May 4, 2025 • 26 mins
The prophecies about Jesus Christ's birth stand as one of history's most remarkable examples of divine precision. Long before Bethlehem's manger scene, God's messengers foretold specifics about the Messiah's arrival—His lineage from Abraham through David, His birthplace in tiny Bethlehem, and His miraculous virgin birth. As Pastor Ken Davis brilliantly explains, these weren't vague predictions but detailed declarations that materialized with perfect accuracy when "the Word became flesh."
What many miss about Christmas is that while it marks when Jesus entered our physical world, it wasn't the beginning of His existence. The Gospel of John reveals this profound truth: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Christ didn't begin at Bethlehem—He had always been, co-eternal with the Father, actively involved in creation itself. As John declares, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." The creator of everything entered His creation.
The humble circumstances of Christ's birth stand in stark contrast to Heaven's response. Angels burst through the fabric of time and space, delivering the most magnificent birth announcement in history to simple shepherds. Meanwhile, many in Israel missed the very Messiah their Scriptures had promised. This paradox continues today—the light has come, yet many still choose darkness. But as Pastor Ken beautifully illustrates, darkness isn't an opposing force to light; it's merely the absence of it. Just as an artist transforms a dreary winter scene with one stroke creating light in a window, Christ's arrival brings hope to our darkest circumstances, not to condemn us but to rescue us from the darkness that already enveloped us.
Ready to explore these profound truths further? Join us next time as we continue our verse-by-verse journey through Luke's Gospel and discover how the eternal Word who became flesh transforms our understanding of God, ourselves, and our purpose in this world.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor
and teacher, Ken Davis.
Pastor Ken is the senior pastorof Calvary Chapel, Southwest
Metro in Burleson, Texas.
Please join us as we study theGospel of Luke verse by verse.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
He spoke to Ezekiel in a vision appearing as a wheel
within a wheel.
He spoke to Elijah in a stillsmall voice and he spoke to
Samuel as that voice in thetabernacle which called out to
him by night.
He spoke in so many differentways through so many different
(00:39):
people, at so many differentstations and offices in life,
but in these last days he hasspoken to us by his Son, who is
the very image and the veryglory of.
God revealed.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
The Gospel of Luke is the third account in the
Gospels of the life andteachings of our Savior, jesus
Christ.
As believers, there are fewstudies that will benefit us
more spiritually than studyingthe life and teachings of the
Master.
The very glory of God has beenrevealed in His Son, jesus
Christ and, as we just heardfrom Pastor Ken, the Father
(01:16):
spoke through many differentprophets regarding the coming of
His Son, and everything thatwas prophesied came to pass 100%
accurately.
In this, our faith is greatlyencouraged.
Don't forget to stay with usafter today's message to hear
more information about Heed theWord, specifically how you can
(01:36):
get a free copy of this teaching.
But for now, please open yourBibles to the Gospel of Luke,
chapter 2, verse 1, as we joinPastor Ken.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
In Numbers, chapter 22,.
There 1, as we join Pastor Ken.
In Numbers, chapter 22, thereis a prophecy that is spoken and
it goes like this 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.
Before Israel even enteredtheir land, before the first of
(02:07):
the kings of Israel had everbeen anointed, before ever the
temple had been built inJerusalem, before they crossed
over Jordan, or before the fallof Jericho, balaam, the son of
Beor, prophesied regarding thecoming of the one who would
reign and rule, this star thatwould come out of Jacob.
Now, the prophecies regardingthe coming of the Messiah were
(02:28):
manifold and they were marvelous.
Genesis 3.15 told us that hewould be born of a woman.
Genesis 12.3, 17.9, numbers24.17, which we have read in
Genesis 49.10,.
They all tell us, respectively,that the Messiah would be a
descendant of Abraham, of Isaacand of Jacob and that he would
(02:49):
arise from the tribe of Judah.
In Isaiah 9.7, we're told thathe would be heir to the throne
of David.
It reads of the increase of hisgovernment and peace.
There will be no end Upon thethrone of David and over his
kingdom, to order it andestablish it with judgment and
justice.
From that time forward, evenforever, the zeal of the Lord of
(03:13):
hosts will perform this AT.
Pearson, an associate of DLMoody's, an author in his own
right, once said the Messiahmust have a birthplace.
Three continents Europe, asiaand Africa were known to the
ancient world.
Asia was chosen, but Asia hasmany countries.
(03:34):
One of them is indicated, alittle country known as the land
of promise, palestine.
Here were three districts Judea, galilee and Samaria.
It is Judea that is the electone, but here again are many
villages.
Out of these, the favored oneis little Bethlehem.
