John 1, Luke 2 The Miracle of the Incarnation

I think this stands as the greatest miracle in all of creation. In a sense, even the resurrection from the dead pales in comparison for the resurrection is only undoing what we have done. The incarnation however is combining the creator and the creature, the divine and what he made. This is a miracle above miracles. On this Christmas morning we will put this miracle into that perspective.

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ^2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ^3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

^4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ^5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ^6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ^7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

^8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ^9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ^10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ^11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ ^a the Lord. ^12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

^13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

^14 “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

^15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

^16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ^17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ^18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ^19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ^20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ^2 He was with God in the beginning.

^3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ^4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ^5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood ^a it.

^6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ^7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ^8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ^9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. ^b

^10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ^11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ^12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ^13 children born not of natural descent, ^c nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

^14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, ^d who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

^15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” ^16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ^17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ^18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, ^{e f} who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

^a Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome

^b Or This was the true light that gives light to every man who comes into the world

^c Greek of bloods

^d Or the Only Begotten

^e Or the Only Begotten

^f Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jn 1:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

^a Or Messiah. ``The Christ” (Greek) and ``the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean ``the Anointed One”; also in verse 26.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 2:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Luke 126-38 A Miraculous Conception

A virgin was promised a child.
In contrast to Isaiah's prophecy, this one is filled with life and hope and the atmosphere of judgment is pushed away by the brilliance of this promise.
In our series of miracles, we have discovered that does these things so that people will pay attention to what he is doing. This is true for advent also.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

^26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ^27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ^28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

^29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ^30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ^31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ^32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ^33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

^34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

^35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called ^a the Son of God. ^36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. ^37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

^38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

^a Or So the child to be born will be called holy,

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 1:26). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Luke 1:1 - 25, 57-66 A Miracle in History - Pay Attention!

The promise of and the birth of John the Baptist was a shocker to those who knew of it. Israel, who had just gone through some 430 years of the absence of God should have taken not. This first Sermon in Advent will look at how God grabs our attention if he can get it no other way. The scripture passages follow:

Introduction

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled ^a among us, ^2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ^3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ^4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

^5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ^6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. ^7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

^8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ^9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ^10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

^11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ^12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ^13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. ^14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ^15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. ^{a 16} Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. ^17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

^18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

^19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ^20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

^21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ^22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

^23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ^24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ^25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

The Birth of John the Baptist

^57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ^58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

^59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ^60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

^61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

^62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ^63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” ^64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. ^65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. ^66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 1:57). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

^a Or been surely believed

^a Or from his mother~s womb

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 1:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

How did God get your attention?