1. THE WORD MADE FLESH Matthew 1:18-25. Event 1: Gabriel delivered the birth announcement to Mary in Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38). Gabriel came and delivered the birth announcement of all time. Event 2: Mary hurried to her relatives in the hill country of Judea. She remained for “about three months” and then returned to Nazareth (Luke 1:39-56). The Greek work egalio means to skip, to leap, or to dance for joy. Elizabeth confirmed what Mary knew to be absolute fact – that Mary was the mother of the Son of God. Event 3: An angel delivered the birth announcement through a dream to Joseph in Nazareth (Matt. 1:18-23). Consider the profound significance of the title Immanuel. The Greek Emmanouelis transliterated from the Hebrew Immanu’el. El means God. The rest of the word means with us.Literally, the term means the with us God. Emmanu – with us / El – God. The “with of God, the with us kind of God” is why we even exist. He created us to be with us. God created in every single one of us a “with me.” Everyone created on this planet has a need for God – a need for the “with of God.” Exodus 33:1-3 – God says “I am sending you on, because my name is faithful, but I’m not going with you. I am going to give you everything you want, but there is just one catch, I am not going with you. I am faithful, even when you are faithless.” Exodus 33:15 – if we knew what Moses knew, we would say to God “no deal.” Moses said “I would rather stay out here in the thorns and the briers, in the middle of the wilderness, and have you; than to be in the land of promise, have everything we need, and not know your presence.” Exodus 33:11 – God spoke to Moses – it was the intimacy of relationship. He had known Him so well; he said “Nothing is worth that to me.” God wants us to know Him that well. God with us – the Word made flesh dwelling among us – the “with of God” to walk in our midst. Once we know true intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ – the “with of God,” nothing in the world compares. Event 4: Joseph took Mary home as his wife. They remained a short time in Nazareth (Matthew 1:24; Luke 2:4). Jewish point of view – the bride had to always be ready, because she never knew exactly when her groom was going to come for her. Imagine the scandal at this point, that it is known Mary is with child. Event 5: Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census ordered by Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1-5). Event 6: Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:6-7). Bethlehem means “House of Bread” where God brought down the Bread of Life, the Manna from Heaven. The time came for Mary to be delivered (KJV), and every other soul who would ever admit to their desperate need. In the most intimate moment, He is most obvious in aloneness and darkness. He is with us to embrace, to hold so close, we can hear His heart beat. Event 7: The angel proclaimed the birth of the Christ to the shepherds in a field near Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-14). Israel is the very land where God presented Himself as Emmanuel, the “withness of God.” Event 8: The shepherds hurried to find Mary, Joseph, and the baby in Bethlehem (Luke 2:15-20). Mary quietly meditated and pondered over her moments. Pondered is the Greek word “symbollo” which means “ponder, or to throw, or put together.” Casting many things together, combining them, and considering them as one. When was the last time you sat and looked at all the great things the LORD has done for you as one? Mary confessed God as faithful. Event 9: Jesus was circumcised at eight days old in Bethlehem (Luke 2:21). Event 10: Jesus was presented to the Lord in the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:25-38). Matthew 2:1-12. God was looking very closely at that presentation. Event 11: Mary and Joseph returned to Bethlehem where they received a visit from the Magi. Matthew 2:13-18 By this time, Jesus was a toddler. The Greek word for “Magi” is “Magos.” It is the name for priests and wisemen among the Medes, Persians, and Babylonians. Magi specialized in the study of astrology, enchantment, and thus were known as enchanters and magicians; the Chaldeans called them wise.” In the book of Daniel, four different times it speaks of Magi. Worshipped – they were getting down on their knees, pressing their forehead to the ground, and lifting their heads only to blow kisses. Part of the root word means “to kiss.” They would have blown kisses to Him and pressed their forehead back to the ground. Event 12: Joseph and Mary took Jesus and escaped to Egypt. Matthew 2:19-23. Event 13: Herod died and Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth where Christ was raised to manhood (Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:40, 51). Not until now did His invisible feet sink into the sand, shod with skin, and made visible prints. God was with us – Emmanuel.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:10:08 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015