Part 2. Review: God gives grace to a woman (Elizabeth) who has known disgrace her whole life God...

Part 2

Review:Review:

God gives grace to a woman (Elizabeth) who God gives grace to a woman (Elizabeth) who has known disgrace her whole lifehas known disgrace her whole life

God brings social disgrace on a woman (Mary) God brings social disgrace on a woman (Mary) who had her whole future plannedwho had her whole future planned

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It has always been God’s plan that those who It has always been God’s plan that those who have received grace would share it with have received grace would share it with those in needthose in need

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I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said- Maryhave said- Mary

How I see myself determines how I handle How I see myself determines how I handle God’s call on my life God’s call on my life

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to everyone went to his own town to register- Luke 2:1-3register- Luke 2:1-3

• Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BCJesus was born between 6 and 4 BC

• Caesar Caesar just happened just happened to decide to take a to decide to take a census so he could get more tax moneycensus so he could get more tax money

• Bethlehem= fulfillment of Micah 5, written Bethlehem= fulfillment of Micah 5, written 700 years prior700 years prior

God is ultimately in control regardless of who God is ultimately in control regardless of who holds office?holds office?

So Joseph also went up from the town of So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because the town of David, because he belonged to he belonged to the house and line of David*the house and line of David*. He went there . He went there to register to register with Marywith Mary, who was , who was pledgedpledged to be to be married to him and was expecting a child…married to him and was expecting a child…

* Isaiah 9- 700(ish) BC* Isaiah 9- 700(ish) BC

80 miles80 miles

Joseph is not married yet and would not have Joseph is not married yet and would not have needed to bring Mary alongneeded to bring Mary along

Why did he?Why did he?

A man is strong, tough, manlyA man is strong, tough, manly

A good man uses his strength to protect A good man uses his strength to protect the women in his life- no excusesthe women in his life- no excuses

……While they were there, the time came for While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the because there was no room for them in the inn- vs. 4-7inn- vs. 4-7

Cloths- long strips of fabric, also used for the Cloths- long strips of fabric, also used for the deaddead

Jesus was born to die Jesus was born to die

• Living in light of the crossLiving in light of the cross

Jesus was born to die Jesus was born to die

• Booths- out of slavery into strange land, Booths- out of slavery into strange land, not their homenot their home

• Passover- sins taken away, no cursePassover- sins taken away, no curse

• Pentecost- Holy Spirit given as first-fruitsPentecost- Holy Spirit given as first-fruits

We died to self so that we might liveWe died to self so that we might live

• Living in light of the crossLiving in light of the cross

We died to self so that we might liveWe died to self so that we might live

• Living in light of the crossLiving in light of the cross

• There is no sacred/secular divide- it There is no sacred/secular divide- it allall has spiritual significance has spiritual significance

……there was no room for them in the inn- vs. 4-7there was no room for them in the inn- vs. 4-7

Inn-Inn- katalyma- any place of lodging katalyma- any place of lodgingNOT- pandocheion- innNOT- pandocheion- inn

Manger-Manger- animal stall or feed trough for animal stall or feed trough for animalsanimals

How do you think she felt?How do you think she felt?

The promises of God never negate the The promises of God never negate the circumstances of life in the real world…circumstances of life in the real world…

……But they do guarantee the Presence of But they do guarantee the Presence of God during the hard timesGod during the hard times

Why did God choose it?Why did God choose it?

And there were shepherds living out in the And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An flocks at night. An angelangel of the Lord of the Lord appeared to them, and the appeared to them, and the glory of the glory of the LordLord shone around them, and they were shone around them, and they were terrifiedterrified… …

Why does the glory of the Lord shine?Why does the glory of the Lord shine?

ShepherdsShepherds

• Socially unacceptable, unreliableSocially unacceptable, unreliable

• Ceremonially uncleanCeremonially unclean

• Couldn’t even testify in courtCouldn’t even testify in court

But the angel said to them, "Do not be But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you afraid. I bring you good newsgood news of of great great joyjoy that will be for that will be for allall the people. Today the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger…"manger…"

Good newsGood news= gospel= gospel

Great joyGreat joy= gospel is supposed to bring joy= gospel is supposed to bring joy

AllAll= gospel is for everyone= gospel is for everyone

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”- vs. 8-14whom his favor rests”- vs. 8-14

In the highest: glory (recognition of who God In the highest: glory (recognition of who God is)is)

On earth: peace (promise of grace)On earth: peace (promise of grace)

Peace to who?Peace to who?

