The Time Came

The Time Came Luke 2.4-8 The time came for the baby to be born. God had this planned from the beginning of time. It is noteworthy that all human history is measured by the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. History is His Story. We will see when we all get to heaven. The Birth of Jesus Christ is the pivot of human history His Story He set up His Kingdom, God's kingdom, a spiritual kingdom which will never end. Kingdoms rise and fall but His Kingdom endures forever. The Kingdom of God as we shared last week is among us! Jesus said that in order to enter the kingdom of God you must become like a little child. He came into the world as a Baby. Kingdoms of this world begin with conquest militarily. There are memorials set up all over for the battles. The memorial for the beginning of this kingdom of is The manger in Bethlehem and the Cross in Jerusalem! 1. The Baby He is Christ the LORD. Christ the anointed and appointed one. The LORD God God's Son Time Days were accomplished the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom used of time in general, i.e. the days of his life. Time Galatians 4.4 that which is (has been) filled a ship inasmuch as it is filled (i.e. manned) with sailors, rowers, and soldiers in the NT, the body of believers, as that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, riches of God and of Christ that which fills or with which a thing is filled of those things which a ship is filled, freight and merchandise, sailors, oarsmen, soldiers completeness or fulness of time fulness, abundance a fulfilling, keeping The time had fully come for Jesus' birth. This was not just the end of Mary's pregnancy. This was a whole new world order. The Kingdom of God was coming. The days were accomplished. The time came for her to give birth. This the LORD entering earth as a Baby, as King of Israel and King of Kings. Roman Roads were ready for the Gospel. The nation of Israel was occupied territory. There was no room for Mary and Joseph because it was the time of the census. Taxation was foremost in everyone's mind. Taxation without representation and more than that. The nation of Israel came from a family. The land was divided with the names of those sons and their descendants inhabiting it. It had been taken over by Rome and now they were being charged taxes in their own land. Place Bethlehem Let's go to Bethlehem. This was the words of the shepherds who went and worshipped Christ, the newborn King. Let's go Nazareth (Actually no one said this. "Nazareth?! Can any good..?") Let's go to Jerusalem. This was the words of all who went to worship the LORD. All Jews said this. Now under the New Covenant - Whoever calls upon the Name of the LORD will be saved. If you were going to launch a worldwide religion in the first century this little land bridge which connected Africa, Asia and Europe was the place! History of Bethlehem Jacob buried Rachel there. Ruth and Boaz met there. David watched the flock of his father Jesse there. Jesus was born there. He was the second King to be born there. This He was born King of the Jews, King of Kings, He will reign over the world in His Father's Kingdom. So this Baby in the manger born that night in Bethlehem where no one save a few shepherds came and saw is the main Figure of all Human History. 2. Born Born of Mary Born into this world. Stable of an Inn The census made it so. Bethlehem was overcrowded Swaddling clothes Manger A feeding trough for animals. Jesus was born homeless and the people who first came to worship Him lived in tents at best. Homeless men this week One in Barnes and Noble checking on each other about the cold coming. The time came... 3. Christ the LORD The Words of the Angel to the Shepherds The time had come for the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One to be born. The time had come, the time the prophets foretold. The time they longed to know themselves. I Peter 1.11 CEV The Spirit of Christ was in them and was telling them how Christ would suffer and would then be given great honor. So they searched to find out exactly who Christ would be and when this would happen. Our times in are in His Hands... Rev. Art Hughes and Betty The time had come for Christ to be born. The time is now for salvation. The time is approaching for Him to come again.