To make the prediction moredefinite and certain, it is
(03:58):
Bethlehem in the land of Judah.
This prophecy was recorded inMicah 5.2,.
But you, bethlehem, ephrathah,though you are little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out ofyou shall come forth to me the
one to be ruler in Israel, whosegoings forth are from of old,
from everlasting.
(04:19):
The scriptures foretold furtherthat he was to be born of a
virgin.
Isaiah 7.14 said Therefore, theLord himself will give you a
sign.
Behold, the virgin shallconceive and bear a son and
shall call his name Emmanuel,which of course means God with
(04:39):
us.
We see the record of thisfulfillment in Matthew 1, verses
18 through 25.
Without leaving your place inLuke, go ahead and thumb over to
Matthew, chapter 1.
Matthew, chapter 1 in verse 18,we see the beginning of the
fulfillment of these prophecies.
It says now the birth of JesusChrist was as follows After his
(05:03):
mother, mary, was betrothed toJoseph, before they came
together, she was found withchild of the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, beinga just man and not wanting to
make her a public example, wasminded to put her away secretly.
But while he thought aboutthese things, behold, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him in adream saying Joseph, son of
(05:25):
David, do not be afraid to taketo you Mary, your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is ofthe Holy Spirit, and she will
bring forth a son, and you shallcall his name Jesus, for he
will save his people from theirsins.
Now all this was done, that itmight be fulfilled, which was
spoken by the Lord through theprophet saying behold, a virgin
(05:48):
shall be with child and bear ason, and they shall call his
name Emmanuel, which istranslated God, with us.
Then Joseph, being aroused fromsleep, did as the angel of the
Lord, commanded him and took tohim his wife and did not know
her till she had brought forthher firstborn son, and he called
(06:10):
his name Jesus.
Now there are those who wouldsuggest that the rendering in
the Hebrew indicates that it wasa young woman, and not
necessarily a virgin, that wasto give birth to the Messiah.
But an apologist that I heardspeaking once brought forth a
very interesting point, and thatwas this what sign is there in
a young woman having a baby?
(06:31):
Well, there's no sign in thatat all.
In order for there to be a sign, there would have to be
something remarkable ormiraculous, and so the word is
rightly translated the virginshall conceive and bring forth a
son.
Luke, chapter 2, gives us evenmore information regarding his
(06:54):
birth, starting in verse 1,.
And it came to pass in thosedays that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all theworld should be registered.
This census first took placewhile Quirinus was governing
Syria.
So all went to be registered,everyone to his own city, and
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
(07:16):
into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house andlineage of David, to be
registered with Mary, hisbetrothed wife who was with
child.
So it was that while they werethere, the days were completed
for her to be delivered and shebrought forth her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddlingclothes and laid him in a manger
(07:39):
, because there was no room forthem in the inn.
Now there were, in the samecountry, shepherds living out in
the fields keeping watch overtheir flock by night.
And behold, an angel of theLord stood before them and the
glory of the Lord shone roundabout them and they were greatly
afraid.
Then the angel said to them Donot be afraid, for behold the
(08:03):
sign to you you will find a babewrapped in swaddling clothes
lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with theangel a multitude of the
(08:24):
heavenly host praising God andsaying and suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude ofthe heavenly host praising God
and saying.
So it was when the angels hadgone away from them into heaven
that the shepherds said to oneanother Let us now go to
Bethlehem and see this thingthat has come to pass, which the
Lord has made known to us.
(08:44):
And they came with haste andfound Mary and Joseph and the
babe lying in a manger.
Now, when they had seen him.
They made widely known thesaying which was told them
concerning this child, and allthose who heard it marveled at
those things which were toldthem by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these thingsand pondered them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returnedglorifying and praising God for
(09:09):
all the things that they hadheard and seen as it was told
them.
Now, today, we have email, right, we have text messaging, we
have cell phones.
We have lots of ways ofcommunicating with one another
very rapidly.
Now, over the last quarter ofthis year, there have been a
(09:31):
number of babies born in ourfellowship, haven't there?
And boy, I'll tell you what wefound out about them.
Like that, I mean withinmoments, there were pictures
coming to some of our cellphones and we could see this
little baby that had been born.
Back in the day, before cellphones, before text messaging
and before email and beforecheaper long distance, they had
(09:55):
another way of spreading theword.
It was called the birthannouncement.
How many of you remember birthannouncements, right?
It's this little card thatyou'd fill out and you'd put the
name of the baby and the day hewas born and all that other
information and you'd send thatin the mail, right?
And so you'd get it in the mail, maybe a few days after the
blessed event, and you'd be like, oh, there was a baby born,
right.