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

Who?Who?

So they hurried off and found Mary and So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the wordthey spread the word concerning what concerning what had been told them about this child, and had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them… the shepherds said to them…

……But Mary treasured up all these things But Mary treasured up all these things and and ponderedpondered them in her heart. The them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they heard and seen, which were just as they had been told- Luke 2:15-20had been told- Luke 2:15-20

Why did God send angels to shepherds?Why did God send angels to shepherds?

Why did God send angels to shepherds?Why did God send angels to shepherds?

• Did they wash for ceremonial purity Did they wash for ceremonial purity before finding Jesus in the manger?before finding Jesus in the manger?

Why did God send angels to shepherds?Why did God send angels to shepherds?

• What does that tell us about what God What does that tell us about what God expects of us if we are to come in search of expects of us if we are to come in search of Jesus?Jesus?

• What about how we’re supposed to treat What about how we’re supposed to treat the “unclean” in our world?the “unclean” in our world?

Jesus came into the religion of the Jews to Jesus came into the religion of the Jews to totally destroy religion once and for alltotally destroy religion once and for all

Religion: Religion:

• Standards and performanceStandards and performance• Love is earnedLove is earned• Grace is for past sins that have been Grace is for past sins that have been

confessed confessed and paid for!and paid for!• Relationship is replaced with slaveship to Relationship is replaced with slaveship to

rulesrules• Hierarchies reign supreme Hierarchies reign supreme

Grace:Grace:

• Forgiven of past, present, future sinsForgiven of past, present, future sins• Assured of love, regardlessAssured of love, regardless• Called to be more than what I am and all that Called to be more than what I am and all that

he created me to behe created me to be• Serve from gratitude, not fear or performanceServe from gratitude, not fear or performance• Confident, humble Sonship and DaughtershipConfident, humble Sonship and Daughtership• All hierarchies are smashedAll hierarchies are smashed

Jesus was born in a cave for animals to Jesus was born in a cave for animals to poor parents living under Roman poor parents living under Roman occupationoccupation

The birth announcements went first to The birth announcements went first to sweaty, smelly, uncultured, sweaty, smelly, uncultured, ceremonially unclean social outcastsceremonially unclean social outcasts

Who do you think God wants to reach?Who do you think God wants to reach?

My soul glorifies the Lord…He has brought My soul glorifies the Lord…He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humblelifted up the humble. He has . He has filled the filled the hungryhungry with good things but has sent with good things but has sent the rich away empty- Luke 1:46, 52-53 the rich away empty- Luke 1:46, 52-53 (Mary’s Prophetic Song)(Mary’s Prophetic Song)

The shepherds may have been raising sheep for The shepherds may have been raising sheep for sacrifice at Passoversacrifice at Passover

They left their sheep to find the Lamb who They left their sheep to find the Lamb who would end the need for all sacrificeswould end the need for all sacrifices

TakeawaysTakeaways::

Am I living life in light of the cross? Do I see Am I living life in light of the cross? Do I see a sacred/secular divide? If so, what do I a sacred/secular divide? If so, what do I need to do to get beyond it?need to do to get beyond it?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

Am I approaching the scriptures with Am I approaching the scriptures with respect for their power and accuracy? respect for their power and accuracy? Their ability to transform my life?Their ability to transform my life?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

““The promises of God never negate the The promises of God never negate the circumstances of life in the real world…” circumstances of life in the real world…”

Do I understand that and am I willing to live Do I understand that and am I willing to live it out? it out?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

Which best describes me: under religion? Which best describes me: under religion? Or under grace? Or under grace?

Am I trying to pay for sin that Jesus already Am I trying to pay for sin that Jesus already paid for on the cross? Why?paid for on the cross? Why?