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Luke 2:1-7
Stephen Caswell © 2000
He Was One Of Us
/ /
Robert Stevenson, the famous Scottish engineer and grandfather of the well-known writer, Robert Louis Stevenson, was born in 1772.
One hundred years after his birth, a great demonstration was held in Newcastle.
There was a huge procession with banners honoring the distinguished engineer.
In the procession was a group of peasants who carried a small banner on which were written the words: /He was one of us./ */They were citizens of the tiny village of his birth, and they had come to do him honor./*
They had a right to call him one of them because he, who was so highly honored, was really one of them.
Introduction
Today is Christmas Eve so I would like to look at Christ's birth.
Famous people are often associated with a town or city.
This might be where they achieved something great or it might only be their place of birth.
In the Bible one's birthplace was often significant.
This is certainly true of our Lord Jesus Christ!
He was born in Bethlehem a small town some five miles south of Jerusalem.
*Luke 2:1-3*/ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city./
At first glance you might not think that Jesus birth place was important.
After all Caesar was the one who commanded them to go there.
Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth of Galilee.
From first appearance it looks like Caesar had more to do with this than the Lord.
However God had decreed that His Son would be born in Bethlehem some 7 hundred years before through the prophet Micah.
Caesar was really obeying God's decrees not vice versa.
Today I want to look at how Bethlehem is significant for at least 3 reasons.
Bethlehem relates to three aspects of our Lord's ministry.
I.
He Is Our Savior II.
He Is Our Shepherd & III.
He Is Our Sovereign
/Firstly/ He Is Our Savior
*Luke 2:4*/ Joseph 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,/
The name */Bethlehem/* means */fruitfulness, /*and*/ House Of Bread.
/*The name, /house of bread/ is very significant.
Many farmers grew barley and other grains around Bethlehem.
Boaz was a farmer that grew his crops there.
Even today, bread is one of the necessities of life.
People die without food to nourish their bodies.
Cruel “Bread” Of China
During the great famine of China, the people made “bread” from a kind of edible earth.
But this ingredient was devoid of any nutrients, so those who ate the loaves, starved.
Meyer also refers to the nardoo plant which grows in Australia.
The spores of this clover fern can be made into bread and porridge.
But they contain no proteins, carbohydrates, or vitamins—the essentials for sustaining life.
Those who depend upon it for food will have their stomachs filled, but they’ll eventually die.
Bread must be nourishing if it is to sustain life!
When God offered salvation to His people, He described it as food in *Isaiah 55:1-2 */Ho!
Everyone who thirsts, *Come* to the waters; and you who have no money, *come*, buy and eat.
Yes, *come*, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
/
To receive God's salvation we must forsake our own works and come to the Lord.
We must totally rely on Him.
We have no money with which to buy God's salvation, but He offers it freely to all who will come and receive it.
/But how does this relate to Jesus Christ?/
In one of His great discourses on salvation Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life.
*John 6:47-51 */Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world./
*/ /*
People die if they don't eat and sustain their bodies.
The same is true spiritually.
We need food for our souls.
Only Jesus Christ, the living bread can give life to your souls.
When people eat bread they receive the food within.
So too, every man woman and child must receive Jesus Christ within by faith.
Jesus equated belief in Himself with eating the living bread.
When someone believes in Jesus Christ they receive Him into their lives by faith.
Only Jesus Christ can give us eternal life.
Only He can sustain our souls for eternity.
*1 John 5:11-12* /And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
/
*/ /*
City Or Son
/ /
For a long time, the Mohammedans had been laying siege to the capital of Spain.
Courageously and skillfully King Alphonso led the defense, but by some twist of fate the attackers captured the king’s son.
The besiegers made the most of their hostage.
The sultan ordered a gallows built in full view of the capital.
The young prince was forced to stand under the words: Alphonso, either the city or your son!
What a decision for a father to make! Anxiously his advisors and officers watched the face of their king.
Will he give up the city and allow the enemy to slay or enslave his people?
Or will he give up his own, dear son?
They had not long to wait, for King Alphonso decided quickly.
Back to the sultan went this message: */Let my son die, that my people may live!
live!/*
Application
*/ /*
/Firstly, /Jesus Christ was born to be our Savior./
Have you received the bread of life?
/Only Christ can satisfy the hunger in your soul!
Only the Savior can give you eternal life!/
What keeps you from receiving His free gift of salvation?
Will you receive Him today?/
*/ /*
/Secondly/ He Is Our Shepherd
*Luke 2:4* /Joseph 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,/
Bethlehem is significant for its flocks of sheep.
David was a shepherd during his early years.
On that first Christmas night shepherd's were the first to hear of Messiah's birth.
Many of God's servants were shepherds.
People such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
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