(10:16):
Well, we have here, in Luke,chapter two, the most incredible
birth announcement everrecorded.
The hosts of heaven burst ontothe scene, break through the
fabric of time and space todeclare the glorious incarnation
of our Lord and Savior, jesusChrist.
That must have been an awesomesight.
(10:38):
Amen, that must have been anawesome sight.
And, of course, the shepherdsbelieved.
And why wouldn't they with sucha testimony?
Now, if you received a textmessage regarding someone who
had given birth, someone thatyou had been expecting, would
(11:03):
you believe that that baby hadindeed been born?
I mean, if you know thatthere's a baby on the way and
then one day, at the appointedtime, you receive a message on
your cell phone that says guesswhat?
The baby has been born, are youthen going to say well, I don't
(11:25):
know if I actually believe thatthat baby has been born.
It's probably not here yet.
Would you have that attitude?
Or would you say awesome,praise the Lord, the baby's been
born.
That is so great.
Well, of course, it would bethe latter.
You would believe that the babyhad been born because you had
received the text message.
(11:46):
Well, god has sent a birthannouncement.
He has sent a message in theform of text, and those who
witnessed it have communicatedit to us, and we can believe
that the child that was longexpected has indeed arrived.
(12:10):
That was long expected hasindeed arrived, but the mistake
that so many make is thinkingthat Jesus didn't exist prior to
that day.
For you see, though, that wasthe day that he came on the
scene.
He had been around for a wholelot longer than that.
(12:34):
Amen.
In Isaiah 40, 21 through 26, theprophet writes have you not
known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you fromthe beginning?
Have you not understood?
From the foundations of theearth?
It is he who sits upon thecircle of the earth and its
(12:58):
inhabitants are likegrasshoppers, who stretches out
the heavens like a curtain andspreads them out like a tent to
dwell in.
He brings the princes tonothing.
He makes the judges of theearth useless.
Scarcely shall they be planted,scarcely shall they be sown,
scarcely shall their stock takeroot in the earth, when he will
(13:18):
also blow on them and they willwither, and the whirlwind will
take them away like stubble.
To whom, then, will you likenme or to whom shall I be equal,
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high andsee who has created these things
, who brings out their host bynumber.
He calls them all by name, bythe greatness of his might and
(13:43):
the strength of his power.
Not one is missing Now.
Luke, chapter 2, gave us abeautiful illustration of the
earthly perspective on thearrival of Jesus Christ, but in
my opinion, the heavenlyperspective of his birth can
best be found in John, chapter 1.
Turn there, if you will.
(14:04):
John, chapter 1, starting inverse 1, in the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God.
I want you to notice one thingas we begin, and that is that
even here, in this first ofverses, this verse that reflects
(14:26):
back upon that which was beforethe beginning, jesus is spoken
of in the past tense.
In the beginning is the word.
No, in the beginning was theword, and the word was with God,
and the word was God.
(14:46):
Now there are those who wouldlike to say and the word was a
God, but the article does notappear in the Greek.
The word was God.
Now there are those who wouldlike to say and the word was a
God, but the article does notappear in the Greek.
The word was God.
Verse two he was in thebeginning with God.
All things were made throughhim and without him nothing was
(15:06):
made that was made.
There are those that would saythat Jesus is a created being.
And yet if Jesus were a createdbeing, then that would mean
that Jesus had been made right.
And yet verse two of John tellsus that he was in the beginning
with God.
And verse three tells us thatall things, all things, not most
things, not everything, but onething, no, all things, all
things were made through him andwithout him.
(15:29):
Nothing was made that was madeIn him, that is, in Jesus Christ
.
In him was life, and the lifewas the light of men, and the
light shines in the darkness andthe darkness did not comprehend
it.
There was a man sent from Godwhose name was John.
(15:50):
This man came for a witness, tobear witness of the light that
all through him might believe.
He was not that light, but wassent to bear witness of that
light.
It was the true light, whichgives light to every man who
comes into the world.
He was in the world speakingagain of Jesus.
(16:11):
And the world was made throughhim.
And the world did not know him.
He came to his own, who were hisown?
The children of Israel were hisown.
He came to the children ofIsrael, those who had received
the promise from God, those whohad received the promise from
God, those who had received thepromise of the Messiah.
(16:34):
He came to his own and his owndid not receive him.
They rejected their own Messiah, the one whose coming had been
prophesied in their ownscriptures, the one whose birth
announcement was delivered tothem personally by the angelic
hosts.
They rejected him.
He came to his own and his owndid not receive him.
(16:58):
But as many as received him tothem he gave the right to become
children of God, even to thosewho believe in his name, who
were born not of blood, nor ofthe will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God.
