I. Characteristics of the birth of Jesus
A. In the fullness of time
1. The time of the birth of Jesus was not necessarily in the winter
a. Shepherds were watching their flocks – a spring-time activity
b. The Roman census took place in September or October
c. The early church did not celebrate His birth
d. The earliest mention of the observance on Dec. 25th is in the Philocalian Calendar, representing Roman practice of the year 336.
e. In Rome December 25 was made popular by Pope Liberius in 354 and became the rule in the West in 435 when the first "Christ mass" was officiated by Pope Sixtus III.
2. To fulfill His mission, Christ had to be born during Roman rule, and Rome was ready for Him
3. The languages used were Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek – the most precise language ever on the face of the earth.
4. The nation of Israel was ready
a. They had established synagogues (about 586 BC)
b. The Pharisees [separated ones] arose in order to instruct the people to follow the Law of God more strictly (although they eventually corrupted the Law)
c. The Sadducees rejected the Pharasees’ strictness in exchange for wealth and power
d. The Essenes believed that physical isolation from corrupted conditions would make them holy before God
e. The Zealots refused to pay taxes to Rome
f. The Samaritans (descendants of the marriage of a High priest to Sanballat, the enemy of the Jews
g. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
B. At the right place
1. The little city of Bethlehem as prophesied in Scripture
2. Here, Micah clearly states that the future ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem. By associating the Messiah with the birthplace and ancestral home of King David, the prophet recalls and reaffirms the earlier prophecies that the Messiah would come from David's line.
3. Yet the prophet cautions the nation not to expect a mere man, for the Messiah would be the One "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
a. No mere man could be described as eternally existent.
b. Thus, the ruler who would "come forth unto me" must unquestionably be God Himself.
C. For the right reason
1. The Jews were looking for a king to displace Rome
2. God was looking for a King to displace SIN
3. The Jews were looking for a leader to take them into battle
4. God was looking for a King to bring His peace to the heart of mankind
5. The Jews were looking for a king to provide them with riches
6. God was looking for a King who owned the cattle on a thousand hills
7. The Jews were looking for a king to save God’s chosen people, Israel
8. God was looking for a King to save the entire world, Jew and Gentile
9. The Jews were looking for a man
10. God was looking for mankind, His creation
D. From the right “stock”
1. Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, and is God – the Son
2. Jesus is God incarnate; that is: in the flesh
3. Jesus came for one purpose: to pay the penalty for man’s sin
4. Jesus is the Savior of any who will come to Him in faith, believing
THE SON OF GOD BECAME THE SON OF MAN SO THAT THE SONS OF MEN COULD BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.
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