05 Merry Christmas to All

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Luke 2:14

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Gpa G 

04 An Amazing Genealogy

            The Uniqueness of Jesus’ Birth

The first thing you need to know in researching your ancestors is how to spell genealogy J 

Secondly, it is amazing to realize that you are the result of an untold number of ancestors.  They do not multiply.  They double with every generation: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc.  Wow!  You may remember their names for 2 or 3 generations then they fade out of sight.  So when I trace my line (Glass & Brumbaugh)  and follow them back 6 generations I have  64 persons involved.  It’s exciting to follow them back as far as you can.  I have collected several shelves of books and multiple notes of our genealogical roots.

Another fascinating study is the genealogy of Jesus.  These records are only found in 2 books of the Bible.  Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38.  Matthew traces Jesus lineage through Joseph’s line back to David and Abraham for a total of 41 generations divided into 3 sections.  Luke traces Mary’s lineage back to David to Abraham and on to Adam, the son of God.  In this line Luke lists a total of 71 generations.  Matthew goes back only to Abraham. 

You will notice that the ancestral line of both Mary and Joseph is the same from Abraham through David.  Then this common ancestry is divided.  The royal line of Jesus flows through Matthew’s account of Joseph back to King David who was told that his kingdom would remain forever (2 Samuel 7).  The blood line of Jesus, the natural son of Mary, flows through Luke’s account of Mary back to Adam, the son of God showing Jesus is the Son of God.

In Matthew 1:1, Jesus is called the son of David.  In 2 Samuel 7:13 the prophet Nathan tells David that his kingdom would remain forever.  I Chronicles 22:6-10  states that his son, Solomon would build the temple, the house of God.  Solomon is not mentioned in Mary’s line given in Luke.    But there is a problem.  David’s kingdom was to last forever, but his descendant Jeconiah [a.k.a. Jechonias, Jeconiachin, or Coniah] was an evil king and the Lord said (Jer. 22:24-30) that none of his descendants would sit on the Throne.

Jeremiah 22:24-30

"As I live," says the Lord, "though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear--the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans. 26So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die. 27But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return.

28"Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol--A vessel in which is no pleasure?

Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know?

29O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the Lord!

30Thus says the Lord:

'Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days;

For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.' "

So it is interesting to see the descendants listed in Luke beginning with Adam, the son of God and continuing to Abraham.  Here the ancestral line for both Joseph and Mary are united through King David.  Now these lines are divided for some 41 generations.  We’re not certain how many children David had, but with his wife Bathsheba he had 4 sons, Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon.  Nathan was a progenitor in the line of Mary.  Solomon was in Joseph’s line.  These two separate lines continue for 41 generations with no possibility of the unique union of the royal line with the blood line initiated by God through Adam.  Then Joseph proposes to Mary.  And history takes a dramatic turn, all by the hand of God. 

In this the uniqueness of Jesus’ birth can be seen.  God’s promise to David regarding the kingdom had to come through his descendants, but Jeconiah was a bump in the road.  Joseph was in this line so he was disqualified by the curse on Jeconiah.  But Jesus was the step son of Joseph, not his son.  The text refers to Jesus as "the supposed son of Joseph." So Jesus was in the royal line of David, but not under the curse of Jeconiah.  Mary’s lineage was unique in that it was traced back to God starting with Adam.  So Joseph represented the Royal line.  Mary represented the Son of man, the son of God.

Luke 1:30-35

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Go Tell It on the Mountains

Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

Refrain

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth.

Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

Refrain

             

  

 

03 The Christmas Announcement

A good devotion for Christmas morning

    O Come All Ye Faithful

        John Francis Wade

O come all ye faithful,

joyful and triumphant,

O come ye,

O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him,

born the King of angels;

Refrain:

O come, let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ, the Lord.

        Yes. Lord we greet Thee,

born this happy morning

O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;

      Word of the Father,

now in flesh appearing;

 The Announcement of Jesus’ Birth to Mary

Luke 1:26-38

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

28And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

30Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

34Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

35And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

36Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37For with God nothing will be impossible."

38Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Edmund H. Sears

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:

Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King:

The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet seen of old,

When, with the ever-encircling years, Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King

And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

The Announcement to Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Silent Night

Joseph Mohr

Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child.  Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,  Sleep ion heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight,

Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;

Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night, Son of God loves pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord at Thy birth,  Jesus Lord at Thy birth.

The Announcement to the Shepherds

Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

10Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  14"Glory to God in the highest,  And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Away in a Manger

Luther’s Cradle Hymn

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

Be near me, Lord Jesus! I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tenader care, And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

The Announcement to the Wisemen

Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

 6'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

     7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star

 appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and

when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

     9When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

    11And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

 O Holy Night

Adolphe Adam

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!



02 Mary, the Example of Faith

Luke 1:26-55

  

This past Sunday, we attended the Basore Road GBC in Dayton, OH to hear Pastor Terry Hofecker begin a series of four Christmas messages. His first message was titled, “Mary, the Example of Faith.”  I remember only several of his points, but I was impressed how he related it to the concerns of Believers today.  It is worth listening to at…. <http://basore.org/Sermons/detail.php?id=150>

Now I would like to build on Terry’s message adding my outline and thoughts on the Luke 1:26-55 passage.

