The Amazing Child of Christmas

To ordinary Jewish young people were faced with the most astounding child.

The world has ever known, and so many astonishing and astounding things were said about Jesus Christ.

Joseph and his mother were on means that those things which were said about him composition at age 5. In 1895 the artist Pablo Picasso painted a portrait of aunt Pepper which was described as one of the greatest portraits in Spanish history. He was 14 at the time remarkable children without question, but no child can come close to the sun. John MacArthur looks at today on grace to you this child's birth was anticipated for thousands of years was announced by a host of angels and brought the hope of salvation to condemned sinners. You're about to see how amazing this child was, as John continues his series called the best of Christmas. It's a collection of some of John's most memorable Christmas sermons from 51 years of ministry and with the lesson here is John MacArthur. As we consider together the wonderful reality of the Christmas story. I want us to look at a text of Scripture found in the first couple of chapters of the gospel of Luke and I would invite you if you will, to open your Bible to Luke were going to look at chapter 1. A portion of it in chapter 2, a portion of that as well. I'm sure that all parents are convinced without question that their children are the most unique children that it ever been born. And I'm also sure that no child ever comes into the world without filling the hearts of their parents with a great amount of expectation when our four children were born, we course, and even to this day continue to have great hopes and great dreams and great desires that they might be everything that they can possibly be for the glory of God. But it best when the child comes in the world. What we hope for is no more than hope what we wish for is no more than a wish because the story is not yet written.

We do not know what that child will become and we wait with great anticipation with a great degree of anxiety and concern through the years of the unfolding of the life of that child to see what in fact, that child will become. That was not true in the case of the Lord Jesus Christ for the birth of the child of Bethlehem all that needed to be known about the child was revealed at the very beginning.

There really wasn't any need for Hope there wasn't any need for a wish. A dream imagining all was told as to who the child was and why he came in what he would do and how he would affect the world so different to ordinary Jewish young people were faced with the most astounding child.

The world has ever known a child whose life was already clearly laid out and delineated to them from the time of birth unlike any other child in so many astonishing and astounding things were said about Jesus Christ that we read in Luke 233 and Joseph and his mother were amazed at those things which were said about him not precisely what was said about Jesus Christ at his birth. That is so astonishing that left his parents with such amazement and awe and wonder. The answer begins to unfold for us in the announcement of the Angel to marry beginning in chapter 1 in verse 30. Let's notice it. And the angel said under her fear not marry, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the most high, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of David forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then, said Mary under the age of hassle. This PC and I know not a man, and the angel answered and said under her. The Holy Spirit shall come upon the end the power of the most high shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy offspring shall be called the son of God. Now it was this announcement, coupled with the announcement to Joseph by the angel, coupled with some things that are said of Christ at the end of chapter 2 or close to the end.

In verses 34 to 38 these things were. What amazed the parents and I want us to focus on six of the in our examination of the Lord Jesus Christ this morning. First of all, in a general way would you notice verse 32 and there we read this statement, he shall be great, he shall be great. That same statement was made in chapter 1 verse 15 of John the Baptist, for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord John the Baptist was to be great. Jesus was to be great.

The word can mean extraordinary wonderful splendid magnificent noble distinguished illustrious eminent powerful is intended to set one apart from all the rest. John the Baptist was great. He was great because he was the single greatest representative of the prophetic office. The forerunner of the Messiah. In fact, it is said of him that there had been none greater than John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ also is great that is surpassing an eminent and preeminent and splendid and illustrious and prominent in all those things. The word implies, for reasons other than the greatness of John the Baptist, for reasons which are explained in this very same passage. What made him great and what astounded and amazed. His parents, we find here six things that identify Jesus Christ in his unique greatness from the very time of his birth.

First of all, noticing verse 32 he shall be great, and shall be called the son of the most high.

Now that is to say Jesus is God. Jesus is God and that is the unmistakable truth, but I want you to deal with in your mind as we begin our look at this passage Jesus is God now Luke refers to God with the term the most high, or feel like the highest Luke seems to favor that term in identifying God and so did the angel who made the announcement in verse 35 the angel again says the Holy Spirit shall come upon the end the power of the most high shall overshadow the over in verse 76 and thou, child shall be called the prophet of the most high. This is the testimony of Zacharias when filled with the Holy Spirit so the angel calls God the most tie the Holy Spirit through Zacharias calls God the most high.