(17:19):
And the word, that eternal word, that word that was with God,
that word that was God, thatword through whom all things
were created, that word withoutwhich nothing was created that
has been created, that word thatwas the light and the life of
men.
That word, that same logos,that same divine expression,
(17:42):
that word.
The word became flesh and dweltamong us and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the onlybegotten, of the Father, full of
grace and truth.
John bore witness of him andcried out, saying this is he of
(18:03):
whom I said.
John bore witness of him andcried out saying this is he of
whom I said he who comes afterme is preferred before me.
For he was before me.
Now, john happens to be theolder cousin of Jesus and John
actually was born first.
And yet John said he who comesafter me was before me, speaking
of the eternal existence ofJesus Christ and of his fullness
(18:29):
.
We have all received and gracefor grace For the law was given
through Moses, but grace andtruth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time, the only begotten son who is
in the bosom of the father.
(18:49):
He has declared him.
Turn to Hebrews, chapter onewith me.
I hope you're ready for alittle bit of a Bible drill this
morning.
Hebrews, chapter one.
It's the book before James,right after Philemon.
Hebrews 1.1 says this God, whoat various times and in
(19:11):
different ways spoke in timepast to the fathers by the
prophets, has in these last daysspoken to us by his Son, whom
he has appointed heir of allthings, through whom also he
made the worlds, who, being thebrightness of his glory and the
(19:34):
express image of his person andupholding all things by the word
of his power, when he had byhimself purged our sins, sat
down at the right hand of themajesty on high, having become
so much better than the angels,as he has, by inheritance,
obtained a more excellent namethan they.
(19:57):
God, at various times and invarious ways, spoke to the men
of old by the prophets.
He spoke in lots of differentways he spoke to Moses through
the burning bush.
He spoke to Balaam through adonkey.
He spoke to Ezekiel in a visionappearing as a wheel within a
wheel.
He spoke to Elijah in a stillsmall voice and he spoke to
(20:23):
Samuel as that voice in thetabernacle which called out to
him by night.
He spoke in so many differentways through so many different
people, at so many differentstations and offices in life,
but in these last days he hasspoken to us by his son, who is
the very image and the veryglory of God revealed.
(20:46):
You see, this world was lost indarkness.
We did not know the light oflife.
We did not recognize him whenhe came.
An artist, it's been said, oncedrew a picture of a winter
twilight the trees were heavilyladen with snow and a dreary,
(21:11):
dark house, lonely and desolate,stood in the midst of the storm
.
It was a sad picture.
And then, with a quick strokeof a yellow crayon, he put a
light in one window.
The effect was magical.
The entire scene wastransformed into a vision of
(21:31):
comfort and cheer.
The birth of Christ was justsuch a light.
In the dark world, in the midstof our darkness, the light of
Jesus Christ shines, and thatone light, that light that
changes everything.
(21:52):
He brings hope to the mosthopeless situations.
We were lost in darkness andsin, but his light has come and
shines in our hearts when wereceive him as our Lord and
Savior.
In John, chapter 3, verses 16through 19, jesus tells us this.
(22:18):
He says, for God so loved theworld that he gave his only
begotten son that whoeverbelieves in him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send his soninto the world to condemn the
(22:39):
world, but that the world,through him, might be saved.
He who believes in him is notcondemned, but he who does not
believe in him is condemnedalready because he has not
believed in the name of the onlybegotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnationthat light has come into the
(23:04):
world and men loved darknessrather than light because their
deeds were evil.
You see, darkness is not theantithesis of light.
Darkness is not simply anopposite force working against
light.
Darkness is the absence oflight.
(23:25):
Where there is no light, whatdo you have?
You have darkness.
Can you turn up the darknesssimply by trying to increase its
presence?
No, how do you make a roomdarker?
By lowering the amount of lightthat is shining in that room.
You see, jesus Christ came tothis world not to bring judgment
(23:50):
, not to bring condemnation, butto rescue us, because we were
already lost and we were alreadycondemned.
We had already violated God'slaw, and God's word stood
against us and condemned us.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Do you ever feel like the circumstances you're going
through are more than you canbear, that God is in some way
punishing you?
Well, consider the words ofPaul.
And we know that all thingswork together for the good to
those who love God, to those whoare called according to his
purpose.
So we learn from this versethat all things not some, but
(24:34):
all things work together if welove God and are called
according to his purpose.
Just something to think aboutfrom your friends here at Heed
the Word Heed the Word is thedaily Bible teaching ministry of
Ken Davis, senior pastor ofCalvary Chapel in Burleson,
texas.
There's a great deal more thatPastor Ken has to share with us
from the Gospel of Luke, soplease join us again Now.
