jerusalem or in ordinary jews to live in jerusalem or in judea was to be in the holy place this judea was to be in the holy place this was the place where god had chosen was the place where god had chosen everyone who was anybody wanted to be in everyone who was anybody wanted to be in jerusalem but god took his son and said jerusalem but god took his son and said that's not the place for you go into that's not the place for you go into nazareth go into galilee and there they nazareth go into galilee and there they went back into the area which was called went back into the area which was called the court of the gentiles which was the court of the gentiles which was almost separated altogether at least in almost separated altogether at least in the minds of the devout from the worship the minds of the devout from the worship of of the god of israel it was a place where the god of israel it was a place where there were as many gentiles as there there were as many gentiles as there were jews it was a place which was dirty were jews it was a place which was dirty and despicable in the minds of the true and despicable in the minds of the true enlightened jewish people who worshipped enlightened jewish people who worshipped at the temple at the temple and it was in fact a life which would and it was in fact a life which would lead joseph and mary back to lead joseph and mary back to scandal and gossip scandal and gossip back to neighbors who would look as mary back to neighbors who would look as mary passed in the street and would whisper passed in the street and would whisper to one another and say you remember mary to one another and say you remember mary she was the one who left and came back she was the one who left and came back she was pregnant she was pregnant and in fact and in fact this no doubt gives rise to some of the this no doubt gives rise to some of the things that were said of jesus later things that were said of jesus later say we not that thou art a samaritan and say we not that thou art a samaritan and has to devil we be not born of has to devil we be not born of fornication as you were and god took fornication as you were and god took joseph and mary and jesus as he grew up joseph and mary and jesus as he grew up and put them into this very situation and put them into this very situation that jesus might grow up and experience that jesus might grow up and experience this sort of rejection this sort of rejection this sort of hateful attitudes to be this sort of hateful attitudes to be found in other people that he might found in other people that he might learn perhaps to comfort those who have learn perhaps to comfort those who have experienced the same difficulties those experienced the same difficulties those who have sinned who have sinned and so it was better to grow up in lowly and so it was better to grow up in lowly despised nazareth to be the son of a despised nazareth to be the son of a poor carpenter to have a shadow of doubt poor carpenter to have a shadow of doubt hanging over christ's life in his hanging over christ's life in his existence it was better to do that than existence it was better to do that than to be a king or the heir of a king to be a king or the heir of a king sitting in a palace and waiting for his sitting in a palace and waiting for his turn to reign because thereby god was turn to reign because thereby god was preparing his son through suffering that preparing his son through suffering that he might bring salvation to himself and he might bring salvation to himself and salvation to others and we see in the salvation to others and we see in the life of christ the scenes that came out life of christ the scenes that came out of this childhood a poor childhood we of this childhood a poor childhood we see christ talking of the grinding and see christ talking of the grinding and the baking of the mother mending the the baking of the mother mending the garments which would only be done i garments which would only be done i suppose by the poor or the middle class suppose by the poor or the middle class family certainly not by the rich family certainly not by the rich of perhaps uh jesus speaking of the of perhaps uh jesus speaking of the woman searching for the one lost coin woman searching for the one lost coin and how many of us searched diligently and how many of us searched diligently for a lost coin unless we desperately for a lost coin unless we desperately need that coin and what it can buy need that coin and what it can buy and maybe again when jesus speaks of the and maybe again when jesus speaks of the poor widow going to the judge we have poor widow going to the judge we have just a little insight into his later just a little insight into his later life as it developed and joseph died and life as it developed and joseph died and jesus was left as a child or a young man jesus was left as a child or a young man growing up observing his mother growing up observing his mother struggling against difficulties pleading struggling against difficulties pleading with a judge to take her cause because with a judge to take her cause because she had a large family to raise and she had a large family to raise and there was no one to help there was no one to help this is the way god prepared his son and this is the way god prepared his son and why should we expect that he would why should we expect that he would prepare us for his kingdom in any prepare us for his kingdom in any different way why should we expect that different way why should we expect that our way through life is smooth and all our way through life is smooth and all shade and no sun beating down upon us shade and no sun beating down upon us and no difficulties and no opposition and no difficulties and no opposition why should we why should we expect that god would treat us better expect that god would treat us better than his son than his son and in fact if we put it the other way and in fact if we put it the other way around this was indeed the best way to around this was indeed the best way to treat his son and god loves us so much treat his son and god loves us so much that in our difficulties and trials of that in our difficulties and trials of life he's treating us the same way life he's treating us the same way because this is the way we are prepared because this is the way we are prepared for his kingdom for his kingdom and so we see in jesus that no man need and so we see in jesus that no man need ever be ashamed ever be ashamed of where he came from of where he came from how he makes the living as long as it's how he makes the living as long as it's honest honest no man need ever be ashamed of what no man need ever be ashamed of what accent he speaks with because the accent he speaks with because the galileans spoke with a special accent galileans spoke with a special accent no man need ever be ashamed of what he no man need ever be ashamed of what he wears or where he lives wears or where he lives nor should any man ever glory in those nor should any man ever glory in those things things because they are all secondary to the because they are all secondary to the purpose of god purpose of god and we read as a conclusion what was and we read as a conclusion what was said in jeremiah chapter 9 speaking of said in jeremiah chapter 9 speaking of this very sort of situation this very sort of situation jeremiah 9 verse 23 thus saith the lord let not the wise man thus saith the lord let not the wise man glory in his wisdom neither let the glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that i am understandeth and knoweth me that i am the lord which exercise loving kindness the lord which exercise loving kindness judgment and righteousness in the earth judgment and righteousness in the earth for in these things i delight for in these things i delight saith the lord