This term speaks of the sovereignty of God. He is sovereign in every dimension possible sovereign over nations sovereign over nature over the unrighteous over the righteous sovereign over the people he has redeemed and sovereign over all that is evil and all that is good. That is to say he is the most high. There is none as high as he is. He is God above any other gods is God supreme. Now why is that important. Look back at our text in Luke chapter 1 and notice verse 32. Here comes the message to Mary from the angel and the message is the sun you bear will be called the son of the most high, the son of the most tie in verse 35 at the end of the verse, the son of God, the son of God. Know what is such a title intended to indicate nothing less than the obvious. Its intent is to say Jesus is God. To say that Jesus is the son of the highest is to say that he bears the character, nature and essence of the highest son does not imply that God is a great God, who begot a sub God and Jesus is a sub God is to say that Jesus bears the same life the same essence in the same nature as God is Hebrews 1 says he is the express or the exact reproduction of God's image. Hebrews 112 says that God speaks to us through his son, verse three, who is the exact replica of himself. He is the son of God, that is to say, he bears his father's life and nature that is the essence of the use of that idea here. The child is God, what an incredible what an amazing what an astonishing and astounding and almost unbelievable voice ringing in their ears that your child, your little baby that you bear your woman hold in your arms is the living God. Matthew also records the birth of Christ and emphasizes this. How is it that God could be born in a human womb, Matthew 118 says she was found with child by the Holy Spirit, verse 20 says that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit in verse 23 the virgin shall be with child shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which, being translated is God with us.

The child is God, and the child was conceived without a human father God planted a seed in Mary to create the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 143.

Even Elizabeth says to Mary why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me. She recognizes that her relation her own kin. Mary is to give birth to the Lord himself and in chapter 2 of Luke in verse 11. The angel announces to the shepherds that there will be born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is none other than the Messiah of the Lord.

The Lord himself. So the first is an amazing message that came to the parents of Jesus was that this child would be God.

God, the Lord, the second an amazing thing and an equally amazing thing is that the child was also man also man back to Luke 131 again, and behold, says the angel to Mary, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, now would be one thing for God to just come into the world just sort of fly down and arrive in God could certainly do that. God came and went in the Old Testament without the need of a human mother without human birth. There are many occasions in the Old Testament when God appeared. He walked and talked in the garden with Adam and Eve God made appearances over and over again the life of this really came down to Mount Sinai showed himself to Abraham their times and places where God put on an appearance and he did not need to be born of a woman, but that was because God never before came into the world as man and now when he comes he comes not only as fully God, but is fully man and therefore must be fully born as men are born through the womb and the birth canal of a human woman, and thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son is to emphasizes human. The point being that Jesus was born in a normal human manner, and so this is fully man and the amazing and astounding thing is how can a woman bring forth one who is totally human without the aid of a human father. That's as profound a mystery is how the child could be God or it demands the infinite miracle as well. This is a real human being.

You will notice also in chapter 2 of Luke in verse 40 it says the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. Jesus it says in John 114 was the Word made flesh that dwelt among us in Hebrews several places the Scripture delineates things about Christ that are essential. For example, in Hebrews 217 it says wherefore in all things. It was fitting for him to be made like his brethren, in all things made like his brother. He was in all points.

Hebrews 415 tempted like as we are yet without sin.

In Galatians 4 for that wonderful testimony says in the fullness of time, God sent forth his son made a woman, made under the law, that is to say he was born like everybody else. He came into the world like everybody else from a woman from a woman obligated is all human beings are to keep the law of God made like his brother and in all things. If he was to substitute for man on the cross he had to be made if he was to rise from the dead for man. He had to be man is why Paul so wonderfully says we have one mediator between God and man.

First Timothy 25, the man Christ Jesus's parents were astounded that he was God. They were astounded that he was man, fully God and fully man miracle Chuck the third amazing aspect of this child back in chapter 1 of Luke again in verse 35 is the fact that he was not only God and man, but he was sinless. He was holy he was perfect.

The angel said the Holy Spirit shall come upon you the power of the most high, overshadow you and that's really all we know about how the virgin birth conception took place therefore also follow this that holy offspring shall be called the son of God. This is a holy child. Oh what a remarkable state ligament. There has only been in the history of the human race reproduction process. One holy child born only one no one is ever produced a holy child except Mary, by the power of the spirit of God not only God, man and sinless, but forcefully, his parents were astonished because they were told, the child would also be the sovereign Lord that he would also be king back again please to verse 32 the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever of his kingdom there shall be no end.

He will have an eternal kingdom. The Lord will give him that throne.

This of course fulfills the prophecy of second Samuel 711 to 13 which said David. Someday would have a greater son, one would come.

Centuries later, out of his loins who would take up the throne and reestablish the kingdom and then it would be a kingdom of righteousness and an eternal kingdom, and that is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born in the Davidic line you read the genealogy of Joseph in Matthew one, you read the genealogy of Mary in Luke's gospel chapter 3 and you will find that this is one born of parents who come from David's lines.