(24:57):
Maybe you'd like to add today'smessage to your study library.
Our online media is alwaysavailable and free of charge.
Cd copies are also availableupon request for free, but
supplies are limited, so ordertoday.
To order a CD, simply log on toheaththewordorg and select the
order a message option.
(25:18):
There you'll find a convenientorder form to fill out.
The only information you needto remember is today's date.
This ensures we get you theright teaching.
So log on to heedthewordorg andplace your order today, or,
better yet, join us this Sundayfor worship at 10 30 am.
Directions are available on ourwebsite.
That's heedthewordorg.
(25:40):
Well, we've run out of timetoday, but tune in next time, as
Pastor Ken will continueteaching verse by verse through
the Gospel of Luke.
That's next time on Heed theWord.
You're listening to Heed the Word with our pastor
and teacher, Ken Davis.
Pastor Ken is the senior pastorof Calvary Chapel, Southwest
Metro in Burleson, Texas.
Please join us as we study theGospel of Luke verse by verse.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
He spoke to Ezekiel in a vision appearing as a wheel
within a wheel.
He spoke to Elijah in a stillsmall voice and he spoke to
Samuel as that voice in thetabernacle which called out to
him by night.
He spoke in so many differentways through so many different
(00:39):
people, at so many differentstations and offices in life,
but in these last days he hasspoken to us by his Son, who is
the very image and the veryglory of.
God revealed.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
The Gospel of Luke is the third account in the
Gospels of the life andteachings of our Savior, jesus
Christ.
As believers, there are fewstudies that will benefit us
more spiritually than studyingthe life and teachings of the
Master.
The very glory of God has beenrevealed in His Son, jesus
Christ and, as we just heardfrom Pastor Ken, the Father
(01:16):
spoke through many differentprophets regarding the coming of
His Son, and everything thatwas prophesied came to pass 100%
accurately.
In this, our faith is greatlyencouraged.
Don't forget to stay with usafter today's message to hear
more information about Heed theWord, specifically how you can
(01:36):
get a free copy of this teaching.
But for now, please open yourBibles to the Gospel of Luke,
chapter 2, verse 1, as we joinPastor Ken.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
In Numbers, chapter 22,.
There 1, as we join Pastor Ken.
In Numbers, chapter 22, thereis a prophecy that is spoken and
it goes like this 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.
Before Israel even enteredtheir land, before the first of
(02:07):
the kings of Israel had everbeen anointed, before ever the
temple had been built inJerusalem, before they crossed
over Jordan, or before the fallof Jericho, balaam, the son of
Beor, prophesied regarding thecoming of the one who would
reign and rule, this star thatwould come out of Jacob.
Now, the prophecies regardingthe coming of the Messiah were
(02:28):
manifold and they were marvelous.
Genesis 3.15 told us that hewould be born of a woman.
Genesis 12.3, 17.9, numbers24.17, which we have read in
Genesis 49.10,.
They all tell us, respectively,that the Messiah would be a
descendant of Abraham, of Isaacand of Jacob and that he would
(02:49):
arise from the tribe of Judah.
In Isaiah 9.7, we're told thathe would be heir to the throne
of David.
It reads of the increase of hisgovernment and peace.
There will be no end Upon thethrone of David and over his
kingdom, to order it andestablish it with judgment and
justice.
From that time forward, evenforever, the zeal of the Lord of
(03:13):
hosts will perform this AT.
Pearson, an associate of DLMoody's, an author in his own
right, once said the Messiahmust have a birthplace.
Three continents Europe, asiaand Africa were known to the
ancient world.
Asia was chosen, but Asia hasmany countries.
(03:34):
One of them is indicated, alittle country known as the land
of promise, palestine.
Here were three districts Judea, galilee and Samaria.
It is Judea that is the electone, but here again are many
villages.
Out of these, the favored oneis little Bethlehem.
To make the prediction moredefinite and certain, it is
(03:58):
Bethlehem in the land of Judah.
This prophecy was recorded inMicah 5.2,.
But you, bethlehem, ephrathah,though you are little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out ofyou shall come forth to me the
one to be ruler in Israel, whosegoings forth are from of old,
from everlasting.
(04:19):
The scriptures foretold furtherthat he was to be born of a
virgin.
Isaiah 7.14 said Therefore, theLord himself will give you a
sign.
Behold, the virgin shallconceive and bear a son and
shall call his name Emmanuel,which of course means God with
(04:39):
us.
We see the record of thisfulfillment in Matthew 1, verses
18 through 25.
Without leaving your place inLuke, go ahead and thumb over to
Matthew, chapter 1.
