Grosey's Messages

One of the things that I love about the Christmas season is that it provides the opportunity to deepen our appreciation of the humility and sacrifice of Christ – observed in His incarnation. I fear the Christmas story has become so polished and cleaned up that we would not recognize the real scene if it were enacted in front of us. The truth is that the original Christmas scene was actually a dirty, desperate scene with two teenagers delivering their first born in a limestone cave cut out of a hillside. I have prepared a quiz. It won't be recording your marks – your church membership is not on the line!

Question #1: Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem:

a. on a camel     b. in a wooden cart   c. in a Volkswagen  d. with Joseph walking and Mary riding a donkey The answer is: none of the above. I guess I should have given you this answer as letter "e," you didn't think I would just give away the chuppa chups did you?   

The record of scripture merely records in Luke chapter 2, verses 4-5, Joseph . . . went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem . . . in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. It is possible that both Mary and Joseph were too poor to even own a donkey!

Question #2: When Joseph and Mary finally arrived in Bethlehem, the innkeeper's actual words to them were:

a. "Why didn't you make reservations?" b. "Please use my stable." c. "There is no room for you in the inn."  The answer is: none of the above. The Bible simply informs us that there is no room for them in the inn. In fact, an innkeeper is never introduced in the scene.

Luke simply records in chapter 2, verse 7, . . . there was no room for them in the inn. We have every reason to believe that with all the travelers heading back to their hometowns to register according to the emperor's decree, every place was packed with people. Furthermore, we are never told that Joseph even knocked on the door of the inn. He was probably told by other people in the courtyard that the place was overflowing and there was no room. Have you ever thought about the fact that the innkeeper always gets the worst job in the Christmas play?

I read of one church that put on a children's Christmas play, and a child with Down's syndrome was to play the role of the innkeeper. The moment finally arrived when little exhausted Mary and Joseph arrived and knocked on the door. The innkeeper came to the door, right on cue. Joseph explained their pitiful situation and ended with, "Can we have a room?" The innkeeper was simply supposed to say, "We're full – use the stable." However, he was so engrossed in the scene that after pausing a moment, he said, "We're full, but you can have my room."

This inn in Bethlehem remains to this day a powerful metaphor. How many hearts have written across them today a message for God that says, "Sorry, no vacancy," or "I'm filled right now – there's no room!"? Is there really any room for Jesus Christ in your life – or are you crowding Him out?

Mary delivers the baby in this stable. However, we have to be careful in this because we are never told she and Joseph were in a stable. The only thing that implies this occurred in a stable is the fact that when Christ was born, Mary laid Him in a manger. It may have been out in the open, where the travelers had tied their animals. Many scholars believe this was a hollowed-out cave in a Bethlehem hillside, as was common in these days. Luke informs us that Mary,. . . laid Him in a manger . . . (Luke 2:7)

Question #3: The place where Mary and Joseph placed newly-born Jesus was: a. a wooden cradle b. a hammock  c. a feed trough The answer is: "c" – a feed trough. This is a literal translation of the word "phaten" (fathn) or "manger". This also supports the idea that the place is a hollowed-out area in a rocky hillside. The owner simply carved a trough into one of the sides of the cavern; he literally cut into the stone to make a place where hay could be put for the animals to eat. This is not quite the cozy picture that we have of warmth and adoration from the animals. You might say, "But I saw the pictures of the manger scene. I saw the animals. In fact, they all had halos. It's soft and warm. There's a campfire."

Question #4: The number of angels that spoke to the shepherds was:

a. a heavenly host   b. one  c. none The answer is: "b" – one.    One angel spoke and delivered this message, as recorded in Luke 2:10-11,. . . the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Only one angel spoke. He was then joined by a host of angels who began singing. Their lyrics were, according to Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." This angel gave the shepherds a clue to identify the Saviour, in Luke 2:12, which leads to another question.

Question #5: The sign the shepherds were to look for in identifying Jesus was: a. a Christmas tree  b. three wise men  c. a baby lying in an animal feed trough The answer is: "c" – a baby lying in a manger – or an animal feed trough. The truth is that it was so unusual for a newborn baby to be surrounded by the flies and the filth of manure – and to have been placed in the feed trough – that the shepherds were given this as their sign.  Whatever the date of the birth of the Lord Jesus, summer or winter, it was not like here in Australia.  Sheep were kept overnight in Bethlehem in caves, where they could be shut in and guarded by shepherds appointed to the night shift.  It was their cave, and their feed trough.  And this young couple with a baby were there is that cave. Surely there were other infants in Bethlehem, but Jesus was the only one in such poverty-stricken conditions. Both Mary and Joseph were so exhausted from their trip and then the delivery of their child that after wrapping Him in strips of cloth, as was their custom, they laid Him in the feed trough – no doubt softened with some hay or perhaps Joseph's cloak.   "Listen shepherds – listen world – your Messiah; the King of Heaven has been born, and He is lying in a feed trough."

And that brings us to the one big question! Why is Jesus' Birth Ultimate!

One Time Only! Uniquely! One Time Ultimately!  One Time Universally!

Colossians 2: 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

John 1:1-3,14 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....14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus Is...UNIQUELY   The Eternal Self-existent One!

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

John 8:58-59 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Rev. 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Jesus Is...UNIVERSALLLY  The Second Person of the Trinity!

Genesis 1:26a "Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." Matthew 3:16-17 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

Pre-Creation Activities of Christ...

Fellowship with the Father – Jn 17:5 Creation of Angelic Beings – Job 38:4-7

Choosing His Elect – Eph 1:4; 2Tim 1:9 Planning His Church – Eph 3:7-12

Planning His Mission as Saviour – 1Pet 1:18-20

Planning His Future Kingdom – Mt 25:34

Jesus Is...UNDOUBTEDLY  The Awesome Creator and Sustainer!

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him (Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  Jesus is an Awesome God!  Psalms 147:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Jesus Is...UNEQUIVICALLY   The Promised Messiah!

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Estimated 456 OT prophecies concerning the coming Messiah with 300 fulfilled with Jesus Christ's first advent...

Genealogy – Is 9:7  Virgin Birth – Is 7:14      Birthplace – Mic 5:2      Birth date – Dan 9:25 Miraculous Miracles – Is 42:6-9  Suffering and death and resurrection – Is 53:4-5  Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.    "Immanuel – God with us"

Respond with Conviction

Respond with Conversion