Both Mary and Joseph come in the Davidic line and they therefore carried royal blood, which comes together in Christ, and he indeed is the rightful heir to the throne of David. He is not born, as was John the Baptist to the house of Levi. The priestly house is born to the royal house. The house of Kings, the house of David and he has the right to the throne of Israel, which becomes the throne of the world which becomes the throne of the universe which becomes the throne of the eternal new heavens and new earth. He is sovereign Lord. This little child they hear will receive the throne of his father David and reign in an eternal kingdom. What an announcement. I mean it would be enough for some of us if the Lord just said your child will grow up to believe your child will grow up to be a great missionary or child will grow up to be a great teacher, but the influence of this child is absolutely astounding and staggering. His parents minds find it hard to even grasp the sweeping statements being made about the small infant, the King of the universe, King of Kings and Lord of lords and the amazement continues not only God, man, sinless sovereign, but fitfully, his parents were told that he would be the Savior, the Savior verse 31, and you shall call his name Jesus and to Joseph.

It was sad recorded in Matthew 121 call his name Jesus, which means God saves. For he shall save his people from their sins.

I mean it would be enough for anyone to know they were going to bear God and then God was fully man and who is absolutely holy and who is the sovereign Lord of the universe and now defined also that he is the Savior of all the human race who come in faith. Credible child.

Chapter 2 verse 11 the angel announcing to the shepherd says under you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. By the way, that's the only place in the synoptic Gospels Matthew Mark and Luke were Jesus is called Savior and that very term. Although it appears elsewhere in the New Testament is born a Savior. In chapter 2, verse 30 Simeon rejoices. He says mine eyes have seen thy salvation as he holds at child in verse 38 Anna the prophetess who is a widow of many many years and has been in the temple serving God with fasting and waiting for the coming of redemption rejoices, for the redemption that is arrived in Jerusalem and spreads the word to all who are looking for that redemption. Yes, he came as a Savior. Paul said Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

Jesus said in Luke 1910, the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost in Hebrews 10, 5 to 7 says that since the blood of bulls and goats and all the animal sacrifices couldn't take away sin God formed a body for Christ that he might come into the world to take away our sin, to sanctify us to remove our sin, to destroy our enemy to bring us to spiritual perfection to make us new creations and we are complete in him, he says, for by one offering he has sanctified us forever.

Yes, this is the Savior. This is the one born to die for the sins of the world. There is over the manger.

The shadow of the cross and that shadow remained all his life long until he went to that cross. For this reason, he said I came into the world. I am come to die because from the very start. He was to be the Savior. The only way to save men from sinners to pay the penalty of their sin which is death.

Jesus comes to die. Yes, there was astonishment at the birth of Christ because of who the child was and his parents were amazed at what they were to finally they were told by Simeon in chapter 2, verse 34 and that in 35 that this child would be the determiner of every human being's destiny is the determiner of every person's destiny and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and a sign which shall be spoken against you is sorts of person your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. He is a revealer of the heart, and he is a determiner of destiny is what you do Jesus Christ that determines whether you fall or rise again your eternal destiny, your your falling into a pit of hell.

You're rising into the glories of heaven depends upon Christ.

Yes the most astonishing child literally little wonder verse 33 of chapter 2 Susan Joseph and his mother were amazed at those things which were sent about him. I trust that same wonder and amazement is in your heart as you hear those great realities and you're listening to Grace to you with John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary. John's current study is titled the best of Christmas John I've heard you talk many times about the clutter that comes with Christmas. The materialism and the busyness of the season that crush of activity that starts so long before the holiday, and some people might say that were part of that problem because were airing Christmas lesson so early here on Grace to you, but there's actually a much different and more spiritual reason than that it's a strategic thing. So talk about that a bit.

Well yeah me were not going to were not going to be able to dismiss the clutter, but we we can at least get into the conversation. Since people are talking about Christmas. This is a time for you to access some resources that you will definitely find tremendously helpful to people when you have the opportunity to talk about Christmas and so I just want to mention three of them today. First is the little book a beautiful gift book hundred 20 pages, beautifully designed, titled God's gift of Christmas. It deals with why Christ was born. It's the gospel book. It's an evangelistic tool. It also could be a devotional book that you and your family can read leading up to Christmas as well as an evangelistic tool and then I also want to mention MacArthur study Bible. Obviously, this is our flagship resource with about 25,000 footnotes that explained the meaning of every passage in the Bible that comes in many different English translations, and even foreign language translations. It is the gift of gifts.

As far as we're concerned to give someone at Christmas. You can order some of the MacArthur study Bibles and all kinds of forms from a hardback to a premium leather in several different English translation so that is another very very good gift. It's it's essentially giving someone a biblical library go use the rest of their life. And then the MacArthur daily Bible we always talk about that at the end of the year because it's a daily devotional divides the Bible into daily readings and takes you from the first day of the year to the last day of the year through the old and new Testaments. Great resource to put in the hands of everybody in your and your family, your friends and especially a new believer saw a lot to keep in mind. Virtually all our books and Bibles and devotionals and commentaries are available at 25% off our regular price. That's for a limited time and also with this slower than usual mail delivery. We've all seem to face in recent months. Good idea to place your Christmas order as early as possible this year.

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