Matthew, chapter 1 in verse 18,we see the beginning of the
fulfillment of these prophecies.
It says now the birth of JesusChrist was as follows After his
(05:03):
mother, mary, was betrothed toJoseph, before they came
together, she was found withchild of the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, beinga just man and not wanting to
make her a public example, wasminded to put her away secretly.
But while he thought aboutthese things, behold, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him in adream saying Joseph, son of
(05:25):
David, do not be afraid to taketo you Mary, your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is ofthe Holy Spirit, and she will
bring forth a son, and you shallcall his name Jesus, for he
will save his people from theirsins.
Now all this was done, that itmight be fulfilled, which was
spoken by the Lord through theprophet saying behold, a virgin
(05:48):
shall be with child and bear ason, and they shall call his
name Emmanuel, which istranslated God, with us.
Then Joseph, being aroused fromsleep, did as the angel of the
Lord, commanded him and took tohim his wife and did not know
her till she had brought forthher firstborn son, and he called
(06:10):
his name Jesus.
Now there are those who wouldsuggest that the rendering in
the Hebrew indicates that it wasa young woman, and not
necessarily a virgin, that wasto give birth to the Messiah.
But an apologist that I heardspeaking once brought forth a
very interesting point, and thatwas this what sign is there in
a young woman having a baby?
(06:31):
Well, there's no sign in thatat all.
In order for there to be a sign, there would have to be
something remarkable ormiraculous, and so the word is
rightly translated the virginshall conceive and bring forth a
son.
Luke, chapter 2, gives us evenmore information regarding his
(06:54):
birth, starting in verse 1,.
And it came to pass in thosedays that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all theworld should be registered.
This census first took placewhile Quirinus was governing
Syria.
So all went to be registered,everyone to his own city, and
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
(07:16):
into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house andlineage of David, to be
registered with Mary, hisbetrothed wife who was with
child.
So it was that while they werethere, the days were completed
for her to be delivered and shebrought forth her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddlingclothes and laid him in a manger
(07:39):
, because there was no room forthem in the inn.
Now there were, in the samecountry, shepherds living out in
the fields keeping watch overtheir flock by night.
And behold, an angel of theLord stood before them and the
glory of the Lord shone roundabout them and they were greatly
afraid.
Then the angel said to them Donot be afraid, for behold the
(08:03):
sign to you you will find a babewrapped in swaddling clothes
lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with theangel a multitude of the
(08:24):
heavenly host praising God andsaying and suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude ofthe heavenly host praising God
and saying.
So it was when the angels hadgone away from them into heaven
that the shepherds said to oneanother Let us now go to
Bethlehem and see this thingthat has come to pass, which the
Lord has made known to us.
(08:44):
And they came with haste andfound Mary and Joseph and the
babe lying in a manger.
Now, when they had seen him.
They made widely known thesaying which was told them
concerning this child, and allthose who heard it marveled at
those things which were toldthem by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these thingsand pondered them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returnedglorifying and praising God for
(09:09):
all the things that they hadheard and seen as it was told
them.
Now, today, we have email, right, we have text messaging, we
have cell phones.
We have lots of ways ofcommunicating with one another
very rapidly.
Now, over the last quarter ofthis year, there have been a
(09:31):
number of babies born in ourfellowship, haven't there?
And boy, I'll tell you what wefound out about them.
Like that, I mean withinmoments, there were pictures
coming to some of our cellphones and we could see this
little baby that had been born.
Back in the day, before cellphones, before text messaging
and before email and beforecheaper long distance, they had
(09:55):
another way of spreading theword.
It was called the birthannouncement.
How many of you remember birthannouncements, right?
It's this little card thatyou'd fill out and you'd put the
name of the baby and the day hewas born and all that other
information and you'd send thatin the mail, right?
And so you'd get it in the mail, maybe a few days after the
blessed event, and you'd be like, oh, there was a baby born,
right.
(10:16):
Well, we have here, in Luke,chapter two, the most incredible
birth announcement everrecorded.
The hosts of heaven burst ontothe scene, break through the
fabric of time and space todeclare the glorious incarnation
of our Lord and Savior, jesusChrist.
That must have been an awesomesight.
(10:38):
Amen, that must have been anawesome sight.
And, of course, the shepherdsbelieved.
And why wouldn't they with sucha testimony?
Now, if you received a textmessage regarding someone who
had given birth, someone thatyou had been expecting, would
(11:03):
you believe that that baby hadindeed been born?
I mean, if you know thatthere's a baby on the way and
then one day, at the appointedtime, you receive a message on
your cell phone that says guesswhat?
The baby has been born, are youthen going to say well, I don't
(11:25):
know if I actually believe thatthat baby has been born.
