A Child Is Born

One Solitary Life: Let us turn now to the story. A child is born in an obscure village (Bethlehem). He is brought up in another obscure village (Nazareth). He works in a carpenter shop until he is thirty, and then for three brief years is an itinerant preacher, proclaiming a message and living a life. He never writes a book. He never holds an office. He never raises an army. He never has a family of his own. He never owns a home. He never goes to college. He never travels more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He gathers a little group of friends about him and teaches them his way of life.

While still a young man, the tide of popular feeling turns against him. One denies him; another betrays him. He is turned over to his enemies. He goes through the mockery of a trial; he is nailed to a cross between two thieves, and when dead is laid in a borrowed grave by the kindness of a friend.

Those are the facts of his human life. He rises from the dead. Today we look back across two thousand years and ask, What kind of trail has he left across the centuries? When we try to sum up his influence, all the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned are absolutely picayune (trifle or small) in their influence on mankind compared with that of this one solitary life… (Original essay by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia)

The Impact of Jesus
Jesus Christ is the reason America is the freest nation ever created in history. Freedom comes from trust and self-sacrifice for the betterment of others. Before Jesus, this was almost non-existent. During the Roman Empire, it was reported of hundreds, even thousands of babies just thrown away in dumps. Humans were killed for sport and entertainment in the coliseums. Cannibalism was practiced. Widow burning was common place in India.

There was little value on human life. Christian missionaries changed these practices and through the love of Jesus built schools, homes, hospitals, orphanages, and fed the poor. Our education system in America had a big push from Christians because they wanted everyone to be able to read the Bible and Bibles were main reading book in schools.

Many great universities were founded by Christians: Princeton by the Presbyterians, Yale by Elihu Puritan, Harvard by Reverend John Harvard. Plaques were placed around the colleges that read, “If you know the truth, the truth will make you free.” When disasters happen, Christians are there helping those in need. The Red Cross was founded on Christianity.
The list goes on and on and proves to the world Jesus Christ of Nazareth has had a more positive impact on this world than any other person.

Song: Mary Did You Know?

Prophecy: Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Prophecy fulfilled: Luke 1:30-33 Then 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He 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. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Prophecy; Isa 9:1,2 Jesus would be from Galilee
Prophecy fulfilled: Matt 21:11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

Bible prophecy about Jesus’ birth:
Prophecy: Seed of a woman Gen 3:15 Fulfilled: Luke 1:31
Prophecy: Seed of Abraham Gen. 12:3 Fulfilled: Luke 3:34
Prophecy: From the tribe of Judah Gen 49:10 Fulfilled: Luke 3:3
Prophecy: Born in Bethlehem Mic. 5:2 Fulfilled: Luke 2:4,5,6
Prophecy: Born of a virgin Is. 7:14 Fulfilled: Luke 1:26,27,30,31
Prophecy: Slaughter of the innocents Jer. 31:15 Fulfilled: Matt. 2:16-18

The prophet Micah wrote the Book of Micah around 700 years before Christ was born telling us the exact location. Mic 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
Jesus is coming back and He will rule through the nation Israel. This is a prophecy with more than one fulfillment.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
Astrology: believing the stars control our destiny and giving them homage. This is divination, occultic, forbidden.
Astronomy: understanding the movement of the stars and constellations. Understanding of seasons and times.

Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; Job 9:9, 38:31-32, Isa 40:26, the 3 constellations mentioned more than once in the Bible are Pleiades, Orion and the Bear all having 7 main stars! In Revelation Jesus tells us He holds the 7 stars in His right hand and these stars are the 7 angels (messengers) to the 7 Churches. There is a message in the stars, written by God

Ps 147:4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.

Rev 22:16  "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." 

Num 24:17 "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.” The bloodline of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel brings forth the Morning Star.

Matt 2:1-2 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, 2 saying, "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." Jesus calls Himself “The Bright and Morning Star.”

Out of Egypt, I called My Son (Mtt. 2:15) This is another prophecy/paradigm. Moses was a deliverer of God’s people just like Jesus. Pharaoh sought to kill Moses just like King Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus. Pharaoh ordered the new born Hebrew babies killed because the Hebrews were growing too strong. God called Moses and Jesus out of Egypt.
The journey of the Wise Men took many months; some say up to 2 years. They gave the baby Jesus gifts of royalty; gold, frankincense and myrrh and departed. They were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod who wanted to know where this Child was born.

Matt 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him…Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Joseph and Mary had very little money and it would have been very difficult to make the trip to Egypt, but God knew what King Herod would do, and He sent the Wise Men not only to confirm the birth of the King, but to provide Jesus with treasures for the trip to Egypt because it was already written in the stars!

Jesus has a destiny for all who follow Him, already written in the stars! You are a superstar, but only if you follow Him!