Mary was a young, ordinary girl.  No different from other young girls, except God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus.  She had no knowledge of this until she was confronted by an Angel of God.   The Jewish people were looking for the coming of a Messiah, the Anointed One who would lead and deliver them from their oppressors.  They expected a King who would come as their Leader.  They had no clue that he would come as a little baby. 

The angel suddenly appeared and made his announcement to her.  She was afraid.  That’s pretty human.  Believers today

 are still faced with events that scare us.  We’re faced with foreclosures, physical problems, loss of work, family health, wayward children and many other frightening things.  Mary was no different.  She was greatly troubled, but was reassured by the Angel.    

Mary was Afraid

Luke 1:26-33

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31"And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end."

Do you have doubts?

    Mary had Doubts!

Believers are faced with many doubts.  I have no doubts regarding my salvation now, but I do remember the early years as a new Christian, I wondered.  Was I doing enough?  Was simply ‘believing’ all there was?  There must be more.  There are times when we question the will of God in our lives.  How do we know where and how to serve the Lord? 

Mary had doubts.  She was faced with the impossible.  She had no contact with a man.  There was no way she could have a baby!  You may be faced with mountains too high to climb and rivers too wide to cross, but rest assured that God will take care of the impossibilities.

Luke 1:34-37

34And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. 36"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37"For nothing will be impossible with God."

Mary was Obedient

In spite of doubts and fears, we must be obedient to God and His Word.  Mary was overwhelmed by what had occurred.  But now her doubts and fears were relieved.  Her faith was confirmed and she wanted to share it with her cousin.  So with us, it’s exciting to see God at work in our lives.  We can’t wait to share with our family, friends and neighbors.

Luke 1:38-45

38And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

39Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43"And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44"For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

Mary Praised God

Mary was a very special person.  God had chosen her to be the vessel through which God became man.  She was not God, but a servant of God.  She was the physical mother of Jesus and recognized by the Jews as such.  Jesus was her Savior and she was a His servant.  For the Christian there is no better way to praise God than to be His obedient servant!

Luke 1:46-56

46And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49"For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

50"And His mercy is UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION

Toward those who fear Him.

51"He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52"He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

53"He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54"He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his offspring forever."

01 The Reality of God

Hebrews 1:1-4 nasb

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”

This Scripture shows that God has revealed Himself to man in 3 ways:

1.         God Revealed Himself through the writings of the prophets, that is The Bible

            Hebrews 1:1

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways…”

One amazing confirmation of God is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.  Here are just a few of them.

            Genesis 12:3               He (Jesus, the Messiah) would be of the tribe of Judah.

2 Samuel 7:12              He would be of the line of King David.

Micah 5:2                    He would be born in the city of Bethlehem.

Isaiah 53                      He would die with thieves and be buried in a richman's tomb.

Psalm 22:16, Daniel 9, Isaiah 49 and many others foretell of events that is impossible to fabricate.

2.         God Revealed Himself through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

            Hebrews 1:2

“God…in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things…”

Jesus was not just a ‘good teacher.’

Regarding Jesus, the Son of God, Patrick Zukeran of Probe Ministries said: 

He is either a “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord”

“A serious study of the Gospels leads a person to one of three conclusions about Jesus: He was (1) an evil lying villain, (2) a preposterously deluded madman, or (3) the Messiah, the Son of God. It is ludicrous for anyone who has studied His life to take the position that He was simply a good teacher. Only one of the three conclusions is a logical possibility”

Jesus told Philip that he was looking at God.  Imagine, Philip was talking to God, Himself!

 John 14:8-9

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?

Jesus told the Jews that He was alive even before Abraham was born.  The Jews had no doubt regarding His statement, so they picked up stones to put Him to death.

John 8:56-58

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."

Again in John 10:30-33

Jesus said, 

"I and the Father are one."

31The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 33The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."

1 Cor. 15:4-6

4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

3.         God Revealed Himself through the Creation.

            Hebrews 1:2-3

…through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Psalm 19:1-6 nas

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

2Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.

3There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

4Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world.

In them He has placed a tent for the sun,  5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;

It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.  6Its rising is from one end of the heavens,

And its circuit to the other end of them;  And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Another one is found in…

Romans 1:20-22

20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have

been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools,

           

That’s it!!  The Bible says God revealed Himself to man in three different ways.  1. By what He told the Prophets.  2. By being born of  a virgin as the Son of God, His death and resurrection, and 3. by His wondrous works of creation.

Is this circular reasoning?  Yes.  Is it possible to prove God by extra Biblical evidence?  No, not really.  Rather it’s the extra Biblical evidence that confirms the Believer’s faith in the reality of God.  The atheist or non-believer cannot be convinced.  He ignores the wonders of God around Him.  In any debate regarding God or not, there is always a basic pre-supposition.   Disallowing the reality of God does not make it true.  To the Believer, God is evident and self-explanatory.  

1 Cor. 1:20

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Psalm 14:1

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."