What can the birth of Jesus tell us about the year ahead? Looking at all of our lessons today, there are at least 3 observations we can make about it. The first is this:
I. God is not a God who leaves things to chance.
In the Old Testament Lesson from Micah 5:2 He said: “But you, Bethlehem Ephratha, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times…. He will stand and shepherd His flock in the3 strength of the Lord…. They will live securely…and He will be their peace.”
Did you know where on earth you would be born? Of course not! No baby has any control or say over where he or she will be born – no baby except one. God made sure that when He entered our life, his people knew exactly where the Savior would be born. “In Bethlehem, Ephrathah, of Judah.” That's pinpoint accuracy because God doesn't leave things to chance.
If He had only said that the Savior would come from “Bethlehem,” we might still be wondering about it, asking “which Bethlehem?” There are at least 4 cities of that name in our own country - Bethlehem, PA, Bethlehem, NY, Bethlehem, Conn., Bethlehem, NJ. And who knows how many other Bethlehems there are throughout the world? Even in Biblical days there were at least two Bethlehems in Israel – one in the north in Galilee (Josh.19:15), the other in the south in Judea (Gn.35:19). Which one was meant?
But God is not a God of confusion; He doesn't leave things to chance . He said, “Bethlehem, Ephratha, in Judea. That's where my Son will be.” The people knew exactly because God told them. Even some in the Gospel Lesson today recognized that. Okay, what does that mean that God pinpointed the exact location?
First of all it's just more proof that Jesus is whom He said He was, the very Son of God. God said it and it happened. Anyone who claims to be a savior who was not from that very city isn't. Throw out Mohammed; throw out Joseph Smith; throw out all false prophets like those of the 80's and 90's, the Rev. Moons and David Koreshes. If you are looking for the Savior you will only find him here in Jesus. Anyone else is a lie, a deceiver. God doesn't leave matters of faith and salvation to chance ; He tells you directly. Therefore, you know for sure whom to believe and whom to follow.
Secondly, apply that to your life in general. If the Savior was born in that Bethlehem – which He was - and if that child of Bethlehem was destined to do for God's people what they couldn't – which God promised - then you can live in peace in the new year knowing that whatever takes place, God has set it for He does not leave things to chance but governs them according to His saving will. Everything will work out for your good for that One born in Bethlehem, “will stand and shepherd you in the strength of the Lord, you will live securely, and you will find your peace in Him”
So, dear friend, approach the year in confidence and trust, knowing that in the midst of the confusing things of our time, your God is not one of them. He does not leave things to chance , but by His divine governance sets in motion that which will bring about His saving will in your life. That's what the birth of Jesus, according to this lesson can tell you about the year ahead.
TR. But unless you trust His word on it, these blessings of faith cannot be yours. That's brought out in the Gospel Lesson. Years later it tells us about the mixed opinions of the Lord Jesus that people had. John writes, “Some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.' Others said, ‘He is the Christ.' Still others asked, ‘How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?' Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.” (John 7:41-43)
II. God has made a place for us with Him. It depends on what you think about Jesus.
In his book of the Bible John writes quite a bit about the reactions of people to that Baby whose birth in the manger at Bethlehem we celebrated last week. Already in the first few verses of his Gospel account he said this about the Lord Jesus, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet, to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”
Some people believed in Jesus as God's Son and some didn't. Many came up with other explanations as to whom He was, but they refused to accept Him as God's Son in the flesh. It's the same today, some believe and some do not. That has eternal significance.
We often ask why some go to heaven and some go to hell. If everyone is a sinner, which is clear from the Scriptures (Ro.3) and from experience, it seems that all should be lost for God declares, “The soul that sins shall die” (Ez.18:20). But if it is also true, as the Bible says, that God loves everyone and Christ died for everyone, it seems everyone should be saved. But John indicates that some will be saved and some will be lost. Why?
Think of it this way. Eight high school students wanted to join a choir that was going on a month-long tour of Europe. The choir was very good, and it was tough to make it into the group. Four of the students tried out. They studied their music and practiced every day. But they weren't good enough. They didn't make the choir and therefore didn't go on the trip.
Four others knew that they couldn't sing very well. But they loved the music and wanted to be with the choir on the trip. They told the director they couldn't sing well enough to make the group, but they still wanted to go. He told them the choir needed someone to carry the instruments, luggage and do other necessary tasks. They offered to do it. So they went on the trip.
Now, let's tell the story this way. God has made a place for us to live with Him forever. We want to be in heaven with Him. Some try to get there on their own; they work hard; they do the best they can. But when they try out for heaven, God tells them they are not good enough; they must be perfect. They don't make the trip.
Others know they aren't good enough. But they want to be with God forever when they hear how much He loves them. And God finds the way for them to be saved.
That way is Jesus Christ. Since man could not save Himself, God became man and came to earth to save us. And even though He came in such a lowly way, the Baby born in Bethlehem is still God – the God/man who would die on the cross for all. Some refuse to accept that. They have lots of other explanations for Jesus, but they will not accept what God Himself has revealed about Him, nor do they care to find out.
But the lesson also shows that some did receive Him. They admitted their need and left it in His hands to save them. He made them His own, offering them what they could not earn themselves.
Every year it's the same until the Lord Jesus returns. This year will be no different. God has made a place for us with Him. Will it be yours? It depends on what you think of Jesus.
TR. The stumbling block for many appears to be in the fact that He was born a man. But it had to be that way and our Epistle Lesson pointed out the reasons. It said, “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death …. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way…in order that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
III. God was born a man to help us.
There's a lot in those words, but basically they say because we were unable to free ourselves from sin, death, and the devil, God came as a man to do it for us. There's a whole lot there, but this morning I want to draw your attention to the last words of this lesson. They read, “Because He Himself suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Since Jesus was born a baby, fully man according to his human nature, He experienced all the things that we do. He knows what it's like. Think how comforting it is to know that.
Experience is valuable; it helps you help others. For example, while we may genuinely feel for those who are experiencing pain or difficulty, we never understand what they are going through until we have been through it ourselves. You may feel for those who have lost a spouse through cancer, but someone who has actually lost a spouse to cancer is best able to help another because he's gone through the same thing. Experience helps one help others.
Maybe you have been tempted to feel at times that your Lord in heaven cannot possibly understand what you are going through in life. How can He who knows no pain and knows no sorrow understand the pain I am feeling or the sorrow I am enduring?
Jesus knows because He became a man. More importantly, it says He was tempted in every way like we are. But more than that He helps us conquer temptation since He conquered all that the devil hurled at him. God was born a man to help us. And so it will be in the year ahead. God grant us that joy for Jesus' sake.