Back to Bethlehem

December 19, 2021

As the collection comes to a close, Brad Jones takes us on a journey back to Bethlehem. He methodically lays out how all of history pointed to Jesus coming in the form of a baby in the manger and how all of the future points to His eternal reign.

Key Takeaway

A proper response to Christmas is trusting that God always has a plan and is working it out. We can have hope that His plan is for our good and we can willingly worship Him because He is the ruler of a never-ending Kingdom, not a human dynasty that will eventually come to ruin.

1. God is working out his plan.

Genesis 3 is where we get the first glimpse of a promised Savior. Genesis 49 speaks of this Savior ruling with a scepter and coming from the tribe of Judah. Numbers 24:17 declares that a ruler will come out of Jacob, who is Judah's father. 2 Samuel 7:6 and Jeremiah 33:17 both point to the eternal throne of David. Isaiah 9:6 gives us multiple names that describe Jesus, and there will be no end to David's throne. Our Savior is described and prophesied centuries before He came as a baby. This is not an accident, but instead, a well-thought-out plan.

The Bible has always been about hope for a broken world, about how good God is and how He has saved us. We can trust Him; He will accomplish His purpose in our lives.

2. God was working for our good.

The angels sang of Jesus Christ's birth, saying that a SAVIOR had been born to us in the City of David. We need a Savior! And God is a promise-keeping God, so He kept His Word, and His Son was born in the city of Bethlehem...all because we needed saving. Bethlehem means "House of Bread" in Hebrew and Aramaic. Jesus calls Himself the "Bread of Life" in John 6:35.

When you look at history, it is easy to say things were not good. David's descendants split the kingdom and both have lines of horrible, God-opposing kings, then they are attacked, then thrown into exile, and eventually have 400 years of "silence". How is this good? The prophets, while calling for repentance and warning of coming judgment, were constantly speaking of hope. During those 400 years of "silence", the Greeks established a common language and currency, the Romans developed a road system that connected the entire empire allowing for easy travel, and synagogues were set up in various places that allowed people to worship where they were and caused the faith in the One True God to spread. Paul and many other Apostles would go to these synagogues to spread the gospel.

3. God is always working for His glory.

All human dynasties come to an end. Jesus is the King of the only Kingdom that will reign forever. God does not work on human terms, He has a far greater plan. God often chooses the least likely and unexpected people to work His plan through. He gets the most glory out of it.

God's great work pulls us out of the center of our own lives and puts Jesus back in the center. Our lives revolve around Him. In Genesis 49, we see the scepter, the ultimate symbol of power and authority, will come out of Judah. Revelation 19:15 says Jesus, the Lion of Judah is holding an iron scepter. He is worthy of all our worship. His Kingdom never ends.

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"God has a plan. He's always had a plan. He accomplishes His plans. You can trust Him."

”

Brad Jones

Discussion Questions

What kind of gift giver and receiver are you?
Look at Genesis 3:15, 49:10, Numbers 24:17, 2 Samuel 7:10, Jeremiah 33:17, and Isaiah 9:6. What is the common thread?
What is the whole point of the Bible?
Do these passages showing God's intricate design and plan embolden your willingness to trust Him with your own life?
How was what the angels proclaimed in Luke 2:8-10 good news for us today?
What are the advancements during the 400 years of "silence" and their benefit concerning the perfect timing in the coming of Jesus?
What is trying to pull your grip off of Jesus? See Hebrews 10:19-23
God is always working for His glory. How have you seen this in your own life?
Read Genesis 49:10 and Revelation 19:15. Where is the scepter coming from and who owns it? Is this new information for you? What are the constant themes from Genesis to Revelation?
Have you surrendered your heart to the One who came to save you?

Scripture References

The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?”

he asked.

“Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

10The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he to whom it belongs shall come

and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

17“I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob;

a scepter will rise out of Israel.

He will crush the foreheads of Moab,

the skulls of all the people of Sheth.

16Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

6For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

35Then Jesus declared,

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

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.”

11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.

12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

15Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

23By myself I have sworn,

my mouth has uttered in all integrity

a word that will not be revoked:

Before me every knee will bow;

by me every tongue will swear.

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the

Lord

, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Brad Jones

Passion City Church Atlanta is pastored by Brad Jones. Together, he and his wife Brittany have been a part of the Passion Movement for over a decade helping carry the heartbeat of Passion Conference and Passion City Church. They live in Atlanta with their two children, Caleb and Addy.