12.26.2010 The Story of The Bible - Jesus - The Secret to Greatness

12.26.2010 Grace Summit Sermon - The Story of The Bible - Jesus - The Secret to Greatness from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

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Let's pray: It is nothing we bring to You – it is all because of Your love. Thank You that You have chosen to give us Your mercy and grace that we might be able to experience You and Your love. Someday we will be with You – You will return to this earth and set up Your kingdom reign forever. We will be a part of that – and we have that to look forward to. This is not the end; there is something better waiting for us – a love relationship with You for all eternity - to experience Your love and holiness. Prepare our hearts to hear Your word – speak to us in a new way – a way that transforms our lives that we might be new people.
Matt. 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.
The Magi were probably astrologers – most likely from the Babylon/Persia area. They asked, where is the King of the Jews? You might ask, How did they know about this? Well, the Jews spent a great amount of time in exile there in Babylon. They knew that a child would be born as King of the Jews.
Isaiah 9: 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
This was written before the Exile, so these Scriptures would have been carried into exile with them.
Matt. 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.
Numbers 24:17 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, And a scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.
The Magi have seen the star and they are searching for the King.
Matt. 2:3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him
Herod is not a true king – probably not even Jewish – but most likely related to Caesar – known as Herod the Great. He was an amazing politician (and not in a good way!), balancing the oppression of the people and a dependence upon him and the government. He turns Israel into a mini-Rome – building the temple and aqueducts.
There is trouble. When the Magi come and Herod hears this, he is scared and worried. He understands that he doesn’t have any right to this kingdom and this position – and all of a sudden, someone has been born to challenge him. The news has spread. They wondered what was going on.
The people are concerned because they know how Herod will respond – most likely with violence. Herod is a picture of how the world operates, with corruption and violence – and Matthew contrasts that with a humble King born in a manger – born in a stable.
All of the things the world is familiar with – the Military, oppressive, political ways the world works is in conflict with God’s way. There is a conflict between Him and Herod. When we look at the 13th/14th/15th century paintings – we have this picture of Jesus – Yes, He is the prince of peace – but He was really a person of conflict – as you look at His life, He is constantly in conflict with the different institutions of the world. He Himself said I did not come to bring peace but a sword. Things had to change.
The world is filled with violence – and people continually try to do things the world’s ways.
4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he [began] to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, 6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler, Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "7 Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found [Him,] report to me, that I too may come and worship Him."
Herod had no intent of worship. He is being deceptive – trying to get information. His plan is to destroy the competition.
9 And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.
You hear a lot of stories of what may have happened here – maybe it was a Supernova – but more likely, it was a miracle – because it rested over the house – most supernovas don’t rest over houses! God is showing that He is bringing the Gentiles in. Astrologers! We don’t have anything to do with that – but the first worshipers were astrologers from what we know of as Iran and Iraq – completely different from what might be expected. No one expected it this way. God, in our life, comes in ways we don’t and cannot expect. Joseph didn’t wake up and think – My fiancé is going to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit! I don’t think you can plan that – or even imagine that. We see what God is really like. The Old Testament points us to Jesus. Then the rest tells us how to live what we just saw – to live as He wants us to and as He would.
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.
God warned them – don’t go back! God tells Joseph to go to Egypt. Herod is furious and unleashes this violent attack.
For those of you who are Chronicles of Narnia fans – everything is cold and winter all the time – the witch is the queen – but not the rightful queen. Jesus is the King of all – and there are other kings who have set up their kingdoms in His place – and when Herod realizes this is happening – he goes postal.
Then there is about 30 years of silence. Yes – one little story of Jesus in the temple at age 12, but other than that – not much.
If you were in Jerusalem – and had heard all of this – and the Slaughter of the Innocents – and everything goes quiet – and 5 years go by – you would think – what was that all about? Why did all those babies get killed? Where is this Messiah? 10 years/20/25/ go by – and then the silence is broken. It is amazing how God used these writers – Now – there is a voice, crying in the wilderness.
Matt. 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist ^came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!'"