It's probably not here yet.
Would you have that attitude?
Or would you say awesome,praise the Lord, the baby's been
born.
That is so great.
Well, of course, it would bethe latter.
You would believe that the babyhad been born because you had
received the text message.
(11:46):
Well, god has sent a birthannouncement.
He has sent a message in theform of text, and those who
witnessed it have communicatedit to us, and we can believe
that the child that was longexpected has indeed arrived.
(12:10):
That was long expected hasindeed arrived, but the mistake
that so many make is thinkingthat Jesus didn't exist prior to
that day.
For you see, though, that wasthe day that he came on the
scene.
He had been around for a wholelot longer than that.
(12:34):
Amen.
In Isaiah 40, 21 through 26, theprophet writes have you not
known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you fromthe beginning?
Have you not understood?
From the foundations of theearth?
It is he who sits upon thecircle of the earth and its
(12:58):
inhabitants are likegrasshoppers, who stretches out
the heavens like a curtain andspreads them out like a tent to
dwell in.
He brings the princes tonothing.
He makes the judges of theearth useless.
Scarcely shall they be planted,scarcely shall they be sown,
scarcely shall their stock takeroot in the earth, when he will
(13:18):
also blow on them and they willwither, and the whirlwind will
take them away like stubble.
To whom, then, will you likenme or to whom shall I be equal,
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high andsee who has created these things
, who brings out their host bynumber.
He calls them all by name, bythe greatness of his might and
(13:43):
the strength of his power.
Not one is missing Now.
Luke, chapter 2, gave us abeautiful illustration of the
earthly perspective on thearrival of Jesus Christ, but in
my opinion, the heavenlyperspective of his birth can
best be found in John, chapter 1.
Turn there, if you will.
(14:04):
John, chapter 1, starting inverse 1, in the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God.
I want you to notice one thingas we begin, and that is that
even here, in this first ofverses, this verse that reflects
(14:26):
back upon that which was beforethe beginning, jesus is spoken
of in the past tense.
In the beginning is the word.
No, in the beginning was theword, and the word was with God,
and the word was God.
(14:46):
Now there are those who wouldlike to say and the word was a
God, but the article does notappear in the Greek.
The word was God.
Now there are those who wouldlike to say and the word was a
God, but the article does notappear in the Greek.
The word was God.
Verse two he was in thebeginning with God.
All things were made throughhim and without him nothing was
(15:06):
made that was made.
There are those that would saythat Jesus is a created being.
And yet if Jesus were a createdbeing, then that would mean
that Jesus had been made right.
And yet verse two of John tellsus that he was in the beginning
with God.
And verse three tells us thatall things, all things, not most
things, not everything, but onething, no, all things, all
things were made through him andwithout him.
(15:29):
Nothing was made that was madeIn him, that is, in Jesus Christ
.
In him was life, and the lifewas the light of men, and the
light shines in the darkness andthe darkness did not comprehend
it.
There was a man sent from Godwhose name was John.
(15:50):
This man came for a witness, tobear witness of the light that
all through him might believe.
He was not that light, but wassent to bear witness of that
light.
It was the true light, whichgives light to every man who
comes into the world.
He was in the world speakingagain of Jesus.
(16:11):
And the world was made throughhim.
And the world did not know him.
He came to his own, who were hisown?
The children of Israel were hisown.
He came to the children ofIsrael, those who had received
the promise from God, those whohad received the promise from
God, those who had received thepromise of the Messiah.
(16:34):
He came to his own and his owndid not receive him.
They rejected their own Messiah, the one whose coming had been
prophesied in their ownscriptures, the one whose birth
announcement was delivered tothem personally by the angelic
hosts.
They rejected him.
He came to his own and his owndid not receive him.
(16:58):
But as many as received him tothem he gave the right to become
children of God, even to thosewho believe in his name, who
were born not of blood, nor ofthe will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God.
(17:19):
And the word, that eternal word, that word that was with God,
that word that was God, thatword through whom all things
were created, that word withoutwhich nothing was created that
has been created, that word thatwas the light and the life of
men.
That word, that same logos,that same divine expression,
(17:42):
that word.
The word became flesh and dweltamong us and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the onlybegotten, of the Father, full of
grace and truth.
John bore witness of him andcried out, saying this is he of
(18:03):
whom I said.
John bore witness of him andcried out saying this is he of
whom I said he who comes afterme is preferred before me.
For he was before me.
Now, john happens to be theolder cousin of Jesus and John
actually was born first.
And yet John said he who comesafter me was before me, speaking
of the eternal existence ofJesus Christ and of his fullness
(18:29):
.
