The Christmas Message, Part One
Gtcotr/ss120504
In this season we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth.
In the first and second chapters of the book of Luke we find several key figures leading up to and including the birth of Jesus. Three primary characters which Luke draws our attention to are:
1. John the Baptist
2. Mary, the mother of Jesus
3. Jesus Himself
This morning we are going to begin this most wonderful Christmas story by looking at the part which John the Baptist played in God’s unfolding plan.
Lets begin with a key prophetic scripture found in the book of Malachi, which was written some 400 years Before Christ.
We now know that Malachi was speaking of John the Baptist when he prophetically wrote our:
Key Scripture: Malachi 3:1 ¶ "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.
I. We want to look at this word: Messenger
A. Hebrew word - Malak
1. Found over 200 times in the Old Testament
a. 111 Times translated as - Angel(s)
b. What is an Angel?
* One sent on a mission
Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
> Genesis 18:20&21 tells us that these angels were on a fact finding mission for God.
> At various times angels were sent on missions to accomplish other tasks for God. From destroying Israel’s enemies, (2 Chronicles 32:21), to bringing correction to Israel, (2 Samuel 24), from finding a bride for Isaac, (Genesis 24), to retrieving the body of Moses from its burial place, (Jude 1:9), angels are servants of God, sent on missions for God. Not only are angels sent to accomplish a mission, but also:
* One sent as a Representative
Exodus 23:20 "Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
> He represents Me.
> Given the authority to stand in My stead.
> He is authorized to make decisions & deputized to carry them out.
Psalms 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
> In Numbers 22, Balaam found himself faced with an angry angel who had evident discretion in whether to kill Balaam or not.
b. 98 Times this Hebrew word Malak is - Messenger
Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.
> The first messenger in Malachi 3:1 speaks of John the Baptist, Jehovah’s messenger.
> The second Messenger speaks of the Christ, the Messenger of the covenant.
B. Lets look at the message of the messenger of Jehovah.
1. When the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” …
John 1:23 He said: "I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD,"‘ as the prophet Isaiah said."
2. Referring to the 750 year old prophecy by Isaiah
Isaiah 40:3 ¶ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
II. John The Baptist
A. One Sent On A Mission
B. One Sent As A Representative
C. One Sent With A Message
D. The All Encompassing Word For This Ministry
> Ambassador
III. The Man Is Gone But The Ministry Remains
A. We Are Now On A Mission From God
B. We Are Now Representatives Of Heaven
C. We Are Now Messengers Of The Covenant
D. We Are Now Ambassadors Of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:20 in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as if God were calling through us,
E. What Is Our Message?
we beseech, in behalf of Christ, ‘Be ye reconciled to God;’ (Young’s Literal Translation)
IV. We Are The Voice Of One Crying In The Wilderness Of This World
A. The One Voice Is Jesus
* The Living Word Of God
B. What Is The Cry
* Prepare For The Coming Of The Lord
C. How Does One Prepare?
* Be Reconciled
* Get Saved
D. RU100%SURE?
* Do you believe?
* Will you ask?
