Bend 12-22-07 Overlooked Aspect of Birth of Jesus Christ

Introduction - Most of the Christian world is preparing to celebrate Christmas, allegedly commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ,

• We are among a minority of Christians who do not observe Christmas.

• This topic has a much higher profile than usual, as you have heard.

SPS – I would like to discuss an aspect of Christmas that hasn't gotten much if any press.

• Most Christians are overlooking the fundamental truth that Jesus was born to be a king.

• In the sermon today we will examine scriptural evidence of this important truth. Scriptural coverage of Christ's birth: NKJ Luke 1:26-33 – "26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!' 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 'And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. '" NKJ Matthew 2:1-2 – "1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'"

Gospel significance of Christ as King NKJ Luke 16:16 – "16 The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it." NKJ Mark 1:14-15 – "14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'" NKJ Luke 4:42-43 – "42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.'" NKJ Luke 9:1-2 – "1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." NKJ Luke 10:9-12 – " 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' 12 "But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.'"

NKJ Luke 9:10-12 – "10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, 'Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.'" NKJ Luke 9:57-62 – "57 "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, 'Lord, I will follow You wherever You go. ' 58 And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' 59 Then He said to another, 'Follow Me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' 60 Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.'" 61 And another also said, 'Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.' 62 But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'" Kingdom of God as central theme of parables NKJ Mark 4:11-12 – "11 And He said to them, 'To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.'"

NKJ Mark 4:30 – "30 Then He said, 'To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?'" NKJ Luke 13:18-21 – "18 Then He said, 'What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.' 20 And again He said, 'To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.'" NKJ Luke 19:11 – "11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable [parable of pounds], because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately." NKJ Luke 21:29-31 – "29 Then He spoke to them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 "When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.'" The kingdom of God and our destiny NKJ Luke 18:28-30 – "28 Then Peter said, 'See, we have left all and followed You.' 29 So He said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.'"

NKJ Luke 22:28-30 – "28 'But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'" NKJ Luke 12:32 – "32 'Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. '" Entrance to the Kingdom of God (cp. Mark 1:15) NKJ Mark 10:13-15 – "13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.'" NKJ Mark 12:34 – "34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' But after that no one dared question Him." NET Luke 17:20-21 – "20 Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, 'The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.'"

• "This is a present tense in the Greek text. In contrast to waiting and looking for the kingdom, it is now available" (NET marginal notes).

• "This is a far better translation than 'in you.' Jesus would never tell the hostile Pharisees that the kingdom was inside them. The reference is to Jesus present in their midst" (NET marginal notes). NKJ Luke 13:28-29 – "28' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God'" (Christ to religious leaders who rejected Him). NKJ Mark 10:23-24 – "23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!'" NKJ Matthew 6:33 "33 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.'" NKJ Luke 11:1-2 – "1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.' 2 So He said to them, 'When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.'" The kingdom of God at the end of Christ's life and ministry NKJ Mark 11:8-10 – "8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'"

NKJ Luke 22:14-18 – "14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, 'Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.'" NKJ Luke 23:1-3 – "1 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "It is as you say." NKJ John 18:33-37 – "33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' 34 Jesus answered him, 'Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?' 35 Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?' 36 Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.' 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?' Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'" NKJ John 19:19-22 – "19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 'Do not write, "The King of the Jews," but, He said, "I am the King of the Jews." ' " 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

NKJ Luke 23:42 – "42 Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' (request of thief on the cross). NKJ Mark 15:43 – "43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus." The kingdom of God after Christ's resurrection NKJ Acts 1:1-3 – "1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." NKJ Acts 1:6-8 – "6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, 'Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'" The kingdom of God preached by the apostles NKJ Acts 8:12 – "12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."

NKJ Acts 17:1-7 – "1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.' 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. 5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, 'These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 "Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king -- Jesus.'" NKJ Acts 19:8 – "8And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God" (Paul in Ephesus). NKJ Acts 20:25 – "25'And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more'" (Paul's final message to elders at Ephesus). NKJ Acts 28:23 – "23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening."

NKJ Acts 28:30-31 – "30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him" (last 2 verses of book of Acts). The kingdom of God at the time of the end and return of Christ NKJ Revelation 11:15 – "15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" NKJ Revelation 1:4-7 – "4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 ¶ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen." NKJ Revelation 19:16 – "16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Conclusion – As most of the Christian world prepares to celebrate Christmas, allegedly commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, most of them are overlooking the fundamental truth that Jesus was born to be a king. • As important as His death for our sins is in God's plan, the reason for this is to grant us access to the kingdom of God, which is the theme of the true gospel.

• Not surprisingly, most of the Christian world also overlooks the kingdom of God as the fundamental message of the gospel.

• Thank God for the understanding of these marvelous truths that He has given us!