We have all received and gracefor grace For the law was given
through Moses, but grace andtruth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time, the only begotten son who is
in the bosom of the father.
(18:49):
He has declared him.
Turn to Hebrews, chapter onewith me.
I hope you're ready for alittle bit of a Bible drill this
morning.
Hebrews, chapter one.
It's the book before James,right after Philemon.
Hebrews 1.1 says this God, whoat various times and in
(19:11):
different ways spoke in timepast to the fathers by the
prophets, has in these last daysspoken to us by his Son, whom
he has appointed heir of allthings, through whom also he
made the worlds, who, being thebrightness of his glory and the
(19:34):
express image of his person andupholding all things by the word
of his power, when he had byhimself purged our sins, sat
down at the right hand of themajesty on high, having become
so much better than the angels,as he has, by inheritance,
obtained a more excellent namethan they.
(19:57):
God, at various times and invarious ways, spoke to the men
of old by the prophets.
He spoke in lots of differentways he spoke to Moses through
the burning bush.
He spoke to Balaam through adonkey.
He spoke to Ezekiel in a visionappearing as a wheel within a
wheel.
He spoke to Elijah in a stillsmall voice and he spoke to
(20:23):
Samuel as that voice in thetabernacle which called out to
him by night.
He spoke in so many differentways through so many different
people, at so many differentstations and offices in life,
but in these last days he hasspoken to us by his son, who is
the very image and the veryglory of God revealed.
(20:46):
You see, this world was lost indarkness.
We did not know the light oflife.
We did not recognize him whenhe came.
An artist, it's been said, oncedrew a picture of a winter
twilight the trees were heavilyladen with snow and a dreary,
(21:11):
dark house, lonely and desolate,stood in the midst of the storm
.
It was a sad picture.
And then, with a quick strokeof a yellow crayon, he put a
light in one window.
The effect was magical.
The entire scene wastransformed into a vision of
(21:31):
comfort and cheer.
The birth of Christ was justsuch a light.
In the dark world, in the midstof our darkness, the light of
Jesus Christ shines, and thatone light, that light that
changes everything.
(21:52):
He brings hope to the mosthopeless situations.
We were lost in darkness andsin, but his light has come and
shines in our hearts when wereceive him as our Lord and
Savior.
In John, chapter 3, verses 16through 19, jesus tells us this.
(22:18):
He says, for God so loved theworld that he gave his only
begotten son that whoeverbelieves in him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send his soninto the world to condemn the
(22:39):
world, but that the world,through him, might be saved.
He who believes in him is notcondemned, but he who does not
believe in him is condemnedalready because he has not
believed in the name of the onlybegotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnationthat light has come into the
(23:04):
world and men loved darknessrather than light because their
deeds were evil.
You see, darkness is not theantithesis of light.
Darkness is not simply anopposite force working against
light.
Darkness is the absence oflight.
(23:25):
Where there is no light, whatdo you have?
You have darkness.
Can you turn up the darknesssimply by trying to increase its
presence?
No, how do you make a roomdarker?
By lowering the amount of lightthat is shining in that room.
You see, jesus Christ came tothis world not to bring judgment
(23:50):
, not to bring condemnation, butto rescue us, because we were
already lost and we were alreadycondemned.
We had already violated God'slaw, and God's word stood
against us and condemned us.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Do you ever feel like the circumstances you're going
through are more than you canbear, that God is in some way
punishing you?
Well, consider the words ofPaul.
And we know that all thingswork together for the good to
those who love God, to those whoare called according to his
purpose.
So we learn from this versethat all things not some, but
(24:34):
all things work together if welove God and are called
according to his purpose.
Just something to think aboutfrom your friends here at Heed
the Word Heed the Word is thedaily Bible teaching ministry of
Ken Davis, senior pastor ofCalvary Chapel in Burleson,
texas.
There's a great deal more thatPastor Ken has to share with us
from the Gospel of Luke, soplease join us again Now.
(24:57):
Maybe you'd like to add today'smessage to your study library.
Our online media is alwaysavailable and free of charge.
Cd copies are also availableupon request for free, but
supplies are limited, so ordertoday.
To order a CD, simply log on toheaththewordorg and select the
order a message option.
(25:18):
There you'll find a convenientorder form to fill out.
The only information you needto remember is today's date.
This ensures we get you theright teaching.
So log on to heedthewordorg andplace your order today, or,
better yet, join us this Sundayfor worship at 10 30 am.
Directions are available on ourwebsite.
That's heedthewordorg.
(25:40):
Well, we've run out of timetoday, but tune in next time, as
Pastor Ken will continueteaching verse by verse through
the Gospel of Luke.
That's next time on Heed theWord.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.