A Story of Intrigue Surrounding the Birth of the King
Jun 19, 2015
A Story of IntrigueSurrounding
the Birth of the King
John 3:16, John 3:16For God so loved the world that He
Gave His only begotten SonThat whosoever believeth in Him
Should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Purpose of that
Holy Night
On the night Christ was bornJust before break of morn,As the stars in the sky were fading,O'er the place where He lay,Fell a shadow cold and grayOf a cross that would humble a King.
Born to Die
Born to die upon Calv'ry,Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;Born to die upon Calv'ry,He was wounded that I might live.
Born to Die
Jesus knew when He cameHe would suffer in shame,He could feel ev'ry pain and sorrow.But He left Paradise,With His blood He paid the price -My redemption to Jesus I owe.
Born to Die
Born to die upon Calv'ry,Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;Born to die upon Calv'ry,He was wounded that I might live.
Born to Die
Still, Still, Still
Still, still, still: The night is calm and still.
The Christ child in his crib lies sleeping, Angels round him watch are keeping. Still, still, still: The night is calm and
still.
Still, Still, Still
Sleep, sleep, sleep: Sweet Jesus, softly sleep,
While Mary sings and gently holds you, Safely in her arms enfolds you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep: Sweet Jesus, softly sleep.
Still, Still, Still
Joy, joy, joy; Glad tidings of great joy!
For through God’s holy incarnation,Christ is born for our salvation.
Joy, joy, joy! Glad tidings of great joy.
The Intrigue
of Revelati
on
1. Betrothal2. Mary’s missing3. News!4. Night musings5. Angelic
Revelation
– “Jesus”– after 400 yrs!
The Intrigue
of Revelati
onThe Glory of God’s Revelation –
Transforms our darkest nights
into our most brilliant blessings
The Intrigue
of Politics
1. Herod the KingIdumean (Edomite)Building projects–Temple, CaesareaAllied by marriage w/ Sadducees
(religious aristocracy)
The Intrigue
of Politics
1. Herod the King2. Wise men from East3. “King of the Jews”4. “Troubled!”5. Gifts
Gold – KingFrankincense –
PriestMyrrh – Death!
– Bethlehem
– saw His Star
– came
– Born king
The Intrigue
of PoliticsThe God
who governs the universemakes even kings
to serve His purposes
The Intrigue of Power1. Another Dream
2. “Herod the Great”Ruthless – won favor militarilyDeposed of his wife & several sons“Better to be his dog than his son”
The Intrigue of Power1. Another Dream
2. “Herod the Great” - about to…
3. “Tricked (i.e., mocked) . . . furious”
4. Sent & killed all male children
5. By night, departed to Egypt
The Intrigue of Power
True “greatness” – Born to die for others, but first to die to self
and live to God
The Intrigue of Power
This life wasn’t to be taken,but given.
The Intrigue
of Profanity
1. The carpenter’s dreams3rd & 4th timesGod spoke as many times to Joseph as He had to all others combined
– Zechariah– Mary– Simeon– Shepherds
all “nobodies”
The Intrigue
of Profanity
1. The carpenter’s dreams2. Return to Israel3. Withdrew to Galilee4. A city called Nazareth
Can anything good come from Nazareth?“No beauty that we should desire him”
The Intrigue
of ProfanityGod specializes in
choosing & using those who are otherwise quite
ordinary, or even rejected.
The Intrigue
of Profanity
Come to him, a living stone rejected by men,
but in the sight of God chosen and precious
– 1 Pet 2:4
The Intrigue
of ProfanityAnd whoever believes in Him
will not be put to shame– 1 Peter 2:6
But, the greatest
intrigue of this story remains…
God so loved the world that HeGave His only begotten Son
That whosoever believeth in HimShould not perish, but have
everlasting life.
But, the greatest
intrigue of this story remains…“I came that they may have
life and have it abundantly.”
But, the greatest
intrigue of this story remains…“For He shall save His people from their sins.”