We ended part 1 showing how Mary was very inquisitive and wondered about this thing the Angel was telling her, but she did what Bill Johnson so often says we ought to do. That being, “give up your right to understand”. Experiencing something brings full understanding. That is why whenever we teach the ridiculous, radical, inexhaustible, grace of God, we always end the teachings with this declaration or prayer if you will. “We wrap faith around all Truth that has been declared until we receive a further revelation, that leads to an experience, thereby bringing understanding”.
God makes sure He completes the truth concerning His Son and the chosen parents. In Matthew 1:18-21, the angel speaks to Joseph about the pregnancy and birth of Jesus.
So now we get to the actual account of Jesus’ birth. John has been born. Zechariah has his voice back. Now the emperor in Rome, Caeser Augustus sets forth his edict for everyone to participate in a massive census. Everyone had to go to their ancestral city. Now where do you think that would lead Joseph and Mary? Yep, your right. Bethlehem. Here it is. Luke 2:1-21.
Once again, God sends His voice to humble, lowly, people. Notice as the story continues how these men react.
13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying, 14 “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.” 15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.”
Here’s the reaction by the shepherds to the Angel’s news. They are all in agreement. They say “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see”. Notice that they are going to see the Lord, not going to see if what they were told is true. They already believe what the Angel said. We walk by faith and not by sight. Oh Wow.
16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.
Now they didn’t just walk, but went running. More proof of their right believing and receiving concerning the event.
When you get a revelation from the Lord, you must share it. Bill Johnson says “Any revelation you receive from the Lord that is not shared, only serves to make you more religious”.
18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them.
Why were they surprised? Because why would the Lord send an angel to speak to some lowly, stinking, poor shepherds? When you reveal a word the Lord gave you, many times people will look at you like you have 3 heads.
19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them. 20 The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them. 21 When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This name was given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.
Notice that the angel named both John the Baptist and Jesus before they began to grow in the womb. God knew you and your name too before you were ever formed in your mother’s womb.
Now notice that on the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised. That’s because on the eighth day there is a series of enzymes and platelet releases in a baby’s body that causes clotting of blood to occur. In today’s modern world, Doctors use a mixture of these same naturally released enzymes to swab on a baby that has just been circumcised moments after birth. God already had this covered, but modern man is too impatient to wait eight days for it to occur.
Before we move on, I want to revisit the fact that it was the shepherds that were informed by the angel about where the Savior was born. Jesus’ first visitors are not ambassadors, dignitaries, or wealthy landowners. They are not Mega Ministers or Televangelists with huge churches.
No, the first to pay Him homage are simple shepherds, minimum-wage workers in the ancient agrarian economy. They have little to no status in the world. They are the humble men whom God is now raising up to receive heavenly messages and an audience with the great King. As you study the truth of scripture, you’ll notice this theme recurs as the story of grace and truth continues.
Jesus grows up as any young boy would. He runs and plays. Falls down and scrapes a knee which bleeds. As a carpenter’s son, I’m sure he may have hit his finger with a hammer or received a splinter in his hands. Probably had a bloody nose a time or two. But here’s the supernatural part about that. None of that blood had the power to deliver us. It was only the shed blood on Calvary that could do that.
At the age of twelve, Jesus is teaching and preaching in the temple with such anointing that the scriptural scholars of the day are amazed beyond measure at this young boy’s wisdom.
Then at age thirty, after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the river, Jesus is lead by that same Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Notice, God would not allow him to face the darkness of the enemy, until He received the power of the Holy Spirit. Many who have tried to go into ministry or fight the enemy without the infilling of the Holy Spirit have faced grave disappointment and trouble.
For three and one-half years, Jesus preaches and declares the good news. The pattern of the humble listening and receiving, and the proud rejecting what He said continued. The prostitutes sat and listened to Him with great attention and wonder. The Pharisees rejected what He said and wanted to kill Him.
Finally, He went to the cross. Gave up His life. Fulfilled the Father’s awesome plan for us. He was buried, rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He lives to live for us, in us and through us.
There is one more point to be made about Jesus. In Matthew 2:1-12 we read the account of the wise men that went to see Jesus. Although they were sent under the cloak of deception by Herod to find Jesus, something happened to them once they saw Jesus. Verse 12 says they went back to their homes “a different way”.
When you meet Jesus, you’ll go home a different way. That’s exactly what happened to me on 19 December 1987, in a bar in Lakehills, Texas, at 3PM in the afternoon.
At the beginning of this teaching, Luke makes this statement in verses 1-4. Many others have tried to give a report of the things that happened among us to complete God’s plan. What they have written agrees with what we learned from the people who saw those events from the beginning. They also served God by telling people his message. I studied (Exactly. Luke studied. He didn’t just listen or read, he studied. It’s what I always tell people. Don’t read the bible, study it) it all carefully from the beginning. Then I decided to write it down for you in an organized way. I did this so that you can be sure that what you have been taught is true.
The only question that remains is will you believe what is Truth, or would you rather form your own opinion about what you think is true when it never can be. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Simply said, I believe Truth. I believe what scripture says rather than what someone has formed an opinion about. Grace and Peace.
