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Show WRAPPING OR GIFT Luke 1: 26-38 (je-ii) girl had been hoping something special for Christmas. The little for She did not know what would be under the tree with her it. So when she got up to the tree, there was a big name on early and ran box under the tree for her. She open the box and found in it a huge doll, towering over her. In no time she discarded the doll and climbed into the box where she playing. God sent His special one and only gift wrapped in flesh but too many of us do the same thing with God's gift at Christmas time. We discard the gift, the baby and get caught up with all the wrappings, the stable, the manger, the swaddling clothes, the lights, the tree, had a ball . 1 the :s:-A- r,pv._ J"t1 cards, the shopping. ,?,'ve;;.J $'1) Notice this text calls 'dec.y S', oN Iv ,'If? T!te {J, £., attention not 7:;;f,...'f,% t-{j;1 wrappings but to the gift of God. angelic host announcement by 1. 1. to the The our K)tJI(..{ -H. Gabriel sounds forth the truth of God's loving gift to us. Hear four things that rejoice. First, we ought to rejoice because of the name of God's gift. "And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS." (Luke 1: 31) The name Jesus is ought to make us the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua meaning "savior." Matthew 1: 21 says He shall save His people from their sin. Isaiah 7: 14 calls Him "Immanuel, God with us." Isaiah announced the coming savior as "wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. 2 Luke continues in Acts 4: 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." The hymn writer sang, "The name of sweet, I love its music repeat; It makes my joys full and Jesus is so to complete, the Precious name of Jesus. "Jesus," Oh, how sweet the name! "Jesus" ev'ry day the same; "Jesus," let all the saints proclaim Its worthy praise forever." Second, ought to rej oice because of God's gift."he shall be we of the nature great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall unto him the throne of his father David And the give Angel answered and unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come ... 3 said upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." 32 & in a 35) Notice the nature of this lifetime these two (Luke gift ascribed to verses. 1: once Jesus in He is the firstborn Son Highest, Son of David, and Son of God. Nobody else no matter how good can claim this legacy and heritage. Third, we ought to rejoice because of the nobility of God's gift. There is something about this unusual birth that is powerful and permanent. His source is of the Holy Spirit. His strength is of the Highest. His sovereignty is of the throne of David. His standing shall be for all eternity, there shall be no end. What of Mary, Son of the 4 unimaginable magnificence! What a noble Son of the Most High God! He will indeed be King of kings and Lord of lords. In closing, because of the The ought to rejoice nativity of God's gift. we promise was made hundreds and thousands of years ago. Not until now does God see fit to bring it to pass and baby is conceived by a virgin by divine conception. She has never known a man yet she is with child. She does not understand it, yet it is true. She is young but still "the handmaid of the Lord." (Luke 1: 3 8) She is blessed by her cousin Elizabeth for "the fruit of her womb." It is not the mother but the she carries. It is not gift Mary but Jesus to be glorified. Mary praised God that He saw 5 fit to use her as the wrapping to deliver baby Jesus. Jesus did not see any harm in wrapping Himself in flesh to the and dwell here among us. He gave His body, His flesh, His all that we might come live eternally. "Sweet little baby Jesus, they didn't know who you are." 6 |
