THINGS BABY JESUS SAW FROM THE MANGER—Luke 2:11-17 Key Verse 16

Intro: The VOICE THAT SPOKE THE WORLD INTO EXISTENCE, THE HANDS THAT FORMED THE PLANETS, THE WISDOM THAT ORDERS THIS UNIVERSE WAS EMBODIED IN THAT TINY BABY’S FLESH IN BETHLEHEM. THIS LOVELY GOD-MAN COULD KNOW SOME THINGS EVEN AS A LITTLE BABY. WE TAKE TIME THIS MORNING TO LOOK AT SOME THINGS HE SAW FROM HIS BED IN THE STABLE.

I.       THE SINFUL NIGHT OF A CONFUSED WORLD (Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD   .Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

A-SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT- Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

B-SALVATION’S NIGHT, HEAVEN’S DELIGHT-John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

C-SINFUL NIGHT, HORRIBLE PLIGHT-- Mark 14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

II.    THE STAR OF CONFIRMATION—Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

A-HE MADE THE STARS (Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.)

B-SEE THE MAKE-UP OF THE STARS (Psalms 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.)

C-HEAR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE STARS (Psalms 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

III.  THE SOLEMNESS OF HIS MOTHER’S COUNTENANCE (Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.)

A-THE SUBMISSION THAT WAS PREVALENT

B-THE SWORD THAT WOULD PIERCE

C-THE SUFFERING THAT WILL PRESENT ITSELF

IV.  THE SHEPHERDS FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE

A-THEIR LABORS…”Keeping Watch”

B-THEIR LINEAGE…”Not on Town Register”

C-THEIR LOVE…”Faithful in Little Things”

D-HEAVEN BROKE SILENCE (Heavenly Press Conference)

E-HUMBLE MEN HEARD GREAT THINGS

V.    THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

A-COLORED HIS EVERY MOVE IN SOCIETY Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth

B-CONFIRMED HIM IN EVERY MATCH WITH SATAN--Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel

C-COORDINATED HIS EVERY MARK IN HIS STEPS-- Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.