This is Isaiah 40. Remember, I told you to read Isaiah 40-66? It is the story of Jesus. This is the very beginning of it – a voice crying in the wilderness – and then there are 4 servant songs – and these are stories of Jesus. It is Isaiah telling Israel all about what is going to happen.
Matt. 4: 12 Now when He heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 16 "The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, And to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a light dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Israel failed to recognize that God came to the Gentiles as well.
So often, the church does this as well. We don’t mean to do it! But we don’t like what is going on – so we close our doors to protect – this is risky business! You can’t be protectionists – there are so many risks to letting our lives be filled with the needs of the world.
The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light! Who writes these words? We become accustomed to hearing these words – but think about it! The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light! Some light is coming! It comes in this day.
From that time, Jesus began to preach.
Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
For the next 3 years – the King of Heaven walks the earth and proclaims – it is an amazing time! What do we see? Every representative of every system on this planet comes into conflict with the King of Heaven.
What do they want? They will do everything to stop this king! The religious systems come at Him! Both sides of the aisle come at Him! The Pharisees – the Sadducees, the Moderates, Rome, - and every sort of spiritual evil attacked Him!
Did you ever wonder why you see all these accounts of demons and attacks – and you don’t see it as much at other times? Heaven on earth is here – and they were trying to destroy what God was doing! And the amazing thing – Jesus aligns with no one. He doesn’t become allies with the religious or political or other people. What about the separatists? No. Those who were joining with Rome – the powerful people? No. The zealots against Rome? No. He does not align with any of them. He will set up His kingdom and nothing will stop Him – from Satan to Pilate. His plan is so completely different from what anyone else would have done or anything you would have thought of.
There are 4 servant songs – prophecies about the Messiah – Matthew brings it up in Matthew
16 And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill 17 in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases."
Isaiah 53 – Christ came to serve our spiritual and emotional needs. Instead of coming with oppression to battle and conquer, He came to bear our grief and sorrow – to carry it – because we cannot carry it ourselves. We all know people who have been overwhelmed by sorrow, bitterness and anger – and we have seen those whose lives have been ruined – but Jesus came to bear that for us – to bear that pain.
Phil. 2: 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Paul goes back to Isaiah as well – and talks about this one coming – not as a victorious warrior – not in the sense that we know that – but a different sense – He came as a servant – to die on the cross – a life lived in service – and the challenge to us is to do the same. If we are to be a part of this Kingdom, we are called to serve. He exampled it! He did not come to be served. Everyone else was there to be served! Herod, the Pharisees, etc. Jesus was the opposite – the greatest servant of all – one who gives up his life for the benefit of others.
I challenge you to be a servant. This is the model of leadership in the New Testament.
The story of the Good Samaritan – Who is my neighbor? How far does this service thing go? He was hoping to hear that it was his fellow Jew that he goes to synagogue with – but He tells the story of a Samaritan – Hated by Jews – anyone you come into contact with – We have all these questions – What about this guy? What about that? And that is what the guy in the story is doing.
We need to learn to serve – to wake up in the morning with the heart of a servant. Serve! Be an example. Especially in ways you don’t like! That is what service is all about – serving in ways that no one wants to do! Whose job is that? We try to give it to the kids! You can do this! This is an easy one – it is not a fun one – doing the jobs that no one wants to do.
Earlier I said that Jesus did not align Himself with anyone. Well – that is not completely true – there was one group He aligned Himself with – the poor.
Zech. 7:9 "Thus has the Lord of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.'
Psalm 146: 7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. 8 The Lord opens [the eyes of] the blind; The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; 9 The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow; But He thwarts the way of the wicked. 10 The Lord will reign forever, Thy God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
We have so many opportunities to lift people up – and the world spends so much time tearing people down. I am sure – this year – God will give you opportunities to lift up those who are bowed down – they are valued in God’s eyes – it seems like God has an affinity toward those. All through the Bible you see it.
Deut 10: 17 "For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. 18 "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. 19 "So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
You can go through the Old and New Testaments – and God speaks this message – I call us as a church to become servants – to lift up – make it a point to lift up those who are down. Maybe down physically, emotionally, economically, spiritually – when given the